LifeAudio

In the foothills of Appalachia, Jordan Smith, a young boy from Harlan, Kentucky, found his voice in the hymns of a small country church. Years later, that voice would capture the nation’s heart when Jordan Smith won NBC’s The Voice in 2015. In our conversation, Jordan reflects on how hymns shaped his journey and how prayer and Scripture continue to anchor him through every season of life.

Later in the episode, we’ll hear from Tyler White, also known as DJ TyWy. Growing up on the spectrum, Tyler discovered the power of music to break through social struggles, from singing in talent shows to dancing at school events. Today, he DJs across Florida, including Autism Speaks Walks, using his platform to inspire others on the spectrum. In our conversation, Tyler reflects on perseverance, faith, and how music has shaped his journey and dreams.

Links, Products, and Resources Mentioned:

Jesus Calling Podcast

Jesus Calling

Jesus Always

Jesus Listens

Past interview: Johnny and Donnie Van Zant

Upcoming interview: Dale Sutherland

Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season

Jordan Smith

NBC’s The Voice 

Psalms

The People’s Hymnal

Gaither Music

www.therealjordansmith.com

Tyler White

Autism Speaks Walks

Love on the Spectrum

CMA Fest 

Dillon Weldon

Randy Travis

*Tyler White would like to thank Clay Bradley, President of BMI, his manager Brent Daughrity, the board of directors for the CMA, and his attorney J. Reid Hunter for introducing him to the platforms for writing and recording in Nashville. He’d also like to thank Drew Trosclair, Jeff Garrison, Jackson Nance, and Cameron Bedell for helping him write and produce the songs. 

Interview Quotes:

“Hymns are songs that are meant to be memorized and sung together. They’re songs that bring people together, they are songs that are centered around the message of the gospel. They highlight the truth of Scripture. They also bring people together and allow people to experience that truth together.” - Jordan Smith 

“When you have a group of people coming together to sing these uplifting messages, to sing these messages of hope, and to sing these messages of the gospel, I think something just come

El misterio glorioso: lo que parecía maldición, Dios lo convierte en bendición. Ese aguijón que hoy te hiere… puede ser el mismo lugar donde Dios muestre Su poder. No temas por tu aguijón… porque en él se esconde la oportunidad perfecta para que la gloria de Dios brille en ti…

Escrito por Mercy Cosme

Telegram: https://t.me/TheSalvationArmySoundcast

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False accusations, broken trust, and relational pain can shake our confidence—but Psalm 27:13–14 reminds us that God’s goodness is still at work in the land of the living. This devotional encourages us to place our trust fully in God, not people, and to wait on Him with strength and courage when relationships fail.

Highlights

• Betrayal and false accusations reveal how fragile human relationships can be.

• Trusting people to meet soul-level needs often leads to disappointment.

• David’s experience with Saul shows that jealousy and envy can drive cruelty.

• God uses difficult relationships to reveal truth and refine our perspective.

• Waiting on the Lord builds spiritual strength, not weakness.

• God’s goodness is not delayed—it is present, even in painful seasons.

• True security comes from placing faith in God alone, not in others’ approval.

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Full Transcript Below:

Put Your Trust in God
By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:
“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” - Psalm 27:13-14

In high school, I always struggled to fit in. I had friends in various circles within my class, but I never seemed to fit in anywhere. I tried desperately to fit in with a group that lived near me, and we shared the same bus. But just when I got a boyfriend who was a mutual friend of theirs, things got ugly. People who I thought were my friends were spreading vicious lies about me. They couldn't understand what their mutual friend saw in me. This is especially true since one of the friends in that circle had dated him before. 

The night of our Sophomore dance, I took that mutual friend as my date. We all shared the same ride and went to the dance together. But after returning from the bathroom, I saw my friend in my group flirting with my new boyfriend. I was devastated. How could she do this to me? After that, we didn't speak to each other for quite some time. Eventually, that mutual friend and I broke up. Once that happened, the friend from my circle started talking to me again. 

Although this is before I knew the Lord, it taught me a valuable lesson: life can be cruel. The friends you think you've made may turn on you in an instant once they find you have something that they want. I struggled until graduation, w

When people think of a “Christian,” they often picture someone who looks or acts a certain way—quoting Bible verses, listening only to worship music, or praying before every cup of coffee. But Jesus gave us a very different picture. In John 13, He said that the world would know His disciples by their love. This episode is a reminder that following Jesus isn’t about appearances or rituals—it’s about reflecting His love through kindness, patience, and integrity in everyday life.

Key Takeaways:

• True Christianity isn’t about looking a certain way; it’s about living with love.

• Jesus said the mark of a disciple is love (John 13:35).

• Small, genuine acts—kindness, patience, honesty—speak volumes about who you are.

• Being a Christian doesn’t mean being perfect; it means being transformed by love.

Don’t forget: You can also download our free devotional, “Mind, Body & Soul,” designed to help strengthen your walk with God through Scripture, prayer, and practical habits.

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There are seasons of suffering that can make God feel distant—even when we know in our minds that He is real and faithful. This devotional acknowledges that painful experience: moments when anxiety, grief, fear, or spiritual dryness convince us that we’ve been left alone. David voiced these same feelings in Psalm 22 as he faced enemies, isolation, and distress. Yet even in his desperation, David still cried out to God as his strength and help, showing us that feeling abandoned isn’t the same as being abandoned.

One of the key truths in today’s devotional is that when God feels far away, the distance is not on His side. God does not leave His people. He remains constant, faithful, and present—yesterday, today, and forever. Often, the shift happens in us: sin, distraction, discouragement, or the slow drift away from prayer and Scripture can make us feel spiritually numb. But even then, God remains ready to forgive, restore, and draw us back close when we turn to Him.

So what do we do when we recognize we’ve drifted? We return. We pray. We open His Word again. We choose faith over feelings. Like any relationship, closeness grows through communication, time, and trust. And the devotional reminds us that God’s love is proven—not only by what we feel, but by what He has already done through Jesus Christ. When you can’t sense His presence, you can still anchor yourself in His promises. God is not far away. He is near, attentive, and ready to strengthen you in the middle of deep suffering.

Main Takeaways

• Feeling like God is far away does not mean He has abandoned you.

• God’s presence is constant—even when your emotions suggest otherwise.

• Spiritual distance often happens when we drift from prayer, confession, and Scripture.

• Faith is not based on feelings; it’s rooted in God’s unchanging promises.

• Drawing close to God through prayer and His Word restores confidence and clarity.

Today’s Bible Verse: Psalm 22:19

Your Daily Prayer

Here is a brief excerpt from today’s prayer:

“I dismiss my feelings and trust with faith that you are near to me… Restore my faith, dear Lord.”

You can read the full prayer and devotional at the links below.

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Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

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“I thought I had my whole plan mapped out. His plan was better.”

In this deeply personal episode of The Walk, Lexi Fromm—President of Worship Leader Magazine and daughter of Maranatha! Music pioneer Chuck Fromm—shares a powerful testimony of disrupted plans, painful losses, and unexpected callings. From law school ambitions to taking the reins of a ministry in the wake of her father’s battle with Lewy body dementia, Lexi’s journey is a raw and Spirit-led look at faith, legacy, and letting go.

You’ll hear about growing up in the epicenter of the Jesus Music movement, singing prayers off a diving board, surviving four knee surgeries, and learning to lead Worship Leader Magazine with both conviction and compassion.

Guest Bio:
Lexi Fromm lives in Franklin, Tennessee and serves as President of Worship Leader Magazine. With a background in education and a passion for empowering creatives, she carries forward a legacy rooted in the Jesus Movement while forging a vision for tomorrow’s worship leaders.

Episode Highlights

• Q: What were Lexi’s original career plans?
  A: She planned to attend law school and become a children’s rights attorney through Teach for America.

• Q: What disrupted those plans?
  A: A spontaneous meeting with her father’s board changed everything—and led to her calling.

• Q: What personal struggles has she faced recently?
  A: Caring for her father through dementia, grieving his loss, and enduring four knee surgeries in one year.

• Q: How does she discern God's will?
  A: Through daily surrender, “garden walks” of prayer, and remembering Proverbs 16:9.

• ️ Q: What’s the future of Worship Leader Magazine?
  A: Digital resources built on timeless truths, podcast curation, and a relaunch of Song Discovery.

Pull Quote

“God didn’t cause my pain—but He’s brought me through it. And He’s still writing the story.”

Helpful Links

• Worship Leader Magazine

This episode of The Walk is made possible by Planning Center

The all-in-one platfor

“Alcohol is a poison disguised as a remedy.”

That’s the wisdom Ericka Andersen brings to this conversation—wisdom that developed after years of a quiet struggle that slowly took ahold of her and wouldn't let go. Like many evangelicals nowadays, she assumed drinking was neutral, normal, and largely harmless. But over time, she began to notice a widening gap between what alcohol promised and what it actually delivered.

In this episode, Ericka shares how drinking slowly moved from social habit to something she felt unable to control—even though she knew early on that something was off but kept overriding that inner voice. She opens up about hiding alcohol, waking up in the middle of the night consumed by compulsion, and living with the tension of appearing fine on the outside while unraveling internally.

Ericka also names the loneliness of not seeing stories like hers reflected in church spaces, where alcohol is increasingly treated as a non-issue or even a virtue and especially harms women. Rather than calling for rules or ultimatums, though, she makes a compelling case for curiosity—asking better questions about why we drink, what it costs us, and who it quietly harms.

This conversation is for anyone who doesn’t look out of control but knows something is wrong; for those who don’t resonate with “rock bottom” narratives but still feel unsettled; and for Christians who are ready to examine cultural assumptions and get curious.

We Explore:

— How alcohol functions as a socially acceptable coping mechanism
— Why early internal warnings are so easy to ignore
— The gap between outward control and inner compulsion
— How secrecy quietly reshapes drinking habits
— Why many Christians don’t see their stories reflected in church culture
— The myth that a problem has to look extreme to be real
— How alcohol promises relief but delivers diminishing returns
— Why asking better questions matters more than forcing behavior change
— The difference between legal and harmless
— What freedom begins to look like when denial ends

Ericka's new book: Freely Sober

Follow Ericka: @ericka_andersen

Ericka's writing: https://erickaandersen.substack.com 

Follow me: @jonseidl

Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

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Today’s Bible Verse: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." — Hebrews 13:5

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Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery

Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker, multi-published author, and founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose.

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