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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

When We Just Need to Complain

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 reveals a powerful cycle: God comforts us in our pain so we can extend that same comfort to others. He isn’t distant from our struggles—He meets us in them as the “Father of compassion” and the “God of all comfort.” What we receive in those seasons isn’t just for survival—it’s preparation for impact.

Highlights
God meets us in our struggles with real comfort and compassion
His comfort is meant to flow through us, not stop with us
Personal pain can become a source of empathy and connection
You don’t need perfect answers—presence and care matter most
God redeems कठिन experiences to help others heal
Your struggles don’t disqualify you—they often prepare you
Sharing your story can bring hope to someone else’s situation

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Take Our Survey!

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Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Pass God’s Comfort Along
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV

Ever since my husband had a kidney transplant years ago, I’ve been grateful to God and to the wonderful man who donated the lifesaving kidney. But the tremendous blessing of a successful transplant comes with a downside: lots of medications to prevent organ rejection – and each of those medications can have serious side effects. Over the years, the stress of dealing with chronic illness has been hard on our marriage, because the stress of health concerns never ends. But I’ve discovered that the more I turn to God for comfort when dealing with this stressful situation, the more I receive comfort from God that I can then pass along to other people who are dealing with chronic illness in their marriages. God even seems to arrange for me to meet people like that sometimes, to create opportunities for us to talk and encourage each other. I don’t enjoy dealing with an unending sickness in my marriage, but I have to admit that doing so has made me a more compassionate person – someone who tries to comfort others whenever I can. 

What kind of suffering are you going through right now? Whatever it is, you can rely on God to comfort you. 

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, the Bible describes God as the “Father of compassion” and the “God of all comfort.” Comfort is a central part of God’s character. When you’re discouraged, stressed, or exhausted, God cares, and he makes it a priority to comfort you.

But these verses don’t stop there. They reveal that God comforts you so you can comfort others. What you receive from God is meant to bless others after it blesses you, as part of the powerful process of God’s love flowing through your life into other people’s lives. 

That can be challenging, especially when you’re still in pain. You may be tempted just to hold onto comfort once God gives it to you. That’s understandable. Healing takes time. But God gently invites you to see that your own experiences – especially the painful ones – can help others deal with the pain in their own lives. 

Think about the last time you were comforted by someone else who had gone through a challenge that was similar to one you went through. That person knew what your pain felt like, so he or she probably blessed you powerfully with understanding and encouragement. Just as you’re grateful for the comfort that person shared with you, you can be the reason why someone else who’s hurting is grateful in the future. 

God never wastes your pain. While God never causes your pain, he does redeem it. The comfort you receive during hard times teaches you empathy. When you allow God to work through those places, your story becomes a source of encouragement for someone else. 

When you pass God’s comfort along yourself, you won’t have all the answers or be able to say something perfectly wise. But if you just show up without judgment, listen well, and encourage people by telling them how God has comforted you in similar circumstances, God will work through you to do the rest. In the process, the people you share God’s comfort with will find the fresh hope they need! 

This is especially important to remember if you feel like your struggles disqualify you from helping others. They don’t. Often, they’re actually what qualify you. God’s comfort doesn’t just patch you up and send you on your way. It transforms you into a more compassionate person whom God can work through to shine light into the darkness of this fallen world. 

So, when you receive comfort from God, don’t rush past it. Let it sink into your soul. Then, when the time is right, let it flow out to others who need to know that God is with them and will help them in their own suffering. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:
How did God comfort you during a hard challenge you went through recently? 
Do you know anyone right now who’s suffering while dealing with a similar challenge? If so, how can you plan to reach out to comfort that person with what you’ve learned from when God comforted you? 
What’s one simple way you can share God’s comfort this week with anyone you know is dealing with any kind of painful challenge? 
How does viewing your struggle as a qualification to help others change your attitude toward your pain? 

Further Reading:
Galatians 6:2
Romans 12:15
Matthew 5:4
Psalm 34:18
1 Thessalonians 5:11

2 Corinthians 1:3&ndash;4 reveals a powerful cycle: God comforts us in our pain so we can extend that same comfort to others. He isn&rsquo;t distant from our struggles&mdash;He meets us in them as the &ldquo;Father of compassion&rdquo; and the &ldquo;God of all comfort.&rdquo; What we receive in those seasons isn&rsquo;t just for survival&mdash;it&rsquo;s preparation for impact.
<hr data-start="689" data-end="692">
Highlights
<ul data-start="710" data-end="1149">
<li data-section-id="fvf2oo" data-start="710" data-end="776">God meets us in our struggles with real comfort and compassion</li>
<li data-section-id="141htnw" data-start="777" data-end="838">His comfort is meant to flow through us, not stop with us</li>
<li data-section-id="6lf2vx" data-start="839" data-end="902">Personal pain can become a source of empathy and connection</li>
<li data-section-id="1st91iw" data-start="903" data-end="967">You don&rsquo;t need perfect answers&mdash;presence and care matter most</li>
<li data-section-id="gerk3f" data-start="968" data-end="1020">God redeems कठिन experiences to help others heal</li>
<li data-section-id="2r9ind" data-start="1021" data-end="1083">Your struggles don&rsquo;t disqualify you&mdash;they often prepare you</li>
<li data-section-id="5tyhfo" data-start="1084" data-end="1149">Sharing your story can bring hope to someone else&rsquo;s situation</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://forms.gle/gXp5pnA83t6du5An7">Take Our Survey!</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:
Pass God&rsquo;s Comfort Along By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.&rdquo; - 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV
Ever since my husband had a kidney transplant years ago, I&rsquo;ve been grateful to God and to the wonderful man who donated the lifesaving kidney. But the tremendous blessing of a successful transplant comes with a downside: lots of medications to prevent organ rejection &ndash; and each of those medications can have serious side effects. Over the years, the stress of dealing with chronic illness has been hard on our marriage, because the stress of health concerns never ends. But I&rsquo;ve discovered that the more I turn to God for comfort when dealing with this stressful situation, the more I receive comfort from God that I can then pass along to other people who are dealing with chronic illness in their marriages. God even seems to arrange for me to meet people like that sometimes, to create opportunities for us to talk and encourage each other. I don&rsquo;t enjoy dealing with an unending sickness in my marriage, but I have to admit that doing so has made me a more compassionate person &ndash; someone who tries to comfort others whenever I can.&nbsp;
What kind of suffering are you going through right now? Whatever it is, you can rely on God to comfort you.&nbsp;
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, the Bible describes God as the &ldquo;Father of compassion&rdquo; and the &ldquo;God of all comfort.&rdquo; Comfort is a central part of God&rsquo;s character. When you&rsquo;re discouraged, stressed, or exhausted, God cares, and he makes it a priority to comfort you.
But these verses don&rsquo;t stop there. They reveal that God comforts you so you can comfort others. What you receive from God is meant to bless others after it blesses you, as part of the powerful process of<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/is-love-just-an-emotion-or-is-it-more.html"> God&rsquo;s love flowing through your life into other people&rsquo;s lives</a>.&nbsp;
That can be challenging, especially when you&rsquo;re still in pain. You may be tempted just to hold onto comfort once God gives it to you. That&rsquo;s understandable. Healing takes time. But God gently invites you to see that your own experiences &ndash; especially the painful ones &ndash; can help others deal with the pain in their own lives.&nbsp;
Think about the last time you were comforted by someone else who had gone through a challenge that was similar to one you went through. That person knew what your pain felt like, so he or she probably blessed you powerfully with understanding and encouragement. Just as you&rsquo;re grateful for the comfort that person shared with you, you can be the reason why someone else who&rsquo;s hurting is grateful in the future.&nbsp;
God never wastes your pain. While God never causes your pain, he does redeem it. The comfort you receive during hard times teaches you empathy. When you allow God to work through those places, your story becomes a source of encouragement for someone else.&nbsp;
When you pass God&rsquo;s comfort along yourself, you won&rsquo;t have all the answers or be able to say something perfectly wise. But if you just show up without judgment,<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/ibelieve-truth-a-devotional-for-women/how-to-listen-well.html"> listen well</a>, and<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/encourage-one-another-the-crosswalk-devotional.html"> encourage people</a> by telling them how God has comforted you in similar circumstances, God will work through you to do the rest. In the process, the people you share God&rsquo;s comfort with will find the fresh hope they need!&nbsp;
This is especially important to remember if you feel like your struggles disqualify you from helping others. They don&rsquo;t. Often, they&rsquo;re actually what qualify you. God&rsquo;s comfort doesn&rsquo;t just patch you up and send you on your way. It transforms you into a more compassionate person whom God can work through to<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/reminders-about-light-when-you-feel-surrounded-by-darkness.html"> shine light into the darkness of this fallen world</a>.&nbsp;
So, when you receive comfort from God, don&rsquo;t rush past it. Let it sink into your soul. Then, when the time is right, let it flow out to others who need to know that God is with them and will help them in their own suffering.&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How did God comfort you during a hard challenge you went through recently?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Do you know anyone right now who&rsquo;s suffering while dealing with a similar challenge? If so, how can you plan to reach out to comfort that person with what you&rsquo;ve learned from when God comforted you?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">What&rsquo;s one simple way you can share God&rsquo;s comfort this week with anyone you know is dealing with any kind of painful challenge?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How does viewing your struggle as a qualification to help others change your attitude toward your pain?&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Further Reading: Galatians 6:2 Romans 12:15 Matthew 5:4 Psalm 34:18 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Pass God’s Comfort Along

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/279a5512-e897-43b1-b6b0-b43900e5ac28/transcript

God’s nearness isn’t just a theological truth—it’s a personal experience that meets us exactly where we are. Deuteronomy 4:7 reminds us that we serve a God who draws close whenever we call on Him. In seasons of uncertainty, waiting, or emotional weight, His presence often becomes more meaningful than the answers we’re seeking.

Prayer isn’t only about outcomes—it’s about connection. While we may come to God hoping for clarity or resolution, what He often gives first is Himself. In that nearness, we find peace, strength, and reassurance that we are not alone. Even when circumstances don’t immediately change, His presence steadies us and reminds us that He is already at work.

Highlights
God is near to us whenever we call on Him
His presence often matters more than immediate answers
Prayer is an invitation into relationship, not just requests
God prepares and strengthens us before we face कठिन moments
His nearness brings peace, comfort, and clarity
Scripture reveals God’s compassionate and personal nature

Have an idea for our newsletter? We want to hear from you! Take our survey below:

Take Our Survey!

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:

His Nearness Is What I Needed

By Lauren Fletcher

Bible Reading:

“For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?” - Deuteronomy 4:7

I have recently been reading a book by Wendy Blight called Rest for Your Soul. In it, she talks about prayer. She describes a time when she was calling out to God amidst a struggle and didn’t hear from Him:

“I had a choice to make. I could believe what I was studying, reading, and learning, or I could allow anger, fear, and doubt to continue ruling my soul. What I came to realize during that time (though it was a decade-long journey) was that God was with me. And over those years, though my circumstances didn’t always change, my courage to stand firm in them rose because I knew I was not alone” (Rest for Your Soul).

A few pages later, Wendy writes, “Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He may not fix everything at that moment. In fact, He probably won’t. But it’s an invitation to come and sit with the only One who can give you rest in the middle of the mess” (Rest for Your Soul).

What I started to wonder about prayer is if maybe it isn’t about getting an answer from God for a particular need, but about recognizing His Presence and experiencing Him, that prayer is about communication with God.

I went through some mental health testing earlier this year. I had been awaiting the results, eager to get the treatment I needed. Yesterday morning, I woke up and read my Bible, as usual. What was different was how present God was with me. Every scripture I read, I felt like God was speaking directly to me, to my heart, like it was just for me. I could hear Him, feel His presence. I was touched and grateful.

Later that day, I got part of the news I had been awaiting for weeks. I received my diagnosis. As I processed this, I realized that a reason God had been close that morning is that He knew what I would hear that day—He knew I would hear the results of my testing. He wanted me to know He was there.

More than hearing a specific word, what I needed, what I cherished most, was God’s presence, to know He was with me. His nearness is what I needed.

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 34. In it, David says, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (Psalm 34:18). God knows when we need Him, and He shows up.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

The Bible also shows that when we pray to the Lord, He draws near. In Deuteronomy, it says, “For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7). The Psalmist also writes, “I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:1-2). He listens to our prayers and draws near to us as we pray. He is a personal God.

Just like I could feel His nearness as I read the scripture yesterday morning, I could also sense His heart—we can learn more about who He is in that place of nearness. Psalms 103 says, “The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love” (Psalm 103:8). This description of God is found throughout the Bible. David also describes how God is as a Father: “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust” (Psalm 103:13-14). Have you ever had a time when you felt God’s presence so close to you? Did you learn anything in that place of nearness about Him?

Something I think about is when I got the initial call to do testing. God was in this. It felt like the answer to a prayer I hadn’t prayed—I had such peace about it. I also think about how the plans fell so perfectly into place for me to go out of town and do the testing. God had been in the whole process, and He continued to be close.

Has there been a time in your life when you have walked through a difficult season but sensed the Lord’s Presence with you? What did that feel like? Was He steadying, comforting, or encouraging? In Psalms 34, David writes, “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time” (Psalm 34:19). We are righteous through Christ. He will come to help us every time

Further Reading:

Psalm 145:18

James 4:8

Jeremiah 29:13

Isaiah 7:14

Hebrews 13:5

Deuteronomy 31:8

God&rsquo;s nearness isn&rsquo;t just a theological truth&mdash;it&rsquo;s a personal experience that meets us exactly where we are. Deuteronomy 4:7 reminds us that we serve a God who draws close whenever we call on Him. In seasons of uncertainty, waiting, or emotional weight, His presence often becomes more meaningful than the answers we&rsquo;re seeking.
Prayer isn&rsquo;t only about outcomes&mdash;it&rsquo;s about connection. While we may come to God hoping for clarity or resolution, what He often gives first is Himself. In that nearness, we find peace, strength, and reassurance that we are not alone. Even when circumstances don&rsquo;t immediately change, His presence steadies us and reminds us that He is already at work.
<hr data-start="698" data-end="701">
Highlights
<ul data-start="719" data-end="1128">
<li data-section-id="emcv1y" data-start="719" data-end="764">God is near to us whenever we call on Him</li>
<li data-section-id="78vfdx" data-start="765" data-end="823">His presence often matters more than immediate answers</li>
<li data-section-id="1qofyuy" data-start="824" data-end="888">Prayer is an invitation into relationship, not just requests</li>
<li data-section-id="b7ilil" data-start="889" data-end="952">God prepares and strengthens us before we face कठिन moments</li>
<li data-section-id="1tmqz45" data-start="953" data-end="1004">His nearness brings peace, comfort, and clarity</li>
<li data-section-id="e107tn" data-start="1005" data-end="1066">Scripture reveals God&rsquo;s compassionate and personal nature</li>
</ul>
Have an idea for our newsletter? We want to hear from you! Take our survey below:
<a href="https://forms.gle/gXp5pnA83t6du5An7">Take Our Survey!</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:
His Nearness Is What I Needed
By Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?&rdquo; - Deuteronomy 4:7
I have recently been reading a book by Wendy Blight called Rest for Your Soul. In it, she talks about prayer. She describes a time when she was calling out to God amidst a struggle and didn&rsquo;t hear from Him:
&ldquo;I had a choice to make. I could believe what I was studying, reading, and learning, or I could allow anger, fear, and doubt to continue ruling my soul. What I came to realize during that time (though it was a decade-long journey) was that God was with me. And over those years, though my circumstances didn&rsquo;t always change, my courage to stand firm in them rose because I knew I was not alone&rdquo; (Rest for Your Soul).
A few pages later, Wendy writes, &ldquo;Jesus invites us, &ldquo;Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest&rdquo; (Matthew 11:28). He may not fix everything at that moment. In fact, He probably won&rsquo;t. But it&rsquo;s an invitation to come and sit with the only One who can give you rest in the middle of the mess&rdquo; (Rest for Your Soul).
What I started to wonder about prayer is if maybe it isn&rsquo;t about getting an answer from God for a particular need, but about recognizing His Presence and experiencing Him, that prayer is about communication with God.
I went through some mental health testing earlier this year. I had been awaiting the results, eager to get the treatment I needed. Yesterday morning, I woke up and read my Bible, as usual. What was different was how present God was with me. Every scripture I read, I felt like God was speaking directly to me, to my heart, like it was just for me. I could hear Him, feel His presence. I was touched and grateful.
Later that day, I got part of the news I had been awaiting for weeks. I received my diagnosis. As I processed this, I realized that a reason God had been close that morning is that He knew what I would hear that day&mdash;He knew I would hear the results of my testing. He wanted me to know He was there.
More than hearing a specific word, what I needed, what I cherished most, was God&rsquo;s presence, to know He was with me. His nearness is what I needed.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 34. In it, David says, &ldquo;The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed&rdquo; (Psalm 34:18). God knows when we need Him, and He shows up.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
The Bible also shows that when we pray to the Lord, He draws near. In Deuteronomy, it says, &ldquo;For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him?&rdquo; (Deuteronomy 4:7). The Psalmist also writes, &ldquo;I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!&rdquo; (Psalm 116:1-2). He listens to our prayers and draws near to us as we pray. He is a personal God.
Just like I could feel His nearness as I read the scripture yesterday morning, I could also sense His heart&mdash;we can learn more about who He is in that place of nearness. Psalms 103 says, &ldquo;The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love&rdquo; (Psalm 103:8). This description of God is found throughout the Bible. David also describes how God is as a Father: &ldquo;The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust&rdquo; (Psalm 103:13-14). Have you ever had a time when you felt God&rsquo;s presence so close to you? Did you learn anything in that place of nearness about Him?
Something I think about is when I got the initial call to do testing. God was in this. It felt like the answer to a prayer I hadn&rsquo;t prayed&mdash;I had such peace about it. I also think about how the plans fell so perfectly into place for me to go out of town and do the testing. God had been in the whole process, and He continued to be close.
Has there been a time in your life when you have walked through a difficult season but sensed the Lord&rsquo;s Presence with you? What did that feel like? Was He steadying, comforting, or encouraging? In Psalms 34, David writes, &ldquo;The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time&rdquo; (Psalm 34:19). We are righteous through Christ. He will come to help us every time
Further Reading:
Psalm 145:18
James 4:8
Jeremiah 29:13
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 13:5
Deuteronomy 31:8

His Nearness Is What I Needed

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/a3733d90-a55c-41f5-b11f-b43900e5a713/transcript

“Follow your heart” sounds inspiring—but Proverbs 3:5–6 offers a better path: trust God over your own understanding. Scripture reminds us that the human heart can be unreliable (Jeremiah 17:9), often shaped by emotion, culture, or pride rather than truth. Real clarity comes not from looking inward, but from surrendering fully to the Lord and allowing Him to direct your steps.

God doesn’t just redirect our paths—He reshapes our desires. As we stay rooted in His Word, He aligns our hearts with His will, replacing confusion with conviction. Instead of chasing what feels right in the moment, we’re invited to follow the One who sees the full picture and leads with perfect wisdom.

Highlights
“Follow your heart” is cultural advice, not biblical direction
The heart can be deceptive and influenced by emotion or pride
True guidance comes from trusting God, not personal understanding
God transforms our desires as we seek and obey Him
Scripture renews our minds and anchors our decisions in truth
Following God leads to clarity, purpose, and alignment with His will
Obedience often requires surrendering plans we once held tightly

Have an idea for our newsletter? We want to hear from you! Take our survey below:

Take Our Survey!

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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Full Transcript Below:

Forsaking Following Your Heart

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct[a] your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

Shortly after college graduation, I became a born-again believer in Jesus Christ; I repented of my sin and surrendered my life to Christ, committing to take up my cross and follow Him no matter the cost. Yet I still wanted to pursue my original plan to become an actress in Los Angeles. As a Christian, I believed I was called to be a light in a dark place, so I was supposed to use my talents for Christ in Hollywood. I was receiving mixed messages from trusted believers because they kept telling me to trust God with the plans to pursue my dreams. This just led to more confusion.

Trust God with my plan and my heart’s desires?

Again and again, the phrase “follow your heart” was echoing through my mind. This phrase seems to be very popular in American culture, even among Christian circles. You can find these three words boldly displayed on T-shirts, on Instagram graphics, and even heralded by some influential professing Christian leaders.

“Follow your heart…” - just a harmless motto, right?

It sounds really encouraging, doesn’t it?

Yes, very encouraging, almost Disney-like, but definitely not Biblical!

The Lord spoke these words about the heart through the prophet Jeremiah:

“The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV)

As Christians, sometimes we fall into the trap of giving man’s words more weight than the Word of God. I wanted to encourage us to look to the direction found in scripture for those who are God’s children. A very familiar, but powerful passage found in Proverbs gives the believer wisdom:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct[a] your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).

Intersecting Faith & Life:

If we put our trust in anything or anyone but the Lord, we will constantly be disappointed and led astray from God’s perfect will for our lives. We must trust in the Lord with all of our heart, which should never be filled with more of this world than God’s Word. I’m so thankful that during that time in my life, while I was faced with a major decision, I kept my heart full of God’s Word, which helped me renew my mind so that I was filled with faith to trust God when He began changing my desires to follow and obey Him most of all. One month after I decided not to move to Los Angeles, realizing that pride was actually driving my desire to pursue an acting career, I was introduced to my now-husband, and the rest is His Story.

My advice to you, beloved one, is do not follow your heart- follow God instead. He knows what you need more than you do. Trust Him with your entire heart and let him mold it to look more like His. He will never lead you down the wrong path!

The culture around us often loudly proclaims how important it is for us to pursue our dreams and destiny by listening to our hearts and following them. But God’s word is very clear: our hearts can often bring confusion, and the only One we can trust to follow is the Lord. If you are born again, God has given you a new heart in Christ, yes, but your flesh is always at war with God’s desires and longs to lead you away from God’s will. We find God’s will in His Word, so we must ask the Lord to help us have a hunger to hide it in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him. God’s word is what renews our minds so that we are able to walk in obedience and look more like Christ to the world, so that they may know that His ways and thoughts are higher and better than man’s. The Lord can help us not to lean upon our own understanding and trust Him above all, not our hearts’ desires. Let us be diligent to ask the Lord to mold our hearts to more closely resemble Jesus.

Further Reading:

Psalm 143:8-10

&ldquo;Follow your heart&rdquo; sounds inspiring&mdash;but Proverbs 3:5&ndash;6 offers a better path: trust God over your own understanding. Scripture reminds us that the human heart can be unreliable (Jeremiah 17:9), often shaped by emotion, culture, or pride rather than truth. Real clarity comes not from looking inward, but from surrendering fully to the Lord and allowing Him to direct your steps.
God doesn&rsquo;t just redirect our paths&mdash;He reshapes our desires. As we stay rooted in His Word, He aligns our hearts with His will, replacing confusion with conviction. Instead of chasing what feels right in the moment, we&rsquo;re invited to follow the One who sees the full picture and leads with perfect wisdom.
<hr data-start="700" data-end="703">
Highlights
<ul data-start="721" data-end="1186">
<li data-section-id="yo8ke7" data-start="721" data-end="787">&ldquo;Follow your heart&rdquo; is cultural advice, not biblical direction</li>
<li data-section-id="564jic" data-start="788" data-end="853">The heart can be deceptive and influenced by emotion or pride</li>
<li data-section-id="1tvdrn8" data-start="854" data-end="923">True guidance comes from trusting God, not personal understanding</li>
<li data-section-id="qxplhe" data-start="924" data-end="978">God transforms our desires as we seek and obey Him</li>
<li data-section-id="1upv8ay" data-start="979" data-end="1044">Scripture renews our minds and anchors our decisions in truth</li>
<li data-section-id="7ibval" data-start="1045" data-end="1117">Following God leads to clarity, purpose, and alignment with His will</li>
<li data-section-id="1w9q2t1" data-start="1118" data-end="1186">Obedience often requires surrendering plans we once held tightly</li>
</ul>
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<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Forsaking Following Your Heart
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths&rdquo; (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Shortly after college graduation, I became a born-again believer in Jesus Christ; I repented of my sin and surrendered my life to Christ, committing to take up my cross and follow Him no matter the cost. Yet I still wanted to pursue my original plan to become an actress in Los Angeles. As a Christian, I believed I was called to be a light in a dark place, so I was supposed to use my talents for Christ in Hollywood. I was receiving mixed messages from trusted believers because they kept telling me to trust God with the plans to pursue my dreams. This just led to more confusion.
Trust God with my plan and my heart&rsquo;s desires?
Again and again, the phrase &ldquo;follow your heart&rdquo; was echoing through my mind. This phrase seems to be very popular in American culture, even among Christian circles. You can find these three words boldly displayed on T-shirts, on Instagram graphics, and even heralded by some influential professing Christian leaders.
&ldquo;Follow your heart&hellip;&rdquo; - just a harmless motto, right?
It sounds really encouraging, doesn&rsquo;t it?
Yes, very encouraging, almost Disney-like, but definitely not Biblical!
The Lord spoke these words about the heart through the prophet Jeremiah:
&ldquo;The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?&rdquo; (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV)
As Christians, sometimes we fall into the trap of giving man&rsquo;s words more weight than the Word of God. I wanted to encourage us to look to the direction found in scripture for those who are God&rsquo;s children. A very familiar, but powerful passage found in Proverbs gives the believer wisdom:
&ldquo;Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths&rdquo; (Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV).
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
If we put our trust in anything or anyone but the Lord, we will constantly be disappointed and led astray from God&rsquo;s perfect will for our lives. We must trust in the Lord with all of our heart, which should never be filled with more of this world than God&rsquo;s Word. I&rsquo;m so thankful that during that time in my life, while I was faced with a major decision, I kept my heart full of God&rsquo;s Word, which helped me renew my mind so that I was filled with faith to trust God when He began changing my desires to follow and obey Him most of all. One month after I decided not to move to Los Angeles, realizing that pride was actually driving my desire to pursue an acting career, I was introduced to my now-husband, and the rest is His Story.
My advice to you, beloved one, is do not follow your heart- follow God instead. He knows what you need more than you do. Trust Him with your entire heart and let him mold it to look more like His. He will never lead you down the wrong path!
The culture around us often loudly proclaims how important it is for us to pursue our dreams and destiny by listening to our hearts and following them. But God&rsquo;s word is very clear: our hearts can often bring confusion, and the only One we can trust to follow is the Lord. If you are born again, God has given you a new heart in Christ, yes, but your flesh is always at war with God&rsquo;s desires and longs to lead you away from God&rsquo;s will. We find God&rsquo;s will in His Word, so we must ask the Lord to help us have a hunger to hide it in our hearts so that we will not sin against Him. God&rsquo;s word is what renews our minds so that we are able to walk in obedience and look more like Christ to the world, so that they may know that His ways and thoughts are higher and better than man&rsquo;s. The Lord can help us not to lean upon our own understanding and trust Him above all, not our hearts&rsquo; desires. Let us be diligent to ask the Lord to mold our hearts to more closely resemble Jesus.
Further Reading:
Psalm 143:8-10

Forsaking Following Your Heart

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