If faced with temptation this week, resist. However, if you fall into it, instead of pointing fingers and blaming the devil or those around you, go to God with a repentant heart. With a humble heart, turn toward Him for forgiveness and to strengthen you to overcome it the next time you’re tempted. - Lynette Kittle

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

If faced with temptation this week, resist. However, if you fall into it, instead of pointing fingers and blaming the devil or those around you, go to God with a repentant heart. With a humble heart, turn toward Him for forgiveness and to strengthen you to overcome it the next time you’re tempted. - Lynette Kittle
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>

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

Are You Using the Devil as a Scapegoat?

There’s something powerful about anticipation. When you know something wonderful is ahead—a long-awaited trip, a celebration, a reunion—you carry that joy with you before it even arrives. It changes how you move through ordinary days.

Psalm 31:19 reminds us that we don’t have to manufacture excitement or engineer constant highlights to feel hope. God already has good stored up for His children. His goodness isn’t random, fragile, or dependent on our planning. It is abundant, intentional, and secure.

The beauty of faith is this: even when we cannot see the details of what’s ahead, we know the character of the One who holds tomorrow. And that is more than enough reason for joy.

Key Scripture

“How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.” — Psalm 31:19

Highlights


Anticipation shapes our perspective—even before the blessing arrives


God’s goodness isn’t limited to heaven; He blesses us here and now


Our plans are fragile, but God’s promises are faithful


We can hold joy in the unknown because we know God’s character


The goodness God has stored up surpasses what we could imagine for ourselves

Intersecting Faith & Life


Are you constantly trying to create something to look forward to?


What would change if you truly believed that God already has good ahead for you?


Today, shift your hope from circumstances you control to the character of the God who controls tomorrow.

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

TrinityCredit – 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. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

The Goodness of God That Awaits You

By Keri Eichberger

Bible Reading:
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. - Psalm 31:19

I don’t desire to be surprised much anymore. Not in specific ways like I once did, anyway. I used to have this dream of being suddenly and spontaneously whisked away on a tropical getaway. With bags pre-packed, child-care pre-planned, and every detail prepared. That is, until I went on enough planned vacations and experienced all the extra enjoyment that’s front-loaded in the anticipation of the known good to come. Think about it. It’s extremely hard to get excited about something awesome you have no idea is about to happen. But if you know the grand plan that’s ahead, you can hold great hope. You can even make it through the mundane and monotonous moments of life while your eyes feast on the beauty and sparkle that dangle in front of you. 

And for this reason, I’ve been overly guilty of always attempting to have something fun planned in order to consistently have something to look forward to. But honestly, I’m not super proud of this heart posture. And here’s why. I know God is good. I know he has given me good on this very day. I know he is faithful and will continue to show up with good gifts in every single season of my life. And so I know I should be holding tighter to these truths. 

How about you? Do you like surprises? Or would you prefer to know what’s coming so you can enjoy the anticipation? Maybe you’ll take either, you just like any reason to smile and celebrate. I get that too.

Well, what if we could approach every day like we know vacation is coming tomorrow? What if we knew that what was ahead was going to be fantastic and full of blessings? And what if I told you, it’s true. Because it is. The Bible promises that God has good in store for us, for those who love him.

There is indeed beauty and sparkle ahead. We can be confident in that. We can get excited about that. Because it most definitely and abundantly is true. I know you can’t always see and perceive it. But honestly, I can’t actually see the exact sweetness that will show up in my upcoming vacations either. I can dream up scenarios. But to be honest, sometimes it’s not as good as what I dreamed of. My human hopes are flimsy and fallible, and they fail me. And whatever you can create or plan or try to control to your liking is unreliable and lacks certain goodness, too. But our faith shouldn’t be in the good we can manifest and make happen; our faith should be in the unfailing goodness of our mighty and good God.

And what’s amazing about God is that what he has in store is even better than what we have dreamed up. Because His plans and ways are good and perfect and always more full of blessing than ours. So we can stay excited in the unknown because of what is known. For those of us who love God, he has good in store. An abundance of good. And not just in heaven—though that is our ultimate hope and joy—but he also has blessings to bestow in our sight here on earth. This is a promise worth getting excited about today and every day.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Instead of becoming consumed with constantly creating exciting circumstances, or demanding and dictating our own ideal situations, we can set our hope-filled hearts and hold a joy-filled faith in God’s goodness. We can hold hope and joy that an awesome tomorrow is coming. And then another and another. Because our good God is awesome. And he has abundant and good things stored up for you who love him, for you he loves. 

If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!

There&rsquo;s something powerful about anticipation. When you know something wonderful is ahead&mdash;a long-awaited trip, a celebration, a reunion&mdash;you carry that joy with you before it even arrives. It changes how you move through ordinary days.
Psalm 31:19 reminds us that we don&rsquo;t have to manufacture excitement or engineer constant highlights to feel hope. God already has good stored up for His children. His goodness isn&rsquo;t random, fragile, or dependent on our planning. It is abundant, intentional, and secure.
The beauty of faith is this: even when we cannot see the details of what&rsquo;s ahead, we know the character of the One who holds tomorrow. And that is more than enough reason for joy.
Key Scripture
<blockquote data-start="914" data-end="1088">
&ldquo;How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.&rdquo; &mdash; Psalm 31:19
</blockquote>
Highlights
<ul data-start="1107" data-end="1457">
<li data-start="1107" data-end="1179">
Anticipation shapes our perspective&mdash;even before the blessing arrives
</li>
<li data-start="1180" data-end="1250">
God&rsquo;s goodness isn&rsquo;t limited to heaven; He blesses us here and now
</li>
<li data-start="1251" data-end="1309">
Our plans are fragile, but God&rsquo;s promises are faithful
</li>
<li data-start="1310" data-end="1376">
We can hold joy in the unknown because we know God&rsquo;s character
</li>
<li data-start="1377" data-end="1457">
The goodness God has stored up surpasses what we could imagine for ourselves
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
<ul data-start="1491" data-end="1754">
<li data-start="1491" data-end="1560">
Are you constantly trying to create something to look forward to?
</li>
<li data-start="1561" data-end="1645">
What would change if you truly believed that God already has good ahead for you?
</li>
<li data-start="1646" data-end="1754">
Today, shift your hope from circumstances you control to the character of the God who controls tomorrow.
</li>
</ul>
<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:
The Goodness of God That Awaits You
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading: How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you. - Psalm 31:19
I don&rsquo;t desire to be surprised much anymore. Not in specific ways like I once did, anyway. I used to have this dream of being suddenly and spontaneously whisked away on a tropical getaway. With bags pre-packed, child-care pre-planned, and every detail prepared. That is, until I went on enough planned vacations and experienced all the extra enjoyment that&rsquo;s front-loaded in the anticipation of the known good to come. Think about it. It&rsquo;s extremely hard to get excited about something awesome you have no idea is about to happen. But if you know the grand plan that&rsquo;s ahead, you can hold great hope. You can even make it through the mundane and monotonous moments of life while your eyes feast on the beauty and sparkle that dangle in front of you.&nbsp;
And for this reason, I&rsquo;ve been overly guilty of always attempting to have something fun planned in order to consistently have something to look forward to. But honestly, I&rsquo;m not super proud of this heart posture. And here&rsquo;s why. I know God is good. I know he has given me good on this very day. I know he is faithful and will continue to show up with good gifts in every single season of my life. And so I know I should be holding tighter to these truths.&nbsp;
How about you? Do you like surprises? Or would you prefer to know what&rsquo;s coming so you can enjoy the anticipation? Maybe you&rsquo;ll take either, you just like any reason to smile and celebrate. I get that too.
Well, what if we could approach every day like we know vacation is coming tomorrow? What if we knew that what was ahead was going to be fantastic and full of blessings? And what if I told you, it&rsquo;s true. Because it is. The Bible promises that God has good in store for us, for those who love him.
There is indeed beauty and sparkle ahead. We can be confident in that. We can get excited about that. Because it most definitely and abundantly is true. I know you can&rsquo;t always see and perceive it. But honestly, I can&rsquo;t actually see the exact sweetness that will show up in my upcoming vacations either. I can dream up scenarios. But to be honest, sometimes it&rsquo;s not as good as what I dreamed of. My human hopes are flimsy and fallible, and they fail me. And whatever you can create or plan or try to control to your liking is unreliable and lacks certain goodness, too. But our faith shouldn&rsquo;t be in the good we can manifest and make happen; our faith should be in the unfailing goodness of our mighty and good God.
And what&rsquo;s amazing about God is that what he has in store is even better than what we have dreamed up. Because His plans and ways are good and perfect and always more full of blessing than ours. So we can stay excited in the unknown because of what is known. For those of us who love God, he has good in store. An abundance of good. And not just in heaven&mdash;though that is our ultimate hope and joy&mdash;but he also has blessings to bestow in our sight here on earth. This is a promise worth getting excited about today and every day.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Instead of becoming consumed with constantly creating exciting circumstances, or demanding and dictating our own ideal situations, we can set our hope-filled hearts and hold a joy-filled faith in God&rsquo;s goodness. We can hold hope and joy that an awesome tomorrow is coming. And then another and another. Because our good God is awesome. And he has abundant and good things stored up for you who love him, for you he loves.&nbsp;
If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, <a href="https://a.co/d/058wHte">Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes</a>. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!

The Goodness of God That Awaits You

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/bc780b60-5c61-4f8a-ac68-b3f301409101/transcript

It doesn’t take long to notice the darkness in our world. Tragedy, injustice, division—it can feel constant and overwhelming. We’re often told that to care deeply means to sit in the darkness indefinitely. But Jesus gives a different calling in Matthew 5:14–16: we are the light of the world.

Key Scripture

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14–16

Highlights


Christians are called to acknowledge darkness without dwelling in it


God’s kingdom—marked by peace, joy, and love—is a greater reality than despair


“Prophetic imagination” helps us envision renewal where others see only ruin


A small light can dispel great darkness when we carry Christ’s presence faithfully


Being light is not about prominence or power—it’s about faithful presence

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

TrinityCredit – 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. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

Children of God, Children of Light 

By Deidre Braley 

Bible Reading:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16

It is easy to see the darkness in our world—that is no earth-shattering statement. We live in a world where terrible things happen, and where it is expected that we dwell in the darkness in the name of empathy. We are told that it is hypocrisy and a privilege to look away, and so we stare into it until it engulfs us too. We think this is what it means to “mourn with those who mourn.” We think this is love. 

But as children of God, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the darkness, and even to address it, without allowing it to swallow up the Light to which we belong. We are not powerless victims in the face of darkness. We are image-bearers of a King who reigns with peace, and joy, and love. It is hard to believe, but these are an even more powerful reality than the darkness. And it is our job to speak of—and live within!—this reality in a way that illuminates every place where the kingdom of God is already in our midst here on Earth. This is not toxic positivity—this is what biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann calls our prophetic imagination, which is our ability to engage with God’s power and potential for newness. It is to live within the expansive mind of God, rather than the closed reality of this world. 

Henri Nouwen puts it this way: 

People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny the darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God. 

The Return of the Prodigal Son, p. 117 

As Jesus said, we are the light of the world. This is not to say that, as children of God, we are superior, or that we deserve platforms and prominence and loudspeakers and political power. It is to say that we carry a flame inside our spirits that was given to us by the Spirit, and that it is our job to bring it into every place we set foot and to say, “Here. I know it is dark. But come now, I have a little light. And a little light goes a long way.” It is to use our prophetic imagination to spin a picture of renewal in places where, right now, it seems too dark to see.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

I once had an employer who said, “Don’t come to me with a problem just to complain. Come to me with a solution, and then we’ll have something to work with.” 

I think of this often whenever I spend time on social media, where it seems that people are shouting about problems without offering even a whisper of a solution. As people of the Light, we were made to rush toward the darkness not so we can stay and ruminate in it—but rather, to illuminate it. 

Admittedly, it’s easier said than done. In truth, the dark sometimes feels very dark. In times when we struggle to believe that the light is more powerful than the dark, or that the light even exists at all, here is a helpful prayer to try: 

Lord,
Right now, the dark feels very dark. Please help me to see what’s in front of me through thelens of your imagination. Show me where newness is possible. Let me see what you’re doinghere, and sharpen my perception of your kingdom in our midst. Help me to see the light.Help me to be the light.
Amen. 

Further Reading:
John 8:12 

2 Corinthians 4 

The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann

It doesn&rsquo;t take long to notice the darkness in our world. Tragedy, injustice, division&mdash;it can feel constant and overwhelming. We&rsquo;re often told that to care deeply means to sit in the darkness indefinitely. But Jesus gives a different calling in Matthew 5:14&ndash;16: we are the light of the world.
Key Scripture
<blockquote data-start="985" data-end="1190">
&ldquo;You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden&hellip; let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.&rdquo; &mdash; Matthew 5:14&ndash;16
</blockquote>
Highlights
<ul data-start="1209" data-end="1610">
<li data-start="1209" data-end="1281">
Christians are called to acknowledge darkness without dwelling in it
</li>
<li data-start="1282" data-end="1364">
God&rsquo;s kingdom&mdash;marked by peace, joy, and love&mdash;is a greater reality than despair
</li>
<li data-start="1365" data-end="1445">
&ldquo;Prophetic imagination&rdquo; helps us envision renewal where others see only ruin
</li>
<li data-start="1446" data-end="1532">
A small light can dispel great darkness when we carry Christ&rsquo;s presence faithfully
</li>
<li data-start="1533" data-end="1610">
Being light is not about prominence or power&mdash;it&rsquo;s about faithful presence
</li>
</ul>
<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:
Children of God, Children of Light&nbsp;
By Deidre Braley&nbsp;
Bible Reading: &ldquo;You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16
It is easy to see the darkness in our world&mdash;that is no earth-shattering statement. We live in a world where terrible things happen, and where it is expected that we dwell in the darkness in the name of empathy. We are told that it is hypocrisy and a privilege to look away, and so we stare into it until it engulfs us too. We think this is what it means to &ldquo;mourn with those who mourn.&rdquo; We think this is love.&nbsp;
But as children of God, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the darkness, and even to address it, without allowing it to swallow up the Light to which we belong. We are not powerless victims in the face of darkness. We are image-bearers of a King who reigns with peace, and joy, and love. It is hard to believe, but these are an even more powerful reality than the darkness. And it is our job to speak of&mdash;and live within!&mdash;this reality in a way that illuminates every place where the kingdom of God is already in our midst here on Earth. This is not toxic positivity&mdash;this is what biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann calls our prophetic imagination, which is our ability to engage with God&rsquo;s power and potential for newness. It is to live within the expansive mind of God, rather than the closed reality of this world.&nbsp;
Henri Nouwen puts it this way:&nbsp;
People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny the darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God.&nbsp;
The Return of the Prodigal Son, p. 117&nbsp;
As Jesus said, we are the light of the world. This is not to say that, as children of God, we are superior, or that we deserve platforms and prominence and loudspeakers and political power. It is to say that we carry a flame inside our spirits that was given to us by the Spirit, and that it is our job to bring it into every place we set foot and to say, &ldquo;Here. I know it is dark. But come now, I have a little light. And a little light goes a long way.&rdquo; It is to use our prophetic imagination to spin a picture of renewal in places where, right now, it seems too dark to see.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
I once had an employer who said, &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t come to me with a problem just to complain. Come to me with a solution, and then we&rsquo;ll have something to work with.&rdquo;&nbsp;
I think of this often whenever I spend time on social media, where it seems that people are shouting about problems without offering even a whisper of a solution. As people of the Light, we were made to rush toward the darkness not so we can stay and ruminate in it&mdash;but rather, to illuminate it.&nbsp;
Admittedly, it&rsquo;s easier said than done. In truth, the dark sometimes feels very dark. In times when we struggle to believe that the light is more powerful than the dark, or that the light even exists at all, here is a helpful prayer to try:&nbsp;
Lord, Right now, the dark feels very dark. Please help me to see what&rsquo;s in front of me through the lens of your imagination. Show me where newness is possible. Let me see what you&rsquo;re doing here, and sharpen my perception of your kingdom in our midst. Help me to see the light. Help me to be the light. Amen.&nbsp;
Further Reading: John 8:12&nbsp;
2 Corinthians 4&nbsp;
The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann

Children of God, Children of Light

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/fcf33fc5-bea2-4ec2-9879-b3f0013779d9/transcript

Some seasons of life feel heavier than we expected. Transitions, loss, depression, disappointment—sometimes they arrive all at once. In those moments, it’s easy to believe we’re alone in the struggle. But God gives a powerful promise in Isaiah 43:2: when we walk through deep waters and fiery trials, He will be with us.

Key Scripture

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” — Isaiah 43:2

Highlights


Difficult seasons do not mean God is absent; He promises to walk with us through them


Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest and relief (Matthew 11:28–30)


God is close to the brokenhearted and rescues the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18)


The Lord often works through community, counselors, teachers, and friends to provide support


Every tear, sorrow, and struggle is seen and remembered by God (Psalm 56:8)

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

TrinityCredit – 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. https://trinitycredit.org

Full Transcript Below:

You Are Not Alone

By Lauren Fletcher

Bible Reading:

“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” - Isaiah 43:2

When I was in college, I went through an unexpected season of loss in my second year. It was a year of transition for me. Many of my upperclassman friends had graduated; I had a new roommate, and I had just finished my first job at a summer camp. I had met many close friends there, and it was hard to leave. 

Depression hit, and I wasn’t ready for it. It scared me, and I didn’t know how to deal with it. I tried my best to manage my emotions while balancing school and living on my own. Things snowballed, and when I started struggling in my classes, I felt a sense of hopelessness, not enthusiasm, for the future.

I had a teacher whom I constantly let down, in my own eyes, by being late to her class. One of our assignments was a behavior change project, in which we had to identify areas we wanted to change. Of course, I chose tardiness. As I was very transparent in my project, she saw that I needed help. My lateness stemmed from this depression. She suggested counseling. This changed my trajectory. 

It was hard to feel like I had to figure things out on my own while I was away at school. I put all of this responsibility upon myself because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do as an adult. If I were to talk to myself now, looking back, I would share this verse from Matthew: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

We all face difficult times, and when we do, we need help. We can’t do it on our own. I was ashamed of my depression and tried to hide it, but what I should have done was reach out to those around me.

I look back on this season many times and still feel the sting of how hard things were. I don’t always see where God was in that time, but I know He was always there. I was never alone, despite my feelings.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When I reflect upon that time, I know that God was with me in my sorrow. I think of how the word 'compassion' means 'to suffer with.' Jesus set the example of what that is. When His friend, Lazarus, died, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). He experienced sorrow alongside Mary and Martha, who were grieving. God promises us in His Word that He will be with us when we are suffering. In Psalms, David says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18).

Another way I know God was with me was through the help of those around me. During that time of depression, I wanted to help a member of my church. Though I tried, I was in way over my head. Both a friend and the local church stepped in and provided the help I wanted to give this woman. It blessed me so much that they would carry that burden with me. In Galatians, it says, “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Not only do I see how God worked through the support of my friends, I see Him, most evidently, through the teacher who suggested that I get help from our school’s counseling center. 

Despite how I felt that year, I know that God’s hand was on my life. Through counseling, He provided help and a way out of the depression. I had hope again and could see light. In the darkness of seasons like this, it’s tough to see how you’ll get to the other side—but God knows. God also provided by surrounding me with friends that year. Though I never shared about my struggles with them, I was held in love by my Father. Psalms says, “But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love” (Psalm 33:18).

Is there a season in your life that has been difficult? Has it been hard to see God, where He is, and what He is doing? I want to share this verse with you: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book” (Psalm 56:8). God sees everything that you’ve gone through, and He’s with you. He will take care of you.

Further Reading:

Psalm 37

Psalm 40:1-3

Jeremiah 29:11

Psalm 139

Psalm 121

Hebrews 13:5

Psalm 46:1

Some seasons of life feel heavier than we expected. Transitions, loss, depression, disappointment&mdash;sometimes they arrive all at once. In those moments, it&rsquo;s easy to believe we&rsquo;re alone in the struggle. But God gives a powerful promise in Isaiah 43:2: when we walk through deep waters and fiery trials, He will be with us.
Key Scripture
<blockquote data-start="765" data-end="1009">
&ldquo;When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.&rdquo; &mdash; Isaiah 43:2
</blockquote>
Highlights
<ul data-start="1028" data-end="1462">
<li data-start="1028" data-end="1117">
Difficult seasons do not mean God is absent; He promises to walk with us through them
</li>
<li data-start="1118" data-end="1199">
Jesus invites the weary to come to Him for rest and relief (Matthew 11:28&ndash;30)
</li>
<li data-start="1200" data-end="1285">
God is close to the brokenhearted and rescues the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18)
</li>
<li data-start="1286" data-end="1382">
The Lord often works through community, counselors, teachers, and friends to provide support
</li>
<li data-start="1383" data-end="1462">
Every tear, sorrow, and struggle is seen and remembered by God (Psalm 56:8)
</li>
</ul>
<hr><hr>
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<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
You Are Not Alone
By Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.&rdquo; - Isaiah 43:2
When I was in college, I went through an unexpected season of loss in my second year. It was a year of transition for me. Many of my upperclassman friends had graduated; I had a new roommate, and I had just finished my first job at a summer camp. I had met many close friends there, and it was hard to leave.&nbsp;
Depression hit, and I wasn&rsquo;t ready for it. It scared me, and I didn&rsquo;t know how to deal with it. I tried my best to manage my emotions while balancing school and living on my own. Things snowballed, and when I started struggling in my classes, I felt a sense of hopelessness, not enthusiasm, for the future.
I had a teacher whom I constantly let down, in my own eyes, by being late to her class. One of our assignments was a behavior change project, in which we had to identify areas we wanted to change. Of course, I chose tardiness. As I was very transparent in my project, she saw that I needed help. My lateness stemmed from this depression. She suggested counseling. This changed my trajectory.&nbsp;
It was hard to feel like I had to figure things out on my own while I was away at school. I put all of this responsibility upon myself because I felt like that was what I was supposed to do as an adult. If I were to talk to myself now, looking back, I would share this verse from Matthew: &ldquo;Then Jesus said, &lsquo;Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light&rsquo;&rdquo; (Matthew 11:28-30).
We all face difficult times, and when we do, we need help. We can&rsquo;t do it on our own. I was ashamed of my depression and tried to hide it, but what I should have done was reach out to those around me.
I look back on this season many times and still feel the sting of how hard things were. I don&rsquo;t always see where God was in that time, but I know He was always there. I was never alone, despite my feelings.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
When I reflect upon that time, I know that God was with me in my sorrow. I think of how the word 'compassion' means 'to suffer with.' Jesus set the example of what that is. When His friend, Lazarus, died, &ldquo;Jesus wept&rdquo; (John 11:35). He experienced sorrow alongside Mary and Martha, who were grieving. God promises us in His Word that He will be with us when we are suffering. In Psalms, David says, &ldquo;The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed&rdquo; (Psalm 34:18).
Another way I know God was with me was through the help of those around me. During that time of depression, I wanted to help a member of my church. Though I tried, I was in way over my head. Both a friend and the local church stepped in and provided the help I wanted to give this woman. It blessed me so much that they would carry that burden with me. In Galatians, it says, &ldquo;Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone&mdash;especially to those in the family of faith&rdquo; (Galatians 6:10). Not only do I see how God worked through the support of my friends, I see Him, most evidently, through the teacher who suggested that I get help from our school&rsquo;s counseling center.&nbsp;
Despite how I felt that year, I know that God&rsquo;s hand was on my life. Through counseling, He provided help and a way out of the depression. I had hope again and could see light. In the darkness of seasons like this, it&rsquo;s tough to see how you&rsquo;ll get to the other side&mdash;but God knows. God also provided by surrounding me with friends that year. Though I never shared about my struggles with them, I was held in love by my Father. Psalms says, &ldquo;But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love&rdquo; (Psalm 33:18).
Is there a season in your life that has been difficult? Has it been hard to see God, where He is, and what He is doing? I want to share this verse with you: &ldquo;You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book&rdquo; (Psalm 56:8). God sees everything that you&rsquo;ve gone through, and He&rsquo;s with you. He will take care of you.
Further Reading:
Psalm 37
Psalm 40:1-3
Jeremiah 29:11
Psalm 139
Psalm 121
Hebrews 13:5
Psalm 46:1

You Are Not Alone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/67560723-3359-49ef-91d6-b3f001308380/transcript

Are You Using the Devil as a Scapegoat?

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