We don’t rejoice in God because of what he can do for us, we rejoice because of who he is. - Jessica Van Roekel

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We don’t rejoice in God because of what he can do for us, we rejoice because of who he is. - Jessica Van Roekel
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

How to Rejoice in the Good and the Bad

Even ordinary tasks can feel overwhelming. Stress, grief, mistakes, uncertainty, and ongoing trials can leave you emotionally and spiritually exhausted, wondering how you’ll find the strength to keep going. Psalm 121 reminds us where our help comes from: the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

God does not expect us to pretend we’re okay or power through every difficult season on our own. When you’re too tired to pray, too overwhelmed to see clearly, or simply unsure how to take the next step, you can bring that weakness to Him. Jesus offers rest to those who are weary, and the Holy Spirit intercedes when we don’t have the words. Even in the darkest seasons, God remains near, providing the strength, peace, and help we need for whatever comes next.

Highlights:
What to do when you feel emotionally, physically, or spiritually worn down
How Psalm 121 reminds us to look to God for help when life feels overwhelming
Why God does not expect us to pretend we are okay or handle everything alone
Finding rest in Jesus during seasons of exhaustion, stress, and hardship
How the Holy Spirit helps us when we are too weak or tired to pray
Why God’s presence remains with us even when we cannot feel or see Him
Encouragement to trust God for the strength needed to take the next step

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Full Transcript Below:

When Life Wears You Down

By Alexis A. Goring

Bible Reading:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

There’s a song by Tenth Avenue North that inspired this devotional. A melancholy melody starts, then the opening lyrics say how tired and worn they feel. They have a heavy heart from all the hard work it takes just to continue breathing. The mistakes they’ve made are creating a dark cloud over their heads, and the weight of the world is crushing their soul. But they know that God can give them rest, so with all they have left, they muster up a cry to Him. 

The singer says he knows he needs to lift his eyes up to God and remember Him, trusting God to see him through these tough times, but he feels too weak to look up because the trials and storms of life won’t cease. But he knows God can give him what he needs, renew his mind, and restore the brokenness of his soul. So, though they don’t have the will or energy to fight, they have hope because they know God will fight for them. 

This reminds me of the Bible verse above (Psalm 121). It also reminds me of words by Ellie Mont that she posted to her Instagram page a while ago. Mont said, “God is not far from you right now. God is not asking you to perform or pretend or power through. God sees how tired you are. God knows the weight you are carrying. God understands the tears you do not even have the energy to cry anymore. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest does not mean everything suddenly feels better. Sometimes rest is simply permission to stop pretending you are okay. Sometimes rest is letting God sit with you in the dark instead of forcing yourself toward the light. You are not failing because you are tired. You are not unfaithful because you are overwhelmed. You are human. And God is gentle with humans who are worn down.”

Isn’t it good to know that God is gentle with us when we feel worn down by life?

As a person who suffers from chronic fatigue, I know what it’s like to feel tired. You can feel too tired to do simple tasks or exercise. Sometimes sleep doesn’t fix it. But I am grateful to know that God offers rest to me and everyone who needs it. Over the years, God has shown me that He knows what I need before I know, and He already has provision in place. And when we feel too tired to lift our eyes up to Him and send up prayers to Heaven about how we feel and what we need, we can trust that God’s Holy Spirit intercedes for us, saying to Him what we cannot as He helps us when we feel weak (Romans 8:26-27).

Part of our human experience on Earth is to go through storms, trials, and tribulations. These elements and factors can make us weary. It can also obscure our view of God and really weaken our faith in Him when we cannot see Him nor sense His Presence in dark and challenging times. But the good news is that He is always here with us (Matthew 28:20). Jesus Christ is not just the light at the end of the dark tunnel; He is the light beside us and within us (1 John 4:4). Therefore, we have nothing to fear. We can rest knowing that Jesus will always be with us. He will give us what we need to take the next step (Proverbs 3:5-6), climb that mountain, take that leap of faith, and survive the storms of life. 

Next time you’re feeling worn down by life, go to God. Even if you cannot pray for a long time, simply saying “Jesus, help me” will suffice. And if you cannot even say those words silently or aloud, trust that God already heard the cry of your heart, and He will meet you in your time of need.

In closing, please listen to and reflect on these five songs (listed below).

Song of Reflection #1: “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #2: “My Help” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #3: “My Prayer for You” by Alisa Turner. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #4: “It’s Always Been You” by Phil Wickham. Listen to it HERE.

Song of Reflection #5: “His Strength is Perfect” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it HERE.

Intersecting Faith and Life:
How does it feel to know that we can lean on God and trust Him to restore us when we feel worn down by life?

Further Reading:
Isaiah 26:3
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 46:1
Hebrews 4:16

Even ordinary tasks can feel overwhelming. Stress, grief, mistakes, uncertainty, and ongoing trials can leave you emotionally and spiritually exhausted, wondering how you&rsquo;ll find the strength to keep going. Psalm 121 reminds us where our help comes from: the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
God does not expect us to pretend we&rsquo;re okay or power through every difficult season on our own. When you&rsquo;re too tired to pray, too overwhelmed to see clearly, or simply unsure how to take the next step, you can bring that weakness to Him. Jesus offers rest to those who are weary, and the Holy Spirit intercedes when we don&rsquo;t have the words. Even in the darkest seasons, God remains near, providing the strength, peace, and help we need for whatever comes next.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>What to do when you feel emotionally, physically, or spiritually worn down</li>
<li>How Psalm 121 reminds us to look to God for help when life feels overwhelming</li>
<li>Why God does not expect us to pretend we are okay or handle everything alone</li>
<li>Finding rest in Jesus during seasons of exhaustion, stress, and hardship</li>
<li>How the Holy Spirit helps us when we are too weak or tired to pray</li>
<li>Why God&rsquo;s presence remains with us even when we cannot feel or see Him</li>
<li>Encouragement to trust God for the strength needed to take the next step</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
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<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>
Full Transcript Below:
When Life Wears You Down
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading: &ldquo;I lift up my eyes to the mountains&mdash;where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.&rdquo; - Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
There&rsquo;s a song by Tenth Avenue North that inspired this devotional. A melancholy melody starts, then the opening lyrics say how tired and worn they feel. They have a heavy heart from all the hard work it takes just to continue breathing. The mistakes they&rsquo;ve made are creating a dark cloud over their heads, and the weight of the world is crushing their soul. But they know that God can give them rest, so with all they have left, they muster up a cry to Him.&nbsp;
The singer says he knows he needs to lift his eyes up to God and remember Him, trusting God to see him through these tough times, but he feels too weak to look up because the trials and storms of life won&rsquo;t cease. But he knows God can give him what he needs, renew his mind, and restore the brokenness of his soul. So, though they don&rsquo;t have the will or energy to fight, they have hope because they know God will fight for them.&nbsp;
This reminds me of the Bible verse above (Psalm 121). It also reminds me of words by Ellie Mont that she posted to her <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTwnJReDJ25/?igsh=MnJwend4Y3dhdnYw">Instagram page</a> a while ago. Mont said, &ldquo;God is not far from you right now. God is not asking you to perform or pretend or power through. God sees how tired you are. God knows the weight you are carrying. God understands the tears you do not even have the energy to cry anymore. Jesus said, &ldquo;Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest&rdquo; (Matthew 11:28). Rest does not mean everything suddenly feels better. Sometimes rest is simply permission to stop pretending you are okay. Sometimes rest is letting God sit with you in the dark instead of forcing yourself toward the light. You are not failing because you are tired. You are not unfaithful because you are overwhelmed. You are human. And God is gentle with humans who are worn down.&rdquo;
Isn&rsquo;t it good to know that God is gentle with us when we feel worn down by life?
As a person who suffers from chronic fatigue, I know what it&rsquo;s like to feel tired. You can feel too tired to do simple tasks or exercise. Sometimes sleep doesn&rsquo;t fix it. But I am grateful to know that God offers rest to me and everyone who needs it. Over the years, God has shown me that He knows what I need before I know, and He already has provision in place. And when we feel too tired to lift our eyes up to Him and send up prayers to Heaven about how we feel and what we need, we can trust that God&rsquo;s Holy Spirit intercedes for us, saying to Him what we cannot as He helps us when we feel weak (Romans 8:26-27).
Part of our human experience on Earth is to go through storms, trials, and tribulations. These elements and factors can make us weary. It can also obscure our view of God and really weaken our faith in Him when we cannot see Him nor sense His Presence in dark and challenging times. But the good news is that He is always here with us (Matthew 28:20). Jesus Christ is not just the light at the end of the dark tunnel; He is the light beside us and within us (1 John 4:4). Therefore, we have nothing to fear. We can rest knowing that Jesus will always be with us. He will give us what we need to take the next step (Proverbs 3:5-6), climb that mountain, take that leap of faith, and survive the storms of life.&nbsp;
Next time you&rsquo;re feeling worn down by life, go to God. Even if you cannot pray for a long time, simply saying &ldquo;Jesus, help me&rdquo; will suffice. And if you cannot even say those words silently or aloud, trust that God already heard the cry of your heart, and He will meet you in your time of need.
In closing, please listen to and reflect on these five songs (listed below).
Song of Reflection #1: &ldquo;Worn&rdquo; by Tenth Avenue North. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/zulKcYItKIA?si=wj5P0hXvwGgelkH4">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #2: &ldquo;My Help&rdquo; by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/DWydssGbUBc?si=rffPjZTMGYYU_HWT">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #3: &ldquo;My Prayer for You&rdquo; by Alisa Turner. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/hj_0pvIGkks?si=p14OPYDaTWtLAl6L">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #4: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s Always Been You&rdquo; by Phil Wickham. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/58pBvQa0XSM?si=X-KkfCnLrkEA1TLE">HERE</a>.
Song of Reflection #5: &ldquo;His Strength is Perfect&rdquo; by CeCe Winans. Listen to it <a href="https://youtu.be/QpnLTxslwds?si=_1N1Skvxw68AguZd">HERE</a>.
Intersecting Faith and Life: How does it feel to know that we can lean on God and trust Him to restore us when we feel worn down by life?
Further Reading: Isaiah 26:3 Philippians 4:13 Psalm 28:7 Psalm 46:1 Hebrews 4:16

When Life Wears You Down

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/f6c3b986-1570-4a3d-85dc-b4ba010fcd65/transcript

When life feels uncertain, it’s easy to wonder where God is. Waiting, unanswered prayers, difficult circumstances, and seasons of feeling forgotten can make us question whether God is still with us. David experienced those same struggles, yet his story reminds us that God’s presence and promises remain true even when we cannot see what He is doing.

Faith doesn’t mean ignoring our doubts or pretending difficult seasons don’t hurt. Like David in Psalm 22, we can bring our questions, fears, and frustrations honestly to God while choosing to remember who He is. Even in the valleys, God has not abandoned us. When we cling to His promises and trust His faithfulness, our prayers can move from anguish toward praise as we remember that God is with us on both the good days and the hard ones.

Highlights:
Why feeling forgotten by God doesn’t mean He has abandoned you
What David’s uncertain journey teaches us about waiting on God
How to bring doubts, questions, and frustrations honestly to the Lord
Why difficult circumstances can test our faith without disproving God’s faithfulness
How David moved from anguish and confusion toward praise in Psalm 22
Remembering that God is present in both the mountains and valleys of life
How Psalm 139 can reassure us of God’s constant presence

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Clinging to God When Life Feels Uncertain
By: Laura Bailey

Bible Reading:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish? - Psalm 22:1 ( NIV) 

“Mom, why did God abandon David when he needed him most?” my youngest daughter asked before bedtime. Earlier in the day, we’d gone to see a movie about David’s life. My girls were familiar with the general story of  David as King, but the movie, which focused on David’s transition from shepherd to King of Israel, raised many questions.

I thought about my daughter’s question in more detail. Often, we think of (and teach our children) David as the slayer of Goliath, or as the mighty king. We linger on the fulfillment of God’s promises to David—protection, prosperity, and promotion to King.  And while it is important to draw our children’s focus to God keeping His promise, we also need to share the hard parts of David’s journey, the testing of his faith, and God’s faithfulness. For starters, the prophet Samuel anointed David as the future king when he was just a teenager, yet David didn’t take the throne until he was almost 30!  Historians estimate that David became king about 15-20 years after Samuel's pronouncement, when he eventually succeeded Saul. 

David’s life involved a lot of uncertainty and waiting on God. 

The scene that prompted my daughter’s question was inspired by Psalm 22. With words and phrases like “forsaken, cry out, far from saving, you do not answer,” it can be easy to think that God had indeed forgotten David, or at the very least wasn’t with him in the wilderness.  I shared with my daughter that just because David was going through a hard time didn’t mean that God had neglected him. God promised to make David king, and He would [eventually]  fulfill that promise. 
“Let’s look at the closing verses of Psalm 22,” I said to my daughter, grabbing my Bible. Psalms 22:22-23 says, “I will declare your name to my people;  in the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord, praise him!  All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” We can openly bring our doubts, questions, concerns, and grievances to the Lord, yet we shouldn’t leave them there. Our petitions should ultimately lead us to praise, as we see in David’s prayer.

The first few verses of Psalm 22 are filled with angst, confusion, and general frustration over his current circumstances. But through his prayer, David turns his problems into praise. How can one give gratitude to God in the most dire of situations? Because he remembers who God is— most importantly, he rests confidently in the assurance that God will keep His promise to deliver David and ultimately His people.

While God had something good planned for David’s life, that didn’t mean his life would be easy or without hardship.  The majority of the Psalms were written while David was fleeing from Saul, and a few when his own son was trying to kill him! While David felt like God had abandoned him, the truth was that God was always with him. “And God is always with you, too,” I shared with my little girl. “On the good days and the bad days, He is there.”

I easily forget that the God of the mountains is the God of the valley, and no matter my circumstances, He hears my cries. Just as with David, there will be times when I feel alone, but God never forsakes His children. He is always working for my good and His glory.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

If you currently feel forgotten by God, read Psalm 139:7-12 and write down what it says about God’s presence. 

Further Reading:
1 Samuel 16
Psalm 22

When life feels uncertain, it&rsquo;s easy to wonder where God is. Waiting, unanswered prayers, difficult circumstances, and seasons of feeling forgotten can make us question whether God is still with us. David experienced those same struggles, yet his story reminds us that God&rsquo;s presence and promises remain true even when we cannot see what He is doing.
Faith doesn&rsquo;t mean ignoring our doubts or pretending difficult seasons don&rsquo;t hurt. Like David in Psalm 22, we can bring our questions, fears, and frustrations honestly to God while choosing to remember who He is. Even in the valleys, God has not abandoned us. When we cling to His promises and trust His faithfulness, our prayers can move from anguish toward praise as we remember that God is with us on both the good days and the hard ones.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why feeling forgotten by God doesn&rsquo;t mean He has abandoned you</li>
<li>What David&rsquo;s uncertain journey teaches us about waiting on God</li>
<li>How to bring doubts, questions, and frustrations honestly to the Lord</li>
<li>Why difficult circumstances can test our faith without disproving God&rsquo;s faithfulness</li>
<li>How David moved from anguish and confusion toward praise in Psalm 22</li>
<li>Remembering that God is present in both the mountains and valleys of life</li>
<li>How Psalm 139 can reassure us of God&rsquo;s constant presence</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
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>
Full Transcript Below:
Clinging to God When Life Feels Uncertain By: Laura Bailey
Bible Reading:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish? - Psalm 22:1 ( NIV)&nbsp;
&ldquo;Mom, why did God abandon David when he needed him most?&rdquo; my youngest daughter asked before bedtime. Earlier in the day, we&rsquo;d gone to see a movie about David&rsquo;s life. My girls were familiar with the general story of&nbsp; David as King, but the movie, which focused on David&rsquo;s transition from shepherd to King of Israel, raised many questions. I thought about my daughter&rsquo;s question in more detail. Often, we think of (and teach our children) David as the slayer of Goliath, or as the mighty king. We linger on the fulfillment of God&rsquo;s promises to David&mdash;protection, prosperity, and promotion to King.&nbsp; And while it is important to draw our children&rsquo;s focus to God keeping His promise, we also need to share the hard parts of David&rsquo;s journey, the testing of his faith, and God&rsquo;s faithfulness. For starters, the prophet Samuel anointed David as the future king when he was just a teenager, yet David didn&rsquo;t take the throne until he was almost 30!&nbsp; Historians estimate that David became king about 15-20 years after Samuel's pronouncement, when he eventually succeeded Saul.&nbsp;
David&rsquo;s life involved a lot of uncertainty and waiting on God.&nbsp;
The scene that prompted my daughter&rsquo;s question was inspired by Psalm 22. With words and phrases like &ldquo;forsaken, cry out, far from saving, you do not answer,&rdquo; it can be easy to think that God had indeed forgotten David, or at the very least wasn&rsquo;t with him in the wilderness.&nbsp; I shared with my daughter that just because David was going through a hard time didn&rsquo;t mean that God had neglected him. God promised to make David king, and He would [eventually]&nbsp; fulfill that promise. &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s look at the closing verses of Psalm 22,&rdquo; I said to my daughter, grabbing my Bible. Psalms 22:22-23 says, &ldquo;I will declare your name to my people;&nbsp; in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him!&nbsp; All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!&rdquo; We can openly bring our doubts, questions, concerns, and grievances to the Lord, yet we shouldn&rsquo;t leave them there. Our petitions should ultimately lead us to praise, as we see in David&rsquo;s prayer.
The first few verses of Psalm 22 are filled with angst, confusion, and general frustration over his current circumstances. But through his prayer, David turns his problems into praise. How can one give gratitude to God in the most dire of situations? Because he remembers who God is&mdash; most importantly, he rests confidently in the assurance that God will keep His promise to deliver David and ultimately His people.
While God had something good planned for David&rsquo;s life, that didn&rsquo;t mean his life would be easy or without hardship.&nbsp; The majority of the Psalms were written while David was fleeing from Saul, and a few when his own son was trying to kill him! While David felt like God had abandoned him, the truth was that God was always with him. &ldquo;And God is always with you, too,&rdquo; I shared with my little girl. &ldquo;On the good days and the bad days, He is there.&rdquo;
I easily forget that the God of the mountains is the God of the valley, and no matter my circumstances, He hears my cries. Just as with David, there will be times when I feel alone, but God never forsakes His children. He is always working for my good and His glory. Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
If you currently feel forgotten by God, read Psalm 139:7-12 and write down what it says about God&rsquo;s presence.&nbsp;
Further Reading: 1 Samuel 16 Psalm 22

Clinging to God When Life Feels Uncertain

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/de62a886-d57b-4106-8273-b4ba010fc9d0/transcript

When a young adult walks away from faith, church, or the values they were raised with, the pain can be deep. Parents, pastors, mentors, and loved ones may wonder what went wrong and feel the urge to fix the situation. But when someone we love strays, Scripture reminds us that God is still at work, and our response can make a meaningful difference.

Loving a young adult who has stepped away from Christianity requires a balance of truth, grace, patience, and acceptance. Healthy Christian community can play an important role in helping people reconnect with their faith, but bringing someone back isn’t about forcing them to change. Instead, we can continue loving them, remain available, encourage healthy community, and extend the same grace God has shown us. Sometimes the most important question a young adult needs answered is simply, “Do you still love me?”

Highlights:
What to do when a young adult strays from faith or church
Why trying to “fix” a young adult can push them further away
How Christian community can help young adults reconnect with their faith
The difference between accepting someone and approving of their choices
Why love, grace, patience, and availability matter when someone is struggling spiritually
How to point young adults toward healthy communities of faith without forcing them
Remembering that God’s grace is available even when we make mistakes or stray

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

When the Young Adult That You Love Strays

By: Maina Mwaura 

Bible Reading:

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6As a former youth pastor, one of the things that I cherish the most is running into former students. So in one week, two students that I had the privilege of ministering to crossed my path at the same time, which was not unusual, being that I have lived in the same city on and off for over twenty-five years. What was unusual was the differing paths that both students have taken. 

I can still remember when Thomas and Chris both made professions of faith at the same camp. It was a summer that I will never forget, as both boys, now young men, were also baptized the same day. As Thomas approached me in the middle of the grocery store, I still remembered his face. Just as I locked eyes with Thomas, his wife and kids came around the corner. All I could think of was WOW, time flies. Thomas and his wife both love the Lord, and Thomas is even involved in the same church that I was on staff at many years ago. I walked away from that encounter, thrilled that Thomas was still on track. Although there was a moment in his life when he strayed, he had found his way back. 

That same week, while eating lunch in another part of town, I ran into Chris. Chris walked in dressed in a suit and tie. He also looked just like he did in his former years. During my time with Chris, he mentioned that he cherished the years we had together, but that he had stepped outside the faith and hadn’t been involved in a church for years. 

As Chris walked away, I couldn’t help but reflect on what went wrong and right with both Chris and Thomas. Although that’s the human thing to do, author Jim Burns would say that’s the wrong place to start. Recently, I spent some time with Jim Burns, who has written on the topic of young adult issues and dynamics, and has a new book titled When Your Young Adult Child Strays. Jim is clear that when a young adult strays, putting on the martyr badge isn’t the step that we should be taking. During my time with Jim, he assured me that God is okay with mess-ups, and in fact, we have an entire Hall of Faith in Hebrews that confirms this. 

One of the key characteristics that both men mentioned during our time together was community. Both men mentioned either how much they loved their community or, in Thomas’ case, how much they missed it. Burns's research shows that 65% of young adults who strayed returned to their faith communities. I’m not surprised by this at all. Thomas mentioned that after he had strayed away from the church, it was his community of friends and a former Sunday School teacher who reached out to him in his time of need. Community, mixed in with being available for young adults, is one of the keys that brings those back who stray. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Both men whom I had the privilege of ministering to were unique and different in their life choices. During my time with Chris, it was Jim Burns's words that I had to stay focused on most. Chris has made some life choices that clearly go against scripture, and although I wanted to add my thoughts and opinions, I had to remember the words of Jim: acceptance doesn’t mean approval. Often, when young adults stray, we love them either as their parents or, in my case, former students in my youth ministry, and we want to fix them. Jesus never tries to fix us; in fact, he does the opposite. Young adults don’t want to be fixed. In fact, I would go as far as to say that people in general don’t want to be fixed. 

In bringing young adults back home into spiritually healthy communities, these three things will be of great help. Love them, try to point them into healthy communities of faith, and accept them for where they are in this stage of life. Another way is showing them the grace that you needed when you were their age. At the end of the day, according to Burns, young adults are simply asking, “Do you still love me”? 

When a young adult walks away from faith, church, or the values they were raised with, the pain can be deep. Parents, pastors, mentors, and loved ones may wonder what went wrong and feel the urge to fix the situation. But when someone we love strays, Scripture reminds us that God is still at work, and our response can make a meaningful difference.
Loving a young adult who has stepped away from Christianity requires a balance of truth, grace, patience, and acceptance. Healthy Christian community can play an important role in helping people reconnect with their faith, but bringing someone back isn&rsquo;t about forcing them to change. Instead, we can continue loving them, remain available, encourage healthy community, and extend the same grace God has shown us. Sometimes the most important question a young adult needs answered is simply, &ldquo;Do you still love me?&rdquo;
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>What to do when a young adult strays from faith or church</li>
<li>Why trying to &ldquo;fix&rdquo; a young adult can push them further away</li>
<li>How Christian community can help young adults reconnect with their faith</li>
<li>The difference between accepting someone and approving of their choices</li>
<li>Why love, grace, patience, and availability matter when someone is struggling spiritually</li>
<li>How to point young adults toward healthy communities of faith without forcing them</li>
<li>Remembering that God&rsquo;s grace is available even when we make mistakes or stray</li>
</ul>
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Full Transcript Below:
When the Young Adult That You Love Strays
By: Maina Mwaura&nbsp;
Bible Reading:
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Isaiah 53:6As a former youth pastor, one of the things that I cherish the most is running into former students. So in one week, two students that I had the privilege of ministering to crossed my path at the same time, which was not unusual, being that I have lived in the same city on and off for over twenty-five years. What was unusual was the differing paths that both students have taken.&nbsp;
I can still remember when Thomas and Chris both made professions of faith at the same camp. It was a summer that I will never forget, as both boys, now young men, were also baptized the same day. As Thomas approached me in the middle of the grocery store, I still remembered his face. Just as I locked eyes with Thomas, his wife and kids came around the corner. All I could think of was WOW, time flies. Thomas and his wife both love the Lord, and Thomas is even involved in the same church that I was on staff at many years ago. I walked away from that encounter, thrilled that Thomas was still on track. Although there was a moment in his life when he strayed, he had found his way back.&nbsp;
That same week, while eating lunch in another part of town, I ran into Chris. Chris walked in dressed in a suit and tie. He also looked just like he did in his former years. During my time with Chris, he mentioned that he cherished the years we had together, but that he had stepped outside the faith and hadn&rsquo;t been involved in a church for years.&nbsp;
As Chris walked away, I couldn&rsquo;t help but reflect on what went wrong and right with both Chris and Thomas. Although that&rsquo;s the human thing to do, author Jim Burns would say that&rsquo;s the wrong place to start. Recently, I spent some time with Jim Burns, who has written on the topic of young adult issues and dynamics, and has a new book titled When Your Young Adult Child Strays. Jim is clear that when a young adult strays, putting on the martyr badge isn&rsquo;t the step that we should be taking. During my time with Jim, he assured me that God is okay with mess-ups, and in fact, we have an entire Hall of Faith in Hebrews that confirms this.&nbsp;
One of the key characteristics that both men mentioned during our time together was community. Both men mentioned either how much they loved their community or, in Thomas&rsquo; case, how much they missed it. Burns's research shows that 65% of young adults who strayed returned to their faith communities. I&rsquo;m not surprised by this at all. Thomas mentioned that after he had strayed away from the church, it was his community of friends and a former Sunday School teacher who reached out to him in his time of need. Community, mixed in with being available for young adults, is one of the keys that brings those back who stray.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Both men whom I had the privilege of ministering to were unique and different in their life choices. During my time with Chris, it was Jim Burns's words that I had to stay focused on most. Chris has made some life choices that clearly go against scripture, and although I wanted to add my thoughts and opinions, I had to remember the words of Jim: acceptance doesn&rsquo;t mean approval. Often, when young adults stray, we love them either as their parents or, in my case, former students in my youth ministry, and we want to fix them. Jesus never tries to fix us; in fact, he does the opposite. Young adults don&rsquo;t want to be fixed. In fact, I would go as far as to say that people in general don&rsquo;t want to be fixed.&nbsp;
In bringing young adults back home into spiritually healthy communities, these three things will be of great help. Love them, try to point them into healthy communities of faith, and accept them for where they are in this stage of life. Another way is showing them the grace that you needed when you were their age. At the end of the day, according to Burns, young adults are simply asking, &ldquo;Do you still love me&rdquo;?&nbsp;

When the Young Adult You Love Strays

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/47fa3096-84ca-4a83-99b1-b4ba010fc649/transcript

How to Rejoice in the Good and the Bad

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