Jesus was compassionate to the people He met while He walked the earth. Particularly for His apostles and for those who followed and listened to His teachings and asked for healing.  - Meg Bucher

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Jesus was compassionate to the people He met while He walked the earth. Particularly for His apostles and for those who followed and listened to His teachings and asked for healing.  - Meg Bucher
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

What Does Compassion Feel Like? The Gospel Stories of Jesus' Compassion

Aging can bring mixed emotions, especially for parents watching their bodies change while their children grow into adulthood. The world often treats getting older as something to fight against, but Scripture offers a different perspective. Growing older can bring wisdom, deeper faith, greater compassion, and a renewed appreciation for the life God has given us.

For parents entering their senior years, aging can become an opportunity to embrace a new season rather than mourn the one that has passed. Years of parenting, relationships, hardships, and answered prayers can produce a wisdom that younger generations need. As physical strength changes, our dependence on God can grow stronger, shifting our focus from temporary circumstances toward His eternal promises. There is also freedom to slow down, enjoy new adventures, invest in family, and discover simple joys that may have been difficult to make room for in earlier seasons.

Highlights:
Why parents can view aging as a gift rather than something to fear or avoid
How growing older can deepen wisdom, compassion, patience, and grace
Why aging can strengthen our trust in God’s eternal promises
Learning to focus less on temporary circumstances and more on lasting hope
How parents can embrace greater freedom, relaxation, hobbies, and new adventures
Finding joy in relationships with adult children, grandchildren, and loved ones
How faith can provide strength and renewal even as our physical bodies grow weaker

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:

3 Good Reasons for Parents to Embrace Aging

By: Lia Girard

Bible Reading:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16

We're all living in a world that wants us to believe it’s easy to find the next magic pill, new exercise, or diet strategy that will keep us eternally young—even in our old age. Yet we all know: this earthly life will end. None of us escapes this necessary passage, at whatever age God decides we're ready to stand in his presence. 

The longer I live… and the more sweet opportunities I’m given to be present with younger people managing life challenges… the more I understand that getting old is a crown of glory (see Proverbs 16:31). We don't all get to arrive in our senior years. As we near them, we may be feeling the pain of letting go of our own parents. It brings us face to face with the finality of this side of heaven. 

I've learned, though, while growing out my silver hair, wearing my glasses regularly, and giving up running for yoga, that life fosters compassion as your body weakens. If you're lucky enough to age into your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, you will undoubtedly be required to practice a lot of grace. With yourself, your spouse, your parents, and your similarly-aged friends. 

A long life affords many blessings: raising children, buying homes, building or rebuilding marriages, watching adult children grow, hosting weddings, and so much more. But it also leaves your heart, soul, body, and mind a bit depleted of energy. The good news is that as you move up in years, you naturally overflow with experience. The kind of compassionate know-how that you simply didn't have when you were a teenager. Or when you were a new parent. Or when you were a new empty-nester. 

When you start seeing that more of your life involves medical visits than vacations, some may feel that aging is something to avoid at all costs. But I believe it is an earned reward, rich in the kind of contentment that deeply satisfies. Here are just three reasons for parents to embrace growing old:
 You’ve gained an abundance of wisdom. 

Watching yourself age, even as you try to live a healthy, active life, requires you to relax your expectations. It softens your countenance and fills you with empathy, while creating a wellspring of wisdom. And the things you now know—like how to budget, pay bills, plan events, renovate homes, soothe fussy babies, chaperone trips, and on and on—are gifts to those who need you to show them that it can be done. Of course, I'm not suggesting you force your wisdom on anyone, but it's a good feeling to know that your guidance is based on evidence and carries value.
 Your trust in God's eternal promises grows stronger than your anxiety about temporary circumstances.

The older you get, the more fortunate you are to have been given time to shift your focus to an everlasting hope that will never fade. And maybe this is because you’ve seen so many things end, break, leave, let go, and die. As you age, you realize that the external strength and beauty of your youth are not what carry you through the deepest struggles. 

If you're a parent who's given the bonus of aging, there's hardly anything that compares to the privilege of loving your adult children as they advance in years as well. When you've lived long enough to see that people not only survive circumstances but thrive, you tend to worry less. No surficial issue becomes a be-all, end-all. 

Over time, the simple, quiet joys of life and love are what sustain you. Being rich in love and patience becomes more important than climbing the ladder, amazing outfits, or expensive vacations. What matters when you realize you're simply not as strong as you used to be ... is believing wholeheartedly that God is always strong enough to carry you through.
 You have more time and space for relaxation, joy, and new adventures.

Parenting has many seasons, all of which involve remaining utterly in love with your children. If you're lucky enough to grow old enough that love can expand across grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too. However, in the senior years, you realize they have lives of their own now. And you, or you and your spouse, have more open space to explore amusements, interests, or places you may have only dreamed of when your house was filled with people, pets, and responsibilities in far-busier, younger decades.

Hold on to the truth that although outwardly you may be “wasting away,” as our scripture says, your spirit is being renewed. So, go for those long walks. Ride your bike slowly. Take your kids out to dinner. Find weekend getaways. Or just enjoy a peaceful hobby that brings you joy. You’ve lived long enough to slow down… and let your faith be your strength.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider the joys and challenges of aging, why not:
Find a new hobby that delights your soul
Pick a place you’ve always wanted to see and go there with your spouse or best friend
Choose several scripture verses that bring you peace and hope, and write them down somewhere you can see them regularly

Further Reading:
Psalm 91:16

Psalm 90:12

Psalm 92:12-14

Aging can bring mixed emotions, especially for parents watching their bodies change while their children grow into adulthood. The world often treats getting older as something to fight against, but Scripture offers a different perspective. Growing older can bring wisdom, deeper faith, greater compassion, and a renewed appreciation for the life God has given us.
For parents entering their senior years, aging can become an opportunity to embrace a new season rather than mourn the one that has passed. Years of parenting, relationships, hardships, and answered prayers can produce a wisdom that younger generations need. As physical strength changes, our dependence on God can grow stronger, shifting our focus from temporary circumstances toward His eternal promises. There is also freedom to slow down, enjoy new adventures, invest in family, and discover simple joys that may have been difficult to make room for in earlier seasons.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>Why parents can view aging as a gift rather than something to fear or avoid</li>
<li>How growing older can deepen wisdom, compassion, patience, and grace</li>
<li>Why aging can strengthen our trust in God&rsquo;s eternal promises</li>
<li>Learning to focus less on temporary circumstances and more on lasting hope</li>
<li>How parents can embrace greater freedom, relaxation, hobbies, and new adventures</li>
<li>Finding joy in relationships with adult children, grandchildren, and loved ones</li>
<li>How faith can provide strength and renewal even as our physical bodies grow weaker</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:
3 Good Reasons for Parents to Embrace Aging
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading: "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." - 2 Corinthians 4:16
We're all living in a world that wants us to believe it&rsquo;s easy to find the next magic pill, new exercise, or diet strategy that will keep us eternally young&mdash;even in our old age. Yet we all know: this earthly life will end. None of us escapes this necessary passage, at whatever age God decides we're ready to stand in his presence.&nbsp;
The longer I live&hellip; and the more sweet opportunities I&rsquo;m given to be present with younger people managing life challenges&hellip; the more I understand that getting old is a crown of glory (see Proverbs 16:31). We don't all get to arrive in our senior years. As we near them, we may be feeling the pain of letting go of our own parents. It brings us face to face with the finality of this side of heaven.&nbsp;
I've learned, though, while growing out my silver hair, wearing my glasses regularly, and giving up running for yoga, that life fosters compassion as your body weakens. If you're lucky enough to age into your 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, you will undoubtedly be required to practice a lot of grace. With yourself, your spouse, your parents, and your similarly-aged friends.&nbsp;
A long life affords many blessings: raising children, buying homes, building or rebuilding marriages, watching adult children grow, hosting weddings, and so much more. But it also leaves your heart, soul, body, and mind a bit depleted of energy. The good news is that as you move up in years, you naturally overflow with experience. The kind of compassionate know-how that you simply didn't have when you were a teenager. Or when you were a new parent. Or when you were a new empty-nester.&nbsp;
When you start seeing that more of your life involves medical visits than vacations, some may feel that aging is something to avoid at all costs. But I believe it is an earned reward, rich in the kind of contentment that deeply satisfies. Here are just three reasons for parents to embrace growing old:
<ol>
<li> You&rsquo;ve gained an abundance of wisdom.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Watching yourself age, even as you try to live a healthy, active life, requires you to relax your expectations. It softens your countenance and fills you with empathy, while creating a wellspring of wisdom. And the things you now know&mdash;like how to budget, pay bills, plan events, renovate homes, soothe fussy babies, chaperone trips, and on and on&mdash;are gifts to those who need you to show them that it can be done. Of course, I'm not suggesting you force your wisdom on anyone, but it's a good feeling to know that your guidance is based on evidence and carries value.
<ol>
<li> Your trust in God's eternal promises grows stronger than your anxiety about temporary circumstances.</li>
</ol>
The older you get, the more fortunate you are to have been given time to shift your focus to an everlasting hope that will never fade. And maybe this is because you&rsquo;ve seen so many things end, break, leave, let go, and die. As you age, you realize that the external strength and beauty of your youth are not what carry you through the deepest struggles.&nbsp;
If you're a parent who's given the bonus of aging, there's hardly anything that compares to the privilege of loving your adult children as they advance in years as well. When you've lived long enough to see that people not only survive circumstances but thrive, you tend to worry less. No surficial issue becomes a be-all, end-all.&nbsp;
Over time, the simple, quiet joys of life and love are what sustain you. Being rich in love and patience becomes more important than climbing the ladder, amazing outfits, or expensive vacations. What matters when you realize you're simply not as strong as you used to be ... is believing wholeheartedly that God is always strong enough to carry you through.
<ol>
<li> You have more time and space for relaxation, joy, and new adventures.</li>
</ol>
Parenting has many seasons, all of which involve remaining utterly in love with your children. If you're lucky enough to grow old enough that love can expand across grandchildren and great-grandchildren, too. However, in the senior years, you realize they have lives of their own now. And you, or you and your spouse, have more open space to explore amusements, interests, or places you may have only dreamed of when your house was filled with people, pets, and responsibilities in far-busier, younger decades.
Hold on to the truth that although outwardly you may be &ldquo;wasting away,&rdquo; as our scripture says, your spirit is being renewed. So, go for those long walks. Ride your bike slowly. Take your kids out to dinner. Find weekend getaways. Or just enjoy a peaceful hobby that brings you joy. You&rsquo;ve lived long enough to slow down&hellip; and let your faith be your strength.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider the joys and challenges of aging, why not:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Find a new hobby that delights your soul</li>
<li aria-level="1">Pick a place you&rsquo;ve always wanted to see and go there with your spouse or best friend</li>
<li aria-level="1">Choose several scripture verses that bring you peace and hope, and write them down somewhere you can see them regularly</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Psalm 91:16
Psalm 90:12
Psalm 92:12-14

3 Good Reasons Parents Should Embrace Aging

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5412e509-32ee-4072-a229-b4bf01388aa0/transcript

Uncertainty about the future, unanswered prayers, and dreams that haven’t taken shape yet can leave you wondering whether your ordinary, everyday faithfulness really matters. Scripture reminds us that God may be preparing us for something we cannot yet see.

Noah spent years building the ark before a single drop of rain fell. In the same way, God often calls us to prepare, obey, and remain faithful without showing us the full picture. The small things we do each day—our work, responsibilities, relationships, and acts of obedience—can be part of a much larger purpose. We may want the big answer or the completed dream, but God is often strengthening our character and our faith through the seemingly mundane tasks right in front of us.

Highlights:
What Isaiah 54:2 teaches us about preparing for what God may be doing
Why obedience sometimes requires faith before we understand the outcome
Lessons from Noah’s years of faithful, unseen preparation
How God uses ordinary and seemingly small tasks to prepare us for greater responsibility
Why we should focus on faithfulness today instead of needing to know what comes next
How seasons of waiting can strengthen our character, trust, and obedience
Remembering that what seems insignificant to us may have a much greater purpose in God’s plan

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:

Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See

By Hannah Benson

Bible Reading:
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes” (Isaiah 54:2 ESV).

God often does things we don’t expect.

As I read Isaiah 54 the other day, God showed me that He will often tell us to prepare for things He’s bringing us. In this passage, He tells a barren woman to expand her tent and strengthen her stakes for a family she doesn't even have yet. Our job isn’t to know the why but to prepare in obedience even when we don’t know what we are getting ready for. All we can do is walk in obedience even when we don’t know where the obedience will lead.

It reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. When they went to meet the bridegroom, only 5 of the virgins took extra flasks of oil with them before they departed. The other 5 foolishly didn’t. They didn’t prepare.

Or in Genesis 6, when God commands Noah to build an ark. Do you think Noah might’ve thought it a bit strange, the command to build an ark when there wasn’t rain anywhere in sight? Not to mention the earth had never flooded before. Undoubtedly, the idea would’ve been a foreign concept to him.

But Noah chose to trust God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Hebrews 11:7).

I’m in a season right now where I don’t know where I’ll be in the next year, the next few months, or even next week. All I can see is what God has placed in front of me right now.

Think about it.

Noah didn’t build the ark in a day. It took decades of waking up, grabbing a hammer, and building one plank at a time. He didn’t see a drop of rain for years. He just saw the single wooden plank in front of him each day. He had to wait years for God’s promise and prophecy to be fulfilled. Perhaps Noah began to wonder if it would really happen or if he’d heard wrong.

When we think about Noah, we often envision the completed ark. But what we don’t see are the 50-75 years of backbreaking labor, years of faithfulness before the first drop of rain ever fell. He had to be faithful in the daily, ordinary tasks of building the ark before he ever fully understood the why of the assignment.

We are called to be faithful in the little things (Luke 16:10).

Think about it.

Noah spent more time building that ark, without seeing any results, than some of us have even been alive. Certainly more time than we’ve probably ever spent on a project.

Do you think Noah knew the full weight of the task he’d been asked to undertake?

Yet if he hadn’t trusted God’s word spoken to him, none of us would be here.

God used Noah’s faithfulness to save the world. If he hadn’t built the ark, his family would’ve drowned. If his family had drowned, the earth would have been wiped out, which means none of us would be here today.

Wow.

That’s pretty weighty to think about. 

In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us that to whom much is given, much will be required.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

While we might not be asked to build an ark that will preserve the population from dying out, we are asked in Matthew 28:19 (ESV) to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us.

Even if we are not called to save people physically, we are called to point them to the One Who can save them spiritually.

We often find we want the “much” more than we desire the “little.” We want the completed project, the fulfilled dream, the clear future, but God tests our hearts in the “little.” He looks at how we handle what He has already given us. We are called to be faithful in the small tasks we may consider “mundane” (answering an email, studying, folding laundry).

Think about it.

Remember God says that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).

Perhaps God keeps us in seasons of quiet, daily preparation because if He gave us the big platforms or massive answers to prayer before our character was tested in the small things, the weight of the responsibility would crush us. And how important those “small” things are even if we don’t realize it!

We may find it hard to believe when we’re folding another load of laundry or washing dishes, but remember Noah probably couldn’t fully imagine the importance of each part as he built the ark, one piece of wood, one layer of pitch and tar at a time.

Pray with me: Dear Father, thank You that Your plans are better than anything I could imagine. Forgive me for the times I lose sight of that. Help me to remember Noah’s decades of unseen faithfulness, and give me the strength to fulfill every task, no matter how mundane it may seem, with a heart of worship. Teach me to obey Your voice even when I don’t understand the why behind the assignment. I trust that You are preparing me for whatever You have next. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Uncertainty about the future, unanswered prayers, and dreams that haven&rsquo;t taken shape yet can leave you wondering whether your ordinary, everyday faithfulness really matters. Scripture reminds us that God may be preparing us for something we cannot yet see.
Noah spent years building the ark before a single drop of rain fell. In the same way, God often calls us to prepare, obey, and remain faithful without showing us the full picture. The small things we do each day&mdash;our work, responsibilities, relationships, and acts of obedience&mdash;can be part of a much larger purpose. We may want the big answer or the completed dream, but God is often strengthening our character and our faith through the seemingly mundane tasks right in front of us.
Highlights:
<ul data-spread="false">
<li>What Isaiah 54:2 teaches us about preparing for what God may be doing</li>
<li>Why obedience sometimes requires faith before we understand the outcome</li>
<li>Lessons from Noah&rsquo;s years of faithful, unseen preparation</li>
<li>How God uses ordinary and seemingly small tasks to prepare us for greater responsibility</li>
<li>Why we should focus on faithfulness today instead of needing to know what comes next</li>
<li>How seasons of waiting can strengthen our character, trust, and obedience</li>
<li>Remembering that what seems insignificant to us may have a much greater purpose in God&rsquo;s plan</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:
Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes&rdquo; (Isaiah 54:2 ESV).
God often does things we don&rsquo;t expect.
As I read Isaiah 54 the other day, God showed me that He will often tell us to prepare for things He&rsquo;s bringing us. In this passage, He tells a barren woman to expand her tent and strengthen her stakes for a family she doesn't even have yet. Our job isn&rsquo;t to know the why but to prepare in obedience even when we don&rsquo;t know what we are getting ready for. All we can do is walk in obedience even when we don&rsquo;t know where the obedience will lead.
It reminds me of the parable Jesus told of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. When they went to meet the bridegroom, only 5 of the virgins took extra flasks of oil with them before they departed. The other 5 foolishly didn&rsquo;t. They didn&rsquo;t prepare.
Or in Genesis 6, when God commands Noah to build an ark. Do you think Noah might&rsquo;ve thought it a bit strange, the command to build an ark when there wasn&rsquo;t rain anywhere in sight? Not to mention the earth had never flooded before. Undoubtedly, the idea would&rsquo;ve been a foreign concept to him.
But Noah chose to trust God, and it was counted to him as righteousness (Hebrews 11:7).
I&rsquo;m in a season right now where I don&rsquo;t know where I&rsquo;ll be in the next year, the next few months, or even next week. All I can see is what God has placed in front of me right now.
Think about it.
Noah didn&rsquo;t build the ark in a day. It took decades of waking up, grabbing a hammer, and building&nbsp;one plank at a time.&nbsp;He didn&rsquo;t see a drop of rain for years. He just saw the single wooden plank in front of him each day. He had to wait years for God&rsquo;s promise and prophecy to be fulfilled. Perhaps Noah began to wonder if it would really happen or if he&rsquo;d heard wrong.
When we think about Noah, we often envision the completed ark. But what we don&rsquo;t see are the 50-75 years of backbreaking labor, years of faithfulness before the first drop of rain ever fell. He had to be faithful in the daily, ordinary tasks of building the ark before he ever fully understood the&nbsp;why&nbsp;of the assignment.
We are called to be faithful in the little things (Luke 16:10).
Think about it.
Noah spent more time building that ark, without seeing any results, than some of us have even been alive. Certainly more time than we&rsquo;ve probably ever spent on a project.
Do you think Noah knew the full weight of the task he&rsquo;d been asked to undertake?
Yet if he hadn&rsquo;t trusted God&rsquo;s word spoken to him, none of us would be here.
God used Noah&rsquo;s faithfulness to save the world. If he hadn&rsquo;t built the ark, his family would&rsquo;ve drowned. If his family had drowned, the earth would have been wiped out, which means none of us would be here today.
Wow.
That&rsquo;s pretty weighty to think about.&nbsp;
In Luke 12:48, Jesus tells us that to whom much is given, much will be required.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
While we might not be asked to build an ark that will preserve the population from dying out, we are asked in Matthew 28:19 (ESV) to &ldquo;Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,&rdquo; teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded us.
Even if we are not called to save people physically, we are called to point them to the One Who can save them spiritually.
We often find we want the &ldquo;much&rdquo; more than we desire the &ldquo;little.&rdquo; We want the completed project, the fulfilled dream, the clear future, but God tests our hearts in the &ldquo;little.&rdquo; He looks at how we handle what He has already given us. We are called to be faithful in the small tasks we may consider &ldquo;mundane&rdquo; (answering an email, studying, folding laundry).
Think about it.
Remember God says that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48).
Perhaps God keeps us in seasons of quiet, daily preparation because if He gave us the big platforms or massive answers to prayer before our character was tested in the small things, the weight of the responsibility would crush us. And how important those &ldquo;small&rdquo; things are even if we don&rsquo;t realize it!
We may find it hard to believe when we&rsquo;re folding another load of laundry or washing dishes, but remember Noah probably couldn&rsquo;t fully imagine the importance of each part as he built the ark, one piece of wood, one layer of pitch and tar at a time.
Pray with me: Dear Father, thank You that Your plans are better than anything I could imagine. Forgive me for the times I lose sight of that. Help me to remember Noah&rsquo;s decades of unseen faithfulness, and give me the strength to fulfill every task, no matter how mundane it may seem, with a heart of worship. Teach me to obey Your voice even when I don&rsquo;t understand the why behind the assignment. I trust that You are preparing me for whatever You have next. In Jesus&rsquo; Name, Amen.

Strengthening Your Stakes: Preparing for What Only God Can See

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/471a6d14-d8ec-4c28-9bc3-b4bf0138877d/transcript

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>
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:
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

What Does Compassion Feel Like? The Gospel Stories of Jesus' Compassion

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