 The more you welcome God’s Spirit to flow through your life, the more your soul will be refreshed!  - Whitney Hopler

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/

The more you welcome God’s Spirit to flow through your life, the more your soul will be refreshed!  - Whitney Hopler
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

Water and Renewal

God’s love for you remains secure. Romans 8:38-39 offers one of the Bible’s most powerful promises: nothing in all creation can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus. No hardship, spiritual power, present struggle, or future uncertainty is greater than His unshakable love.

God’s love isn’t something you have to earn through perfect behavior or constant achievement. Even when you fail, He invites you to come to Him with a repentant heart and receive His grace and forgiveness. When rejection or fear makes you question your worth, remembering God’s faithfulness can help you find renewed hope, peace, and belonging in Christ. Discover how to trust His unchanging love through difficult circumstances, release the fear that you’re not good enough, and rest in the assurance that your future remains in the hands of a loving God.

Highlights


What Romans 8:38-39 reveals about the unbreakable love of God in Christ Jesus


How rejection, loneliness, guilt, and shame can cause you to question whether God still loves you


Why God’s love isn’t something you have to earn through perfection or good works


How to approach God with repentance and receive His grace and forgiveness after making mistakes


Why present struggles and future uncertainties cannot separate believers from God’s loving care


How remembering God’s past faithfulness can strengthen your confidence in His presence today


Practical ways to replace fear and feelings of unworthiness with gratitude for God’s steadfast, eternal love

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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:

Nothing Can Separate You from God’s Love

By: Lia Girard

Bible Reading:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

– Romans 8:38-39, NIV 

If you’ve ever felt unloved or abandoned by anyone here on earth, it can be quite discouraging how quickly it can have you believing that maybe even God rejects you. When people are mean or hurtful, or broken relationships leave you feeling as though you don’t belong anywhere, you might assume that God is also far removed. 

Or maybe, there’s a general sense of paranoia that the whole world is turning wicked and God will surely abandon it. This worry can tempt you to distance your heart and wallow in dread.

It’s also possible that when you or I have hurt someone else, or hurt ourselves, we can be afraid to bring our mistakes to God for fear of losing his love. 

For times like these, or any time you’re battling loneliness, fear, guilt, or shame, Romans 8:38-39 is a balm of truth.

This compassionate and eye-opening portion of the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome serves as a promise. Paul wants all believers to know that no life event, timing, distance, external force, spiritual powers, or even death can tear you out of God’s loving care. His embrace is unshakable and eternal. 

As an aside, I don’t believe Paul intends these verses as a “pass” to allow evil or sin free rein. He isn’t simply stating, “God stays no matter what you do, so do whatever you want.” He is, however, painting an amazing portrait of an ever-present love, vast enough to send his only son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). And he says he is “convinced” of it—because he experienced God’s radical and transformative mercy firsthand.

The truth is: God never rejects you. Even when you inevitably sin, he is always inviting you to run to Him with a repentant heart and know that he will receive and forgive you. He offers constant, unchanging love that doesn’t waver. 

This “love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” also doesn’t require impossible perfection, but rather delights in the way you’re made. You don’t have to perform for God or keep earning his love. He knows and sees everything about you, and loves you anyway. 

Paul also includes “neither the present nor the future” in his list of things you may fear will separate you from God. This means you can trust God to be with you today, and every tomorrow. No matter what is happening now, or what transpires in your future financial status, family plans, health, or anything you hold dear, God’s love for you is secure.

You can also take comfort in knowing that absolutely no evil power in this world is greater than God. In fact, 1 John 4:4 reminds you: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” Furthermore, John 16:33 explains that Christ has already overcome the world.

So if you’re ever feeling unlovable, unworthy, or lonely, and are wondering if God still loves you, hold on to Romans 8:38-39. God’s love isn’t based on your fallibility or your accomplishments. It’s a gift of His grace that’s unstoppable because you are in Christ. As a believer, God has grafted you into the vine of Christ, so you can branch out confidently by the power of his unbreakable love.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

The next time you start feeling like God only loves you when you’re perfect, try recalling a time when God pulled you through any disaster. Remember, as you look back, a sign from God that showed you that he was holding and loving you. As you focus on his steady love, you can offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude for a God that’s bigger, more powerful, and more loving than “anything else in all creation.”

Further Reading:

Psalm 136:26

Jeremiah 31:3

Zephaniah 3:17

John 3:16

God&rsquo;s love for you remains secure. Romans 8:38-39 offers one of the Bible&rsquo;s most powerful promises: nothing in all creation can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus. No hardship, spiritual power, present struggle, or future uncertainty is greater than His unshakable love.
God&rsquo;s love isn&rsquo;t something you have to earn through perfect behavior or constant achievement. Even when you fail, He invites you to come to Him with a repentant heart and receive His grace and forgiveness. When rejection or fear makes you question your worth, remembering God&rsquo;s faithfulness can help you find renewed hope, peace, and belonging in Christ. Discover how to trust His unchanging love through difficult circumstances, release the fear that you&rsquo;re not good enough, and rest in the assurance that your future remains in the hands of a loving God.
Highlights
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
What Romans 8:38-39 reveals about the unbreakable love of God in Christ Jesus
</li>
<li>
How rejection, loneliness, guilt, and shame can cause you to question whether God still loves you
</li>
<li>
Why God&rsquo;s love isn&rsquo;t something you have to earn through perfection or good works
</li>
<li>
How to approach God with repentance and receive His grace and forgiveness after making mistakes
</li>
<li>
Why present struggles and future uncertainties cannot separate believers from God&rsquo;s loving care
</li>
<li>
How remembering God&rsquo;s past faithfulness can strengthen your confidence in His presence today
</li>
<li>
Practical ways to replace fear and feelings of unworthiness with gratitude for God&rsquo;s steadfast, eternal love
</li>
</ul>
Click to Listen to&nbsp;Signs of Life:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</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:
Nothing Can Separate You from God&rsquo;s Love
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
&ndash; Romans 8:38-39, NIV&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt unloved or abandoned by anyone here on earth, it can be quite discouraging how quickly it can have you believing that maybe even God rejects you. When people are mean or hurtful, or broken relationships leave you feeling as though you don&rsquo;t belong anywhere, you might assume that God is also far removed.&nbsp;
Or maybe, there&rsquo;s a general sense of paranoia that the whole world is turning wicked and God will surely abandon it. This worry can tempt you to distance your heart and wallow in dread.
It&rsquo;s also possible that when you or I have hurt someone else, or hurt ourselves, we can be afraid to bring our mistakes to God for fear of losing his love.&nbsp;
For times like these, or any time you&rsquo;re battling loneliness, fear, guilt, or shame, Romans 8:38-39 is a balm of truth.
This compassionate and eye-opening portion of the apostle Paul&rsquo;s letter to the church in Rome serves as a promise. Paul wants all believers to know that no life event, timing, distance, external force, spiritual powers, or even death can tear you out of God&rsquo;s loving care. His embrace is unshakable and eternal.&nbsp;
As an aside, I don&rsquo;t believe Paul intends these verses as a &ldquo;pass&rdquo; to allow evil or sin free rein. He isn&rsquo;t simply stating, &ldquo;God stays no matter what you do, so do whatever you want.&rdquo; He is, however, painting an amazing portrait of an ever-present love, vast enough to send his only son to die for us&nbsp;while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). And he says he is &ldquo;convinced&rdquo; of it&mdash;because he experienced God&rsquo;s radical and transformative mercy firsthand.
The truth is: God never rejects you. Even when you inevitably sin, he is always inviting you to run to Him with a repentant heart and know that he will receive and forgive you. He offers constant, unchanging love that doesn&rsquo;t waver.&nbsp;
This &ldquo;love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord&rdquo; also doesn&rsquo;t require impossible perfection, but rather delights in the way you&rsquo;re made. You don&rsquo;t have to perform for God or keep earning his love. He knows and sees everything about you, and loves you anyway.&nbsp;
Paul also includes &ldquo;neither the present nor the future&rdquo; in his list of things you may fear will separate you from God. This means you can trust God to be with you today, and every tomorrow. No matter what is happening now, or what transpires in your future financial status, family plans, health, or anything you hold dear, God&rsquo;s love for you is secure.
You can also take comfort in knowing that absolutely no evil power in this world is greater than God. In fact, 1 John 4:4 reminds you: &ldquo;Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.&rdquo; Furthermore, John 16:33 explains that Christ has already overcome the world.
So if you&rsquo;re ever feeling unlovable, unworthy, or lonely, and are wondering if God still loves you, hold on to Romans 8:38-39. God&rsquo;s love isn&rsquo;t based on your fallibility or your accomplishments. It&rsquo;s a gift of His grace that&rsquo;s unstoppable because you are in Christ. As a believer, God has grafted you into the vine of Christ, so you can branch out confidently by the power of his unbreakable love.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
The next time you start feeling like God only loves you when you&rsquo;re perfect, try recalling a time when God pulled you through any disaster. Remember, as you look back, a sign from God that showed you that he was holding and loving you. As you focus on his steady love, you can offer a prayer of thanks and gratitude for a God that&rsquo;s bigger, more powerful, and more loving than &ldquo;anything else in all creation.&rdquo;
Further Reading:
Psalm 136:26
Jeremiah 31:3
Zephaniah 3:17
John 3:16

Nothing Can Separate You from God’s Love

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/00b820a6-701c-46e3-a448-b4e100dadbb5/transcript

In this Bonus Episode of "On The Ground" | Service has the ability to radically change us. God can use serving others to mold and shape our hearts to look more like His. This is what happened in Angie’s life—a volunteer Kristy met while on the ground in Mississippi. Hear how the Lord is using Angie’s testimony to show others that they are never too far from Him.

Jason Taft, an assistant director with Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief, met Angie in Mississippi after a tornado tore through the southern part of the state. He was amazed by her skills on the skid-steer, but even more amazed by her story.

Angie has known about God her entire life, but she has not always walked with Him. Her upbringing was hard, and her adult life has been marked by many trials and disappointments. When twin tornadoes came through her town, Angie went out and served with U.S. Disaster Relief. She kept going back, day after day. 

In her private life, Angie was in active alcoholism and plagued by grief. But when she was serving, she was not drinking. Angie continually cried out to the Lord for help. About a year later, God delivered her from alcohol.

Service was the catalyst that the Lord used to change Angie's heart. And now she gets to serve all over the country, using her abilities and sharing her story with homeowners and fellow volunteers. Angie tells Kristy about a particular moment on a deployment when her testimony blessed a room full of volunteers. 

“And I believe that God is going to use all of us … And if people will just be brave enough to tell [their] story—it gets raw, but I'm living proof that God can do anything.” – Angie Polk

If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.

In this Bonus Episode of "<a href="https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/home?_gl=1*x4emdu*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3ODk3NTk4NDQuQ2p3S0NBand3clBWQmhBMUVpd0F2X1lPLWVmR3pLS3BwQ2NuVlVKYng2VU43dDhFTFplTklfbmtzQ2V3bjdDU21tNExKZWR3c09KOWJob0M4SW9RQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MTM2MzU4Njg0Ni4xNzkyMTc5MjM1*_ga*NzYxNTE5MDA5LjE3ODIzMTc0NjQ.*_ga_D0D4JVT839*czE3OTIxNzkyMzQkbzIxJGcwJHQxNzkyMTc5MjM0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..*_ga_4PRXX8W56S*czE3OTIxNzkyMzQkbzIxJGcwJHQxNzkyMTc5MjM0JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..">On The Ground" </a>| Service has the ability to radically change us. God can use serving others to mold and shape our hearts to look more like His. This is what happened in Angie&rsquo;s life&mdash;a volunteer Kristy met while on the ground in Mississippi. Hear how the Lord is using Angie&rsquo;s testimony to show others that they are never too far from Him.
Jason Taft, an assistant director with Samaritan&rsquo;s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief, met Angie in Mississippi after a tornado tore through the southern part of the state. He was amazed by her skills on the skid-steer, but even more amazed by her story.
Angie has known about God her entire life, but she has not always walked with Him. Her upbringing was hard, and her adult life has been marked by many trials and disappointments. When twin tornadoes came through her town, Angie went out and served with U.S. Disaster Relief. She kept going back, day after day.&nbsp;
In her private life, Angie was in active alcoholism and plagued by grief. But when she was serving, she was not drinking. Angie continually cried out to the Lord for help. About a year later, God delivered her from alcohol.
Service was the catalyst that the Lord used to change Angie's heart. And now she gets to serve all over the country, using her abilities and sharing her story with homeowners and fellow volunteers. Angie tells Kristy about a particular moment on a deployment when her testimony blessed a room full of volunteers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;And I believe that God is going to use all of us &hellip; And if people will just be brave enough to tell [their] story&mdash;it gets raw, but I'm living proof that God can do anything.&rdquo; &ndash; Angie Polk
If you&rsquo;d like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground, please visit <a href="https://www.samaritanspurse.org/">SamaritansPurse.org</a>.

Service Changes You | A Bonus Episode From "On The Ground with Samaritan's Purse"

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/52c0e4ec-cf8e-44dc-8b77-b4e50143d62c/transcript

Difficult seasons can leave you feeling weary, unproductive, or uncertain about what God is doing in your life. Jeremiah 17:7-8 offers a powerful reminder that those who trust in the Lord are like trees planted beside water, with roots that remain strong even when the heat and drought come. Your circumstances may look bleak, but a season that feels fruitless doesn’t mean your faith has stopped growing or that God has abandoned you.

Trusting God isn’t about pretending hardship doesn’t hurt or forcing yourself to feel hopeful. It’s choosing to rely on His character and sovereignty even when you cannot see the outcome. Like a tree growing deeper roots through winter, your relationship with God can strengthen through quiet seasons of prayer, Scripture, and dependence on Him. Discover how to stop measuring your spiritual growth by visible accomplishments, find encouragement in God’s promises, and trust that He can produce lasting fruit in your life—even when all you see are bare branches.

Highlights


What Jeremiah 17:7-8 teaches about trusting God when life feels uncertain, painful, or unproductive


Why a difficult season doesn’t mean your faith is failing or God has stopped working in your life


How to choose trust in God’s character and sovereignty when your circumstances feel out of control


What bare winter branches teach us about growing deeper spiritual roots during seasons of hardship


How prayer, Scripture, and quiet time with God can strengthen your faith when you feel weary


Why spiritual growth isn’t always visible and how God can use trials to develop lasting faith


Reflection questions to help you recognize where God is inviting you to trust Him and grow beneath the surface

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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:

What Bare Branches Can Teach Us about Trust 

By Sarah Frazer

Bible Reading:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” - Jeremiah 17:7

Every season, I take a quick snapshot of the tree in our front yard. We’ve only lived in our house for a few years, but this tree was obviously planted a decade or more ago. It looms over half of our yard and into the neighbor's yard. I take a picture because as the earth rotates and the weather shifts from cold to warm and then back again, my tree changes. I love every single season of this tree! It is the same tree year-round, but it looks different depending on the weather! 

The cycles of trees are not new to those of us who live in a climate that has all four seasons. We know that in the spring, small buds appear and green begins to grow. In summer, trees are filled with flowers and fruit. As fall moves in with colder winds and rain, the tree’s leaves change color and drop to the earth. Winter strips the tree of all color and beauty. 

Snow might make the tree look magical, but let’s be honest. This sweet tree in my front yard is not the prettiest during the winter when the branches are barren. As I think about my tree, I can’t help but think of Jeremiah’s tree in the Old Testament. Jeremiah was a prophet filled with sorrow and heartache. He preached during a time of political turmoil and spiritual idolatry. The nation of Judah was on the brink of collapse. Israel had already fallen. The prophet foresees the destruction of the beautiful city of Jerusalem and tries to warn the people. In the midst of his voice of condemnation, we find pockets of hope.

In the middle of Jeremiah 17, we read about a tree.  For several chapters, Jeremiah has spoken up about the coming famine, sword, and pestilence waiting for God’s people. Because of their own sin (Jeremiah 17:1-4), they will now have to face the consequences and punishment. For centuries, God has been patient and kind with them, but now He must punish evil. God says that if they return to Him, he will rescue them, but instead, we read that they want to trust in their own abilities and help from outside the people of Israel (Jeremiah 17:5-6).

Still, even though doom is coming, God makes a way for His people to find grace, mercy, and hope! Jeremiah 17:7-8 says: 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

whose trust is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Maybe you feel like your world is in turmoil, filled with unknowns, heartaches, grief, and loneliness. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in the hardest struggles of my life, I can’t even fathom how fruit or flowers can grow in my life. There have been periods of weeks, months, and yes, even years, where I have been so weary that my life feels so unproductive. 

I get up, do the bare minimum, and fall into bed each night with not much to show. My house remains messy, my Bible gets dusty on the nightstand, and prayer feels so hollow. How can Jeremiah promise that if we trust the Lord, we will not be anxious, cease to bear fruit, and never fail to have green leaves? How is this even possible during times that feel so barren? 

When life is turned inside out, and grief lies like a heavy fog, none of that feels true. Can I tell you a secret? In God’s kingdom and His economy, times of hardship can actually produce fruit! 

Notice that first Jeremiah says, “trust in the Lord” twice! That isn’t a typo, but an emphasis. During what might seem like fruitless seasons, our only job is to trust. Friend, let me encourage you that trust is not a feeling but a choice. When everything around us is out of control, God’s sovereignty is not. We trust both God’s character and we trust His control. 

The next part of verse seven and verse eight tells us what will happen when we trust. I love that all of these things are not something we muster up or have to do. Remember, all God is asking from us is trust. The original Hebrew word for “trust” means to be bold, confident, and secure. Because we place our faith in God, we have roots, green leaves, and fruit. 

The roots are the most important thing about trees. Strong roots anchor the tree so that winds and storms don’t topple it. The roots also provide nutrition. During the winter and cold months, when the branches are bare, the roots are still growing. The tree doesn’t have to provide nutrients to the leaves and fruit, so all of its energy is spent on growing deeper roots. During our winter seasons, as we trust God and lean into Him for strength, reading the Word and praying, we find that our faith is still growing! 

On the outside, it might look as if we are barren, empty, and nonproductive. But times of quiet, simple communion with God actually bring about the most productive fruit! Charles Spurgeon said, “Storms help to make the sailors sturdy, and trials help to make Christians strong in faith."

Do not look at your time with “barren branches” as unfruitful. God is working in your life. Just because you can’t see how, you can trust that your tree is by the living waters of God. Psalm 1:3 says that those who delight in God’s Word and meditate on it will be “like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Some seasons of life look fruitful; others feel like bare branches. But God may be doing His deepest work in places you can see. Instead of measuring this season by what you are accomplishing, consider where your roots are growing. Where is God asking you to trust Him right now? What might He be growing beneath the surface that you cannot yet see?

Further Reading:
Psalm 1:1-3
John 15:4-5 
Colossians 2:6-7
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
James 1:2-4

Difficult seasons can leave you feeling weary, unproductive, or uncertain about what God is doing in your life. Jeremiah 17:7-8 offers a powerful reminder that those who trust in the Lord are like trees planted beside water, with roots that remain strong even when the heat and drought come. Your circumstances may look bleak, but a season that feels fruitless doesn&rsquo;t mean your faith has stopped growing or that God has abandoned you.
Trusting God isn&rsquo;t about pretending hardship doesn&rsquo;t hurt or forcing yourself to feel hopeful. It&rsquo;s choosing to rely on His character and sovereignty even when you cannot see the outcome. Like a tree growing deeper roots through winter, your relationship with God can strengthen through quiet seasons of prayer, Scripture, and dependence on Him. Discover how to stop measuring your spiritual growth by visible accomplishments, find encouragement in God&rsquo;s promises, and trust that He can produce lasting fruit in your life&mdash;even when all you see are bare branches.
Highlights
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>
What Jeremiah 17:7-8 teaches about trusting God when life feels uncertain, painful, or unproductive
</li>
<li>
Why a difficult season doesn&rsquo;t mean your faith is failing or God has stopped working in your life
</li>
<li>
How to choose trust in God&rsquo;s character and sovereignty when your circumstances feel out of control
</li>
<li>
What bare winter branches teach us about growing deeper spiritual roots during seasons of hardship
</li>
<li>
How prayer, Scripture, and quiet time with God can strengthen your faith when you feel weary
</li>
<li>
Why spiritual growth isn&rsquo;t always visible and how God can use trials to develop lasting faith
</li>
<li>
Reflection questions to help you recognize where God is inviting you to trust Him and grow beneath the surface
</li>
</ul>
Click to Listen to&nbsp;Signs of Life:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
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Full Transcript Below:
What Bare Branches Can Teach Us about Trust&nbsp;
By Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.&rdquo; - Jeremiah 17:7
Every season, I take a quick snapshot of the tree in our front yard. We&rsquo;ve only lived in our house for a few years, but this tree was obviously planted a decade or more ago. It looms over half of our yard and into the neighbor's yard. I take a picture because as the earth rotates and the weather shifts from cold to warm and then back again, my tree changes. I love every single season of this tree! It is the same tree year-round, but it looks different depending on the weather!&nbsp;
The cycles of trees are not new to those of us who live in a climate that has all four seasons. We know that in the spring, small buds appear and green begins to grow. In summer, trees are filled with flowers and fruit. As fall moves in with colder winds and rain, the tree&rsquo;s leaves change color and drop to the earth. Winter strips the tree of all color and beauty.&nbsp;
Snow might make the tree look magical, but let&rsquo;s be honest. This sweet tree in my front yard is not the prettiest during the winter when the branches are barren. As I think about my tree, I can&rsquo;t help but think of Jeremiah&rsquo;s tree in the Old Testament. Jeremiah was a prophet filled with sorrow and heartache. He preached during a time of political turmoil and spiritual idolatry. The nation of Judah was on the brink of collapse. Israel had already fallen. The prophet foresees the destruction of the beautiful city of Jerusalem and tries to warn the people. In the midst of his voice of condemnation, we find pockets of hope.
In the middle of Jeremiah 17, we read about a tree.&nbsp; For several chapters, Jeremiah has spoken up about the coming famine, sword, and pestilence waiting for God&rsquo;s people. Because of their own sin (Jeremiah 17:1-4), they will now have to face the consequences and punishment. For centuries, God has been patient and kind with them, but now He must punish evil. God says that if they return to Him, he will rescue them, but instead, we read that they want to trust in their own abilities and help from outside the people of Israel (Jeremiah 17:5-6).
Still, even though doom is coming, God makes a way for His people to find grace, mercy, and hope! Jeremiah 17:7-8 says:&nbsp;
&ldquo;Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.&rdquo;
Maybe you feel like your world is in turmoil, filled with unknowns, heartaches, grief, and loneliness. I don&rsquo;t know about you, but when I&rsquo;m in the hardest struggles of my life, I can&rsquo;t even fathom how fruit or flowers can grow in my life. There have been periods of weeks, months, and yes, even years, where I have been so weary that my life feels so unproductive.&nbsp;
I get up, do the bare minimum, and fall into bed each night with not much to show. My house remains messy, my Bible gets dusty on the nightstand, and prayer feels so hollow. How can Jeremiah promise that if we trust the Lord, we will not be anxious, cease to bear fruit, and never fail to have green leaves? How is this even possible during times that feel so barren?&nbsp;
When life is turned inside out, and grief lies like a heavy fog, none of that feels true. Can I tell you a secret? In God&rsquo;s kingdom and His economy, times of hardship can actually produce fruit!&nbsp;
Notice that first Jeremiah says, &ldquo;trust in the Lord&rdquo; twice! That isn&rsquo;t a typo, but an emphasis. During what might seem like fruitless seasons, our only job is to trust. Friend, let me encourage you that trust is not a feeling but a choice. When everything around us is out of control, God&rsquo;s sovereignty is not. We trust both God&rsquo;s character and we trust His control.&nbsp;
The next part of verse seven and verse eight tells us what will happen when we trust. I love that all of these things are not something we muster up or have to do. Remember, all God is asking from us is trust. The original Hebrew word for &ldquo;trust&rdquo; means to be bold, confident, and secure. Because we place our faith in God, we have roots, green leaves, and fruit.&nbsp;
The roots are the most important thing about trees. Strong roots anchor the tree so that winds and storms don&rsquo;t topple it. The roots also provide nutrition. During the winter and cold months, when the branches are bare, the roots are still growing. The tree doesn&rsquo;t have to provide nutrients to the leaves and fruit, so all of its energy is spent on growing deeper roots. During our winter seasons, as we trust God and lean into Him for strength, reading the Word and praying, we find that our faith is still growing!&nbsp;
On the outside, it might look as if we are barren, empty, and nonproductive. But times of quiet, simple communion with God actually bring about the most productive fruit! Charles Spurgeon said, &ldquo;Storms help to make the sailors sturdy, and trials help to make Christians strong in faith."
Do not look at your time with &ldquo;barren branches&rdquo; as unfruitful. God is working in your life. Just because you can&rsquo;t see how, you can trust that your tree is by the living waters of God. Psalm 1:3 says that those who delight in God&rsquo;s Word and meditate on it will be &ldquo;like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Some seasons of life look fruitful; others feel like bare branches. But God may be doing His deepest work in places you can see. Instead of measuring this season by what you are accomplishing, consider where your roots are growing. Where is God asking you to trust Him right now? What might He be growing beneath the surface that you cannot yet see?
Further Reading: Psalm 1:1-3 John 15:4-5 Colossians 2:6-7 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 James 1:2-4

What Bare Branches Can Teach Us about Trust 

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