While you may not call someone an enemy, I can be certain you can name some people in your life you don’t have warm, fuzzy feelings for. In all walks of life, you are going to encounter people that are hard to like and hard to root for. - Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

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/

While you may not call someone an enemy, I can be certain you can name some people in your life you don’t have warm, fuzzy feelings for. In all walks of life, you are going to encounter people that are hard to like and hard to root for. - Clarence L. Haynes Jr.
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

Dealing with This All Too Common Sin

Life can feel overwhelming, and during seasons of depression, unanswered prayers, or hardship, it’s natural to wonder if God has forgotten us. Vivian Bricker shares a deeply personal reflection on these struggles, reminding us that God’s love and attention never waver. Even when circumstances feel heavy, His promises remain steadfast, and His presence walks with us through every trial.

Isaiah 49:15 reassures believers that God’s care surpasses even the tender love of a mother, promising that we are never forgotten, no matter how dire the situation may seem.

Highlights


Difficult times can create the illusion that God is absent, but His love is constant.


Hardship, illness, and spiritual attacks are part of life in a fallen world, but God is always present.


God’s promises are eternal, focusing on the hope of eternal life rather than temporary comfort.


We are written on God’s hands, and His compassion and love never fade.


Trusting God brings comfort, hope, and reassurance that we are His beloved children.


Daily reminders of His faithfulness, mercy, and love strengthen our hearts during trials.

Intersecting Faith & Life

Ask yourself: Why might you feel forgotten by God? Is it an unanswered prayer, ongoing struggle, or emotional hardship? Understanding that God’s love and presence never waver helps us find peace, even in times of uncertainty. Open your heart to His compassion and allow His promises to guide your faith through every difficulty.

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:

Has God Forgotten about Me?
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). 

When dreadful things happen, it is hard not to wonder if God has forgotten about us. A few years ago, I was going through a particularly hard patch in life, and I was feeling as though God had forgotten about me. Unanswered prayers and depression were getting the best of me. I did not want to leave my house, stopped seeing friends, and isolated myself from the rest of the world.

I did not want to be a part of the world anymore because I was only seeing terrible things happening. Therefore, I thought the best solution was to hide away and drown out all the hurt by keeping busy at work. During this time, I felt so far away from God. 

I reasoned that if God had remembered me, I wouldn’t be going through such challenging times. The hard truth is that God doesn’t promise us bright and sunny days. Instead, He promises us something even better—eternal life with Him. This life will become overwhelming, stressful, and painful at times, but we have all of eternity to look forward to with the Lord.

Just as God didn’t forget about me, neither has He forgotten about you. You might feel like He has forgotten about you, but I want you to challenge those thoughts. Why do you feel God has forgotten about you? Is it because a prayer wasn’t answered the way you wanted? Or is it because you are going through a challenging time?

Like you, I was under the impression that God would keep me safe from all things. Mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks—I thought I would never have to worry about these things again. However, facing mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks are all part of living in this fallen world. God does not cause these things, but He can give us support, encouragement, and hope as we walk through these challenging times. He will not take us out of these troubles, but He will be with us every step of the way (Psalm 23:1-6).  

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Isaiah 49:15 tells us, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Mothers love their children beyond words; however, God loves us even more. There may be times when our own mother forgets about us, but God never does. This is because we are forever written on the palm of His hand, and we are kept safe by His love. 

There is not a day that goes by that God does not think about us. He will always remember us and love us. We are His beloved children (1 John 3:1). God’s love for us is always present, even if we cannot see it with our own two eyes (Romans 8:37-39). Allow these truths to bring your heart comfort, hope, and solace today. 

Open your heart to God and accept His compassion. Although you may have gone through many troubling times, He is still with you. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)! 

Pray with me: Dear God, I often wonder if You have forgotten about me due to the tough situations in my life. However, now I know that You will never forget me. Thank You for always remembering me, loving me, and caring about me. Keep these promises close to my heart and surround me with your love. Help me walk in the confidence that You are always with me. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.

Have you ever felt God has forgotten about you? What helped you to remember that God loves you and that He will never forget about you? 

Further Reading:

Psalm 27:10

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 31:3

Life can feel overwhelming, and during seasons of depression, unanswered prayers, or hardship, it&rsquo;s natural to wonder if God has forgotten us. Vivian Bricker shares a deeply personal reflection on these struggles, reminding us that God&rsquo;s love and attention never waver. Even when circumstances feel heavy, His promises remain steadfast, and His presence walks with us through every trial.
Isaiah 49:15 reassures believers that God&rsquo;s care surpasses even the tender love of a mother, promising that we are never forgotten, no matter how dire the situation may seem.
Highlights
<ul data-start="867" data-end="1420">
<li data-start="867" data-end="956">
Difficult times can create the illusion that God is absent, but His love is constant.
</li>
<li data-start="957" data-end="1064">
Hardship, illness, and spiritual attacks are part of life in a fallen world, but God is always present.
</li>
<li data-start="1065" data-end="1164">
God&rsquo;s promises are eternal, focusing on the hope of eternal life rather than temporary comfort.
</li>
<li data-start="1165" data-end="1239">
We are written on God&rsquo;s hands, and His compassion and love never fade.
</li>
<li data-start="1240" data-end="1328">
Trusting God brings comfort, hope, and reassurance that we are His beloved children.
</li>
<li data-start="1329" data-end="1420">
Daily reminders of His faithfulness, mercy, and love strengthen our hearts during trials.
</li>
</ul>
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life
Ask yourself: Why might you feel forgotten by God? Is it an unanswered prayer, ongoing struggle, or emotional hardship? Understanding that God&rsquo;s love and presence never waver helps us find peace, even in times of uncertainty. Open your heart to His compassion and allow His promises to guide your faith through every difficulty.
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:
Has God Forgotten about Me? By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!&rdquo; (Isaiah 49:15).&nbsp;
When dreadful things happen, it is hard not to wonder if God has forgotten about us. A few years ago, I was going through a particularly hard patch in life, and I was feeling as though God had forgotten about me. Unanswered prayers and depression were getting the best of me. I did not want to leave my house, stopped seeing friends, and isolated myself from the rest of the world.
I did not want to be a part of the world anymore because I was only seeing terrible things happening. Therefore, I thought the best solution was to hide away and drown out all the hurt by keeping busy at work. During this time, I felt so far away from God.&nbsp;
I reasoned that if God had remembered me, I wouldn&rsquo;t be going through such challenging times. The hard truth is that God doesn&rsquo;t promise us bright and sunny days. Instead, He promises us something even better&mdash;eternal life with Him. This life will become overwhelming, stressful, and painful at times, but we have all of eternity to look forward to with the Lord.
Just as God didn&rsquo;t forget about me, neither has He forgotten about you. You might feel like He has forgotten about you, but I want you to challenge those thoughts. Why do you feel God has forgotten about you? Is it because a prayer wasn&rsquo;t answered the way you wanted? Or is it because you are going through a challenging time?
Like you, I was under the impression that God would keep me safe from all things. Mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks&mdash;I thought I would never have to worry about these things again. However, facing mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks are all part of living in this fallen world. God does not cause these things, but He can give us support, encouragement, and hope as we walk through these challenging times. He will not take us out of these troubles, but He will be with us every step of the way (Psalm 23:1-6).&nbsp;&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Isaiah 49:15 tells us, &ldquo;Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!&rdquo; Mothers love their children beyond words; however, God loves us even more. There may be times when our own mother forgets about us, but God never does. This is because we are forever written on the palm of His hand, and we are kept safe by His love.&nbsp;
There is not a day that goes by that God does not think about us. He will always remember us and love us. We are His beloved children (1 John 3:1). God&rsquo;s love for us is always present, even if we cannot see it with our own two eyes (Romans 8:37-39). Allow these truths to bring your heart comfort, hope, and solace today.&nbsp;
Open your heart to God and accept His compassion. Although you may have gone through many troubling times, He is still with you. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)!&nbsp;
Pray with me: Dear God, I often wonder if You have forgotten about me due to the tough situations in my life. However, now I know that You will never forget me. Thank You for always remembering me, loving me, and caring about me. Keep these promises close to my heart and surround me with your love. Help me walk in the confidence that You are always with me. In Your Son&rsquo;s Name, I pray, Amen.
Have you ever felt God has forgotten about you? What helped you to remember that God loves you and that He will never forget about you?&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 27:10
Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 31:3

Has God Forgotten about Me?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/505ebf19-5660-473b-a189-b40900e50248/transcript

Feeling forgotten by God can happen during seasons of unanswered prayer, depression, or overwhelming hardship. This Christian devotional rooted in Isaiah 49:15 reminds us that even when life feels heavy, God’s love never disappears. Vivian Bricker reflects on how painful seasons can create the illusion that God has forgotten us, when in truth He remains present and faithful.

Scripture assures us that God’s care is even stronger than a mother’s love for her child. While life in a broken world includes suffering, spiritual battles, and emotional struggles, God walks with us through every moment. His promises remain steady, and His love never leaves us—even when we struggle to feel it.

Highlights


Difficult seasons can make it feel like God has forgotten us, but His Word promises otherwise.


God’s love is stronger and more constant than any human relationship.


Unanswered prayers do not mean God is absent or indifferent.


Life in a fallen world includes hardship, but God’s presence remains with us through it all.


Scripture reminds us we are deeply loved and never forgotten by our Heavenly Father.


God’s mercies are renewed every morning, offering fresh hope each day.

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:

Has God Forgotten about Me?
By Vivian Bricker

Bible Reading:
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). 

When dreadful things happen, it is hard not to wonder if God has forgotten about us. A few years ago, I was going through a particularly hard patch in life, and I was feeling as though God had forgotten about me. Unanswered prayers and depression were getting the best of me. I did not want to leave my house, stopped seeing friends, and isolated myself from the rest of the world.

I did not want to be a part of the world anymore because I was only seeing terrible things happening. Therefore, I thought the best solution was to hide away and drown out all the hurt by keeping busy at work. During this time, I felt so far away from God. 

I reasoned that if God had remembered me, I wouldn’t be going through such challenging times. The hard truth is that God doesn’t promise us bright and sunny days. Instead, He promises us something even better—eternal life with Him. This life will become overwhelming, stressful, and painful at times, but we have all of eternity to look forward to with the Lord.

Just as God didn’t forget about me, neither has He forgotten about you. You might feel like He has forgotten about you, but I want you to challenge those thoughts. Why do you feel God has forgotten about you? Is it because a prayer wasn’t answered the way you wanted? Or is it because you are going through a challenging time?

Like you, I was under the impression that God would keep me safe from all things. Mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks—I thought I would never have to worry about these things again. However, facing mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks are all part of living in this fallen world. God does not cause these things, but He can give us support, encouragement, and hope as we walk through these challenging times. He will not take us out of these troubles, but He will be with us every step of the way (Psalm 23:1-6).  

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Isaiah 49:15 tells us, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Mothers love their children beyond words; however, God loves us even more. There may be times when our own mother forgets about us, but God never does. This is because we are forever written on the palm of His hand, and we are kept safe by His love. 

There is not a day that goes by that God does not think about us. He will always remember us and love us. We are His beloved children (1 John 3:1). God’s love for us is always present, even if we cannot see it with our own two eyes (Romans 8:37-39). Allow these truths to bring your heart comfort, hope, and solace today. 

Open your heart to God and accept His compassion. Although you may have gone through many troubling times, He is still with you. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)! 

Pray with me: Dear God, I often wonder if You have forgotten about me due to the tough situations in my life. However, now I know that You will never forget me. Thank You for always remembering me, loving me, and caring about me. Keep these promises close to my heart and surround me with your love. Help me walk in the confidence that You are always with me. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.

Have you ever felt God has forgotten about you? What helped you to remember that God loves you and that He will never forget about you? 

Further Reading:

Psalm 27:10

Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 31:3

Feeling forgotten by God can happen during seasons of unanswered prayer, depression, or overwhelming hardship. This Christian devotional rooted in Isaiah 49:15 reminds us that even when life feels heavy, God&rsquo;s love never disappears. Vivian Bricker reflects on how painful seasons can create the illusion that God has forgotten us, when in truth He remains present and faithful.
Scripture assures us that God&rsquo;s care is even stronger than a mother&rsquo;s love for her child. While life in a broken world includes suffering, spiritual battles, and emotional struggles, God walks with us through every moment. His promises remain steady, and His love never leaves us&mdash;even when we struggle to feel it.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1000" data-end="1496">
<li data-start="1000" data-end="1098">
Difficult seasons can make it feel like God has forgotten us, but His Word promises otherwise.
</li>
<li data-start="1099" data-end="1172">
God&rsquo;s love is stronger and more constant than any human relationship.
</li>
<li data-start="1173" data-end="1237">
Unanswered prayers do not mean God is absent or indifferent.
</li>
<li data-start="1238" data-end="1334">
Life in a fallen world includes hardship, but God&rsquo;s presence remains with us through it all.
</li>
<li data-start="1335" data-end="1423">
Scripture reminds us we are deeply loved and never forgotten by our Heavenly Father.
</li>
<li data-start="1424" data-end="1496">
God&rsquo;s mercies are renewed every morning, offering fresh hope each day.
</li>
</ul>
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:
Has God Forgotten about Me? By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!&rdquo; (Isaiah 49:15).&nbsp;
When dreadful things happen, it is hard not to wonder if God has forgotten about us. A few years ago, I was going through a particularly hard patch in life, and I was feeling as though God had forgotten about me. Unanswered prayers and depression were getting the best of me. I did not want to leave my house, stopped seeing friends, and isolated myself from the rest of the world.
I did not want to be a part of the world anymore because I was only seeing terrible things happening. Therefore, I thought the best solution was to hide away and drown out all the hurt by keeping busy at work. During this time, I felt so far away from God.&nbsp;
I reasoned that if God had remembered me, I wouldn&rsquo;t be going through such challenging times. The hard truth is that God doesn&rsquo;t promise us bright and sunny days. Instead, He promises us something even better&mdash;eternal life with Him. This life will become overwhelming, stressful, and painful at times, but we have all of eternity to look forward to with the Lord.
Just as God didn&rsquo;t forget about me, neither has He forgotten about you. You might feel like He has forgotten about you, but I want you to challenge those thoughts. Why do you feel God has forgotten about you? Is it because a prayer wasn&rsquo;t answered the way you wanted? Or is it because you are going through a challenging time?
Like you, I was under the impression that God would keep me safe from all things. Mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks&mdash;I thought I would never have to worry about these things again. However, facing mental health struggles, physical health problems, and spiritual attacks are all part of living in this fallen world. God does not cause these things, but He can give us support, encouragement, and hope as we walk through these challenging times. He will not take us out of these troubles, but He will be with us every step of the way (Psalm 23:1-6).&nbsp;&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Isaiah 49:15 tells us, &ldquo;Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!&rdquo; Mothers love their children beyond words; however, God loves us even more. There may be times when our own mother forgets about us, but God never does. This is because we are forever written on the palm of His hand, and we are kept safe by His love.&nbsp;
There is not a day that goes by that God does not think about us. He will always remember us and love us. We are His beloved children (1 John 3:1). God&rsquo;s love for us is always present, even if we cannot see it with our own two eyes (Romans 8:37-39). Allow these truths to bring your heart comfort, hope, and solace today.&nbsp;
Open your heart to God and accept His compassion. Although you may have gone through many troubling times, He is still with you. His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23)!&nbsp;
Pray with me: Dear God, I often wonder if You have forgotten about me due to the tough situations in my life. However, now I know that You will never forget me. Thank You for always remembering me, loving me, and caring about me. Keep these promises close to my heart and surround me with your love. Help me walk in the confidence that You are always with me. In Your Son&rsquo;s Name, I pray, Amen.
Have you ever felt God has forgotten about you? What helped you to remember that God loves you and that He will never forget about you?&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 27:10
Jeremiah 29:11
Jeremiah 31:3

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/07946724-5373-4242-9d96-b405013390a0/transcript

God often calls us to roles that feel overwhelming or beyond our capacity. Jennifer Slattery reflects on how recognizing our flaws doesn’t disqualify us—instead, God can use our weaknesses to grow our faith and strength. By serving Him wholeheartedly, seeking Him consistently, and relying on His guidance, we can step confidently into the assignments He’s placed before us. Even when tasks seem impossible, God equips us to follow His commands and complete the work He has called us to.

Highlights


Feeling ill-equipped doesn’t mean you’re disqualified; imperfection can lead to growth when anchored in God.


Like Solomon, success in divine assignments requires a close relationship with God and attentive obedience.


Serve God with a unified heart, setting aside mixed motives and self-protection.


Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and surrender to His guidance.


Courage and strength come from trusting that God has placed you in the role and will make your efforts fruitful.

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:

Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
“So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever.
“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.” - 1 Chronicles 28:8-10

Years ago, when I began to sense that God was opening doors for publication and establishing my calling, I became overwhelmingly aware of my sin, flaws, and weaknesses. I feared I wasn’t spiritually or emotionally mature enough to hold any type of platform for Him. Initially, I wanted to withdraw and choose a less visible role (also known as suppress and deny my gifting). As I prayed through this, however, the Lord helped me see that yes, I assessed my faults and potential vulnerabilities correctly, but my imperfection needn’t disqualify me. My recognition could, in fact, lead to growth and strength, so long as I remained focused on and connected to Him. 

If I wanted to live more like Jesus in this new and much more public role, I needed to consistently apply King David’s advice to his son Solomon. David, ancient Israel’s second king, knew his life neared its end and wanted to ensure his son had everything he needed to lead the nation well and complete David’s long-held dream of building the first permanent temple for God. 

This assignment must’ve felt overwhelming.   

To succeed, Solomon needed much more than building, math, leadership, and problem-solving skills. He needed to maintain a close relationship with God in which he remained alert to the Lord’s voice and set his heart on dependent obedience. 

Intersection Life & Faith:

We’ve probably all landed in situations for which we felt severely ill-equipped. Perhaps you’re parenting a rebellious and drug-addicted teenager, managing a highly toxic team, facing a diagnosis with confusing treatment options, or trying to heal from deep childhood wounds. 

When the path ahead feels steep and shrouded in fog, we can stall in fear, march ahead in human foolishness, or apply today’s passage.

Again, this reads:

“Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God … 9 “... serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you … the Lord has chosen you... Be strong and do the work” (1 Chron. 28:8b-10, NIV). 

Let’s break this down. 

Be careful to follow God’s commands. This implies living with intention and predetermining to obey; however, He leads. Of course, I must know the Lord’s will, as recorded in Scripture and whispered in my heart, to remain intimately aligned with my Savior. 

Serve Him with my whole heart. Sadly, I often carry mixed motives. I want to honor Christ and to self-protect. I long to love my family well, but my pride often gets in the way. I choose contentment while simultaneously fighting against a desire for increased wealth, beauty, or better health. But with God’s help, I can worship Him with a unified heart. 

Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and inviting Him to remove any lies that distort my perspective of Him. He will be found by me. I’m comforted knowing that God never withholds love or relationship. He always makes Himself available to us. The moment I take a step toward Him, He is already moving toward me (James 4:8).

The Lord has chosen you. When my insecurities tell me someone else would perform my responsibilities better, the Spirit reminds me that God placed me in this role. He alone holds the figurative pen for my life and the power to make my efforts fruitful.

Be strong and do the work. While I want to begin each day quietly connecting with Christ, eventually I must leave my figurative prayer closet to follow however He leads.

May these steps, and your Father who preserved them in writing, increase your courage and resolve the next time you feel overwhelmed or insufficient for whatever stands before you.

Further Reading:
Colossians 3:23-24
2 Timothy 2:1-7
Hebrews 10:36-39

God often calls us to roles that feel overwhelming or beyond our capacity. Jennifer Slattery reflects on how recognizing our flaws doesn&rsquo;t disqualify us&mdash;instead, God can use our weaknesses to grow our faith and strength. By serving Him wholeheartedly, seeking Him consistently, and relying on His guidance, we can step confidently into the assignments He&rsquo;s placed before us. Even when tasks seem impossible, God equips us to follow His commands and complete the work He has called us to.
Highlights
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<li data-start="969" data-end="1081">
Feeling ill-equipped doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;re disqualified; imperfection can lead to growth when anchored in God.
</li>
<li data-start="1082" data-end="1193">
Like Solomon, success in divine assignments requires a close relationship with God and attentive obedience.
</li>
<li data-start="1194" data-end="1278">
Serve God with a unified heart, setting aside mixed motives and self-protection.
</li>
<li data-start="1279" data-end="1374">
Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and surrender to His guidance.
</li>
<li data-start="1375" data-end="1491">
Courage and strength come from trusting that God has placed you in the role and will make your efforts fruitful.
</li>
</ul>
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Full Transcript Below:
Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading: &ldquo;So now I charge you in the sight of all Israel and of the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God: Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and pass it on as an inheritance to your descendants forever. &ldquo;And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.&rdquo; - 1 Chronicles 28:8-10
Years ago, when I began to sense that God was opening doors for publication and establishing my calling, I became overwhelmingly aware of my sin, flaws, and weaknesses. I feared I wasn&rsquo;t spiritually or emotionally mature enough to hold any type of platform for Him. Initially, I wanted to withdraw and choose a less visible role (also known as suppress and deny my gifting). As I prayed through this, however, the Lord helped me see that yes, I assessed my faults and potential vulnerabilities correctly, but my imperfection needn&rsquo;t disqualify me. My recognition could, in fact, lead to growth and strength, so long as I remained focused on and connected to Him.&nbsp;
If I wanted to live more like Jesus in this new and much more public role, I needed to consistently apply King David&rsquo;s advice to his son Solomon. David, ancient Israel&rsquo;s second king, knew his life neared its end and wanted to ensure his son had everything he needed to lead the nation well and complete David&rsquo;s long-held dream of building the first permanent temple for God.&nbsp;
This assignment must&rsquo;ve felt overwhelming.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
To succeed, Solomon needed much more than building, math, leadership, and problem-solving skills. He needed to maintain a close relationship with God in which he remained alert to the Lord&rsquo;s voice and set his heart on dependent obedience.&nbsp;
Intersection Life &amp; Faith:
We&rsquo;ve probably all landed in situations for which we felt severely ill-equipped. Perhaps you&rsquo;re parenting a rebellious and drug-addicted teenager, managing a highly toxic team, facing a diagnosis with confusing treatment options, or trying to heal from deep childhood wounds.&nbsp;
When the path ahead feels steep and shrouded in fog, we can stall in fear, march ahead in human foolishness, or apply today&rsquo;s passage.
Again, this reads:
&ldquo;Be careful to follow all the commands of the Lord your God &hellip; 9 &ldquo;... serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you &hellip; the Lord has chosen you... Be strong and do the work&rdquo; (1 Chron. 28:8b-10, NIV).&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s break this down.&nbsp;
Be careful to follow God&rsquo;s commands. This implies living with intention and predetermining to obey; however, He leads. Of course, I must know the Lord&rsquo;s will, as recorded in Scripture and whispered in my heart, to remain intimately aligned with my Savior.&nbsp;
Serve Him with my whole heart. Sadly, I often carry mixed motives. I want to honor Christ and to self-protect. I long to love my family well, but my pride often gets in the way. I choose contentment while simultaneously fighting against a desire for increased wealth, beauty, or better health. But with God&rsquo;s help, I can worship Him with a unified heart.&nbsp;
Seek God through prayer, Bible reading, worship, journaling, and inviting Him to remove any lies that distort my perspective of Him. He will be found by me. I&rsquo;m comforted knowing that God never withholds love or relationship. He always makes Himself available to us. The moment I take a step toward Him, He is already moving toward me (James 4:8).
The Lord has chosen you. When my insecurities tell me someone else would perform my responsibilities better, the Spirit reminds me that God placed me in this role. He alone holds the figurative pen for my life and the power to make my efforts fruitful.
Be strong and do the work. While I want to begin each day quietly connecting with Christ, eventually I must leave my figurative prayer closet to follow however He leads.
May these steps, and your Father who preserved them in writing, increase your courage and resolve the next time you feel overwhelmed or insufficient for whatever stands before you.
Further Reading: Colossians 3:23-24 2 Timothy 2:1-7 Hebrews 10:36-39

Hearts Prepared for Divine Assignments

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