God’s strength is not reserved for elite athletes or extraordinary moments—it’s available for everyday life. This Crosswalk Devotional, God’s Strength Will Empower You by Whitney Hopler, draws from 1 Chronicles 16:11–12 to remind believers that lasting strength comes from continually seeking God’s presence, not relying on limited human ability. Whether facing pressure at work, health challenges, family tension, or personal uncertainty, God’s power meets us right where we are.

Highlights


God’s strength empowers believers beyond human limits


Seeking God’s presence should be continual, not crisis-driven


Spiritual endurance grows through daily dependence on God


Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels present faith


Temporary success never replaces eternal relationship with God


Our worth is rooted in being God’s beloved children, not performance


God walks with us through both victories and failures

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This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

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Full Transcript Below:

God’s Strength Will Empower You
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.” - 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, ESV 

The 2026 Winter Olympics (Milano Cortina 2026) shine a spotlight on some of the strongest athletes in the world. No matter what sport they compete in, Olympic athletes are constantly seeking strength. Many of them pray for God’s help to be the best they can be, both physically and mentally. That includes help from God for the discipline and endurance they need to practice and compete well. 

But you don’t have to be a downhill skier or a figure skater to understand why it’s important to be strong. Whether you’re launching a new project at work, dealing with a challenging health situation, trying to resolve a family conflict, or facing any other stressful situation in this fallen world, you know how much God’s strength can empower you. God’s help is vital to succeeding with whatever you’re trying to do, whether or not you’ll get a gold medal when you win. 

In 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, the Bible encourages you to look beyond your own limited power to seek God’s strength, which can empower you without limits. These verses call you to seek God’s presence continually. Instead of just saying a one-time prayer during a crisis, you should notice God’s presence with you throughout your day and check in with God regularly through prayer. When you make a habit of seeking God’s strength, you’ll find the power you need to help you with any kind of situation – even the most challenging situations that seem like they would be impossible to overcome. 

These Bible verses also encourage you to remember the wondrous works God has done, like his miracles and judgments. Olympic commentators love to talk about an athlete’s “track record.” They look back at each athlete’s past competition results and other information from the past (like injuries and recoveries) to predict future success. You can do the same with your faith. When you feel overwhelmed by a challenge you’re facing right now, look back on how God has helped you in the past. Think of the times when you’ve already experienced the wonder of God’s work in your life – like when God provided exactly what you needed, or when God empowered you to do something you couldn’t do on your own. The more you remember God’s past faithfulness, the more that will fuel your faith to look for the wonder of God’s work in your life every day and let that evidence inspire you to trust God now. 

In this year’s winter Olympics, thousands of athletes will chase gold, silver, and bronze medals. But those prizes are temporary. God’s presence with you is something you can enjoy both now and forever. As you work toward your own goals and pursue your own adventures this year, don’t get so caught up in trying to achieve temporary results that you miss your wonderful Creator and Heavenly Father walking right beside you. 

Whether you reach the podium of success or make mistakes that hurt like falling on ice, God will be there with you, empowering you with his strength. You can afford to bravely take big risks to keep learning and growing, just like Olympic athletes do. Your worth doesn’t come from your performance; it comes from your relationship with God as one of his beloved children. So, whatever challenge you’re facing today, seek God and his strength. God is with you, and he’s ready to give you everything you need for the journey ahead. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider why it’s important to seek God and his strength, reflect on these questions: 
If you were training for your current life season like an Olympian, what’s the one area where you most need God’s strength right now? 
How can you seek God’s presence “continually” rather than just when you’re facing a challenge? What will help you remember to ask God for more strength on a regular basis? 
Think of one “wondrous work” or miracle God has done in your past. How does remembering that help you face a fear you have today? 
What’s one way you can celebrate this week to thank God for answering a prayer you prayed in the past? Can you plan to look at old photos that remind you of God’s answer, post about it on social media, or share the story with a friend? 

Further Reading:
Isaiah 40:31
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 105:4
Hebrews 12:1
Psalm 77:11

God&rsquo;s strength is not reserved for elite athletes or extraordinary moments&mdash;it&rsquo;s available for everyday life. This Crosswalk Devotional, God&rsquo;s Strength Will Empower You by Whitney Hopler, draws from 1 Chronicles 16:11&ndash;12 to remind believers that lasting strength comes from continually seeking God&rsquo;s presence, not relying on limited human ability. Whether facing pressure at work, health challenges, family tension, or personal uncertainty, God&rsquo;s power meets us right where we are.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1042" data-end="1485">
<li data-start="1042" data-end="1099">
God&rsquo;s strength empowers believers beyond human limits
</li>
<li data-start="1100" data-end="1165">
Seeking God&rsquo;s presence should be continual, not crisis-driven
</li>
<li data-start="1166" data-end="1227">
Spiritual endurance grows through daily dependence on God
</li>
<li data-start="1228" data-end="1287">
Remembering God&rsquo;s past faithfulness fuels present faith
</li>
<li data-start="1288" data-end="1354">
Temporary success never replaces eternal relationship with God
</li>
<li data-start="1355" data-end="1427">
Our worth is rooted in being God&rsquo;s beloved children, not performance
</li>
<li data-start="1428" data-end="1485">
God walks with us through both victories and failures
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
God&rsquo;s Strength Will Empower You By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.&rdquo; - 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, ESV&nbsp;
The 2026 Winter Olympics (Milano Cortina 2026) shine a spotlight on some of the strongest athletes in the world. No matter what sport they compete in, Olympic athletes are constantly seeking strength. Many of them pray for God&rsquo;s help to be the best they can be, both physically and mentally. That includes help from God for the discipline and endurance they need to practice and compete well.&nbsp;
But you don&rsquo;t have to be a downhill skier or a figure skater to understand why<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/focus-on-whats-strong-not-wrong-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> it&rsquo;s important to be strong</a>. Whether you&rsquo;re launching a new project at work, dealing with a challenging health situation, trying to resolve a family conflict, or facing any other stressful situation in this fallen world, you know how much God&rsquo;s strength can empower you. God&rsquo;s help is vital to succeeding with whatever you&rsquo;re trying to do, whether or not you&rsquo;ll get a gold medal when you win.&nbsp;
In 1 Chronicles 16:11-12, the Bible encourages you to look beyond your own limited power to seek God&rsquo;s strength, which can empower you without limits. These verses call you to seek God&rsquo;s presence continually. Instead of just saying a one-time prayer during a crisis, you should<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-notice-god-with-you-throughout-your-day.html"> notice God&rsquo;s presence with you throughout your day</a> and check in with God regularly through prayer. When you make a habit of seeking God&rsquo;s strength, you&rsquo;ll find the power you need to help you with any kind of situation &ndash; even the most challenging situations that seem like they would be impossible to overcome.&nbsp;
These Bible verses also encourage you to remember the wondrous works God has done, like his miracles and judgments. Olympic commentators love to talk about an athlete&rsquo;s &ldquo;track record.&rdquo; They look back at each athlete&rsquo;s past competition results and other information from the past (like injuries and recoveries) to predict future success. You can do the same with your faith. When you feel overwhelmed by a challenge you&rsquo;re facing right now, look back on how God has helped you in the past. Think of the times when you&rsquo;ve already experienced the wonder of God&rsquo;s work in your life &ndash; like when God provided exactly what you needed, or when God empowered you to do something you couldn&rsquo;t do on your own. The more you remember God&rsquo;s past faithfulness, the more that will fuel your faith to<a href="https://amzn.to/4fbNBmU"> look for the wonder of God&rsquo;s work in your life every day</a> and let that evidence inspire you to trust God now.&nbsp;
In this year&rsquo;s winter Olympics, thousands of athletes will chase gold, silver, and bronze medals. But those prizes are temporary. God&rsquo;s presence with you is something you can enjoy both now and forever. As you work toward your own goals and pursue your own adventures this year, don&rsquo;t get so caught up in trying to achieve temporary results that you miss your wonderful Creator and Heavenly Father walking right beside you.&nbsp;
Whether you reach the podium of success or make mistakes that hurt like falling on ice, God will be there with you, empowering you with his strength. You can afford to bravely take big risks to keep learning and growing, just like Olympic athletes do. Your worth doesn&rsquo;t come from your performance; it comes from your relationship with God as one of his beloved children. So, whatever challenge you&rsquo;re facing today, seek God and his strength. God is with you, and he&rsquo;s ready to give you everything you need for the journey ahead.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider why it&rsquo;s important to seek God and his strength, reflect on these questions:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">If you were training for your current life season like an Olympian, what&rsquo;s the one area where you most need God&rsquo;s strength right now?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How can you seek God&rsquo;s presence &ldquo;continually&rdquo; rather than just when you&rsquo;re facing a challenge? What will help you remember to ask God for more strength on a regular basis?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Think of one &ldquo;wondrous work&rdquo; or miracle God has done in your past. How does remembering that help you face a fear you have today?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s one way you can celebrate this week to thank God for<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/does-prayer-really-work.html"> answering a prayer</a> you prayed in the past? Can you plan to look at old photos that remind you of God&rsquo;s answer, post about it on social media, or share the story with a friend?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Isaiah 40:31 Philippians 4:13 Psalm 105:4 Hebrews 12:1 Psalm 77:11

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

God’s Strength Will Empower You

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/71d0dc4b-24f2-4706-a4f7-b3e2012a3ab5/transcript