The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Does Halloween bring up feelings of fear, anxiety, or painful memories? Whether you feel uneasy about the holiday’s darker themes or have experienced frightening situations in the past, God offers comfort and strength when fear feels overwhelming. In 2 Timothy 1:7, Scripture reminds us that God gives us a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline—not timidity. As Christians, we can bring our fears to Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us toward greater peace. We can also recognize that everyone has different experiences with Halloween and respond to others with compassion rather than judgment.

Highlights

• Explore what 2 Timothy 1:7 teaches about overcoming fear through God’s power, love, and self-discipline.

• Understand how difficult childhood experiences or painful memories can shape your feelings about Halloween.

• Discover why showing compassion for others’ experiences is an important part of responding with Christian love.

• Learn how prayer, Bible study, and time with the Holy Spirit can strengthen your trust in God.

• Find reassurance that you don’t have to celebrate Halloween if it causes fear, anxiety, or distress.

• Consider peaceful, enjoyable alternatives to Halloween celebrations, from fall activities to spending time with friends.

• Reflect on how to surrender your fears to God and rely on His strength throughout Halloween and every season of life.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Surrendering Fear to God This Halloween
By Vivian Bricker 

Bible Reading:
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). 

Halloween can instill fear in our hearts for many reasons. When I was a kid, I wasn't ever scared of Halloween because my mom made it light-hearted and fun; there was never any gore, blood, or horror. As I grew older, I started associating Halloween with autumn and the changing seasons rather than with anything scary or dark. Halloween was a time for hayrides, apple picking, and pumpkin-themed recipes, not scary events.

As I was talking to a friend about my plans for Halloween, she suddenly shuddered at the word “Halloween.” “I don't like Halloween; it’s too scary,” she said to me. I told her I knew a lot of people regard Halloween as a scary holiday, but you can make it whimsical, fun, and family-friendly. Despite my explanation, my friend continued to paint a picture of Halloween as evil. 

She proceeded to share her Halloween experience with me, which included her parents turning their house into a haunted house for several months, displaying scary decorations outside that terrified her as a kid, and her older siblings dabbling in witchcraft on Halloween. Immediately, I understood her fear associated with Halloween. For me, Halloween was all fun and games, but for her, it was traumatizing. 

We all need to leave room for those with different lived experiences than ours. I told my friend that it was okay; we didn't have to do anything special for Halloween. Instead, we could go to the movies or shop at the mall. My friend happily agreed, thankful to have moved past the difficult subject. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

If Halloween is a holiday that fills your heart with fear, look to Jesus. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). From the moment we place faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives inside us. This is known as the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

Once the Holy Spirit indwells you, He will never leave. He guides, instructs, and convicts you. From the Bible, we also learn that He gives us power, love, and self-discipline. Perhaps you have already seen this to be true in your own life. Don't allow fear to dictate your life anymore; surrender every feeling to the Lord.

He can transform a heart of fear into a heart of trust. You can cultivate trust in Jesus by spending time with Him in Bible study and prayer. The more you get to know Him, the stronger your trust will become. Whether it is Halloween, Christmas, or New Year's, you will not give in to fear. It is a beautiful blessing to know the Lord and to have the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Talk with the Holy Spirit when you are afraid and ask Him to help you see His power, love, and self-discipline in your own life. You may be surprised as to how He will answer your prayer. Never underestimate the work of the Holy Spirit in your life; He can transform a fearful heart into a lionheart. 

Surrender your fear to God today. However, know that it is okay if you don't want to celebrate Halloween. If Halloween brings up too many dark memories, you can bypass this holiday altogether. Do something else on Halloween, such as going to a pottery class, taking a day trip, or having a friend’s night where you all go see a movie. Replacing scary things at Halloween with fun events will radically change how you view this fall holiday. 

Remind yourself that fear does not dictate your life. Your life belongs to Jesus, and He will strengthen you through every storm (Isaiah 41:10). Continue to rely on the Holy Spirit, cultivate trust in God, and embrace the fall season rather than the scary parts of Halloween. 

Do you associate Halloween with fear? What are some ways you can take 2 Timothy 1:7 to heart? The Holy Spirit lives inside you right now. How might you get to know Him better this autumn? 

Further Reading:

Deuteronomy 31:6

Joshua 1:9

Psalm 56:3

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

Can you keep your faith strong when life brings disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or unexpected challenges? Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Yet, just as the seasons change, our trust in God can sometimes fluctuate with our circumstances. When hardship leaves you discouraged or success tempts you to rely on yourself, God invites you to draw closer to Him and remain grounded in His promises. A faith that survives life’s first frost doesn’t depend on favorable circumstances; it rests on the unchanging character and faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

Highlights

• Understand what Hebrews 11:1 teaches about trusting God when you cannot see what lies ahead.

• Discover why changing circumstances can cause faith to fluctuate and how drawing near to God strengthens your trust in Him.

• Learn the five characteristics of surviving faith: focusing on Jesus, remaining steadfast, holding onto hope, sharing your faith, and praying continually.

• Explore how fixing your eyes on Christ helps you resist distractions and stay grounded in God’s truth.

• Find encouragement in God’s unchanging faithfulness, even during seasons when your own faith feels weak.

• Discover how sharing your faith with others can encourage spiritual growth and strengthen your walk with God.

• Reflect on practical ways to deepen your faith and remain steadfast through every season of life.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

A Faith That Survives the First Frost 

By Lynette Kittle

Bible Reading:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”  - Hebrews 11:1

What kind of faith do we have? Does it hold fast and deepen through the seasons of life? Or, does it change like the weather? Do darker, colder days send a chill over our hearts and send us downward, with our circumstances, disappointments, failures, and losses? Likewise, do great successes and joy cause us to feel like we’re doing pretty well on our own?

What causes us to take our eyes off Jesus? Do we let unexpected life events make our faith waiver, or do we stay steadfast and draw nearer to God?

In times of distress as well as joy, James 4:8 urges, “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

If we find our faith changing and falling off like leaves after autumn’s first frost, we’ll want to survey our hearts and minds and see what’s leading our belief and trust in God to fluctuate like the blowing wind.

As James 1:6-8 warns, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” 

Faith That Fluctuates

Jesus recognizes how, in some, faith fluctuates, asking in Luke 18:8, “…However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

The world has a way of wearing people’s faith down. Jesus explains how that happens in Matthew 24:12, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”

As Hebrews 3:12 warns believers, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”

Even so, as 2 Timothy 2:13 explains, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”

5 Characteristics of Surviving Faith

So what kind of faith survives through the first frost and beyond? The following is a description of the five characteristics it takes. 

1. Surviving faith sets its mind on Jesus. Locking our gaze on Jesus keeps our hearts and minds set on Him. As Colossians 3:2 urges, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

As well, Hebrews 12:2 urges, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

1. Surviving faith stays steadfast. It’s our choice when it comes to standing firm and staying steadfast in our faith. Colossians 1:23 describes what we need to do: 

“If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

1. Surviving faith holds onto hope. Holding onto hope keeps us from swerving back and forth in our faith. As Hebrews 10:23 urges, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
2. Surviving faith spreads to others. When our faith survives, it can’t stay contained within us because there is too much life in it to keep silent. Faith that survives finds ways to share with others, even while we’re still growing in it. 

Acts 18:25 tells us of a passionate Jewish teacher in Ephesus named Apollos, who couldn’t keep his faith quiet, even though he was still learning and growing in his relationship with God. “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

1. Surviving faith prays continually. A faith that keeps praying, takes us through the seasons of life, as Paul urges in Ephesians 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Does your faith waiver at times? If so, commit to building a surviving faith that weathers the first frost and much more. 

Further Reading:

A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith

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

How can Christians respond when the world glorifies evil and celebrates things that go against God’s goodness? Romans 12:21 offers a powerful answer: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In a culture where dishonesty, selfishness, revenge, and spiritual darkness can seem increasingly common, believers are called to stand firm in their faith and reflect the light of Jesus Christ. Choosing goodness isn’t always popular or easy, especially when others respond with hostility or encourage you to compromise your values. But God can give you the courage and wisdom to make choices that honor Him, even when you stand apart from the crowd.

Highlights

• Explore what Romans 12:21 teaches about overcoming evil with good instead of allowing darkness to shape your actions.

• Discover how to reflect God’s goodness when the world celebrates dishonesty, selfishness, or spiritual darkness.

• Learn to respond to hurtful words with kindness, dishonesty with truth, and selfishness with generosity.

• Understand how everyday choices can demonstrate God’s love and bring hope to people who are struggling.

• Find encouragement to forgive others and break cycles of anger, resentment, and revenge.

• Discover how prayer and the Holy Spirit can strengthen you to resist harmful influences and remain faithful to God.

• Reflect on practical ways to choose goodness, protect your heart, and shine Christ’s light in your daily life.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

When the World Glorifies Darkness, Choose What Is Good 

By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21, NIV

While visiting an independent bookstore, I browsed the spirituality section and was disappointed to see lots of books about spiritual darkness and very few about God and the light of hope he shines into our fallen world. I considered just leaving without saying anything. But I felt like I should try to have a conversation with the woman at the front desk. So, I silently prayed for courage. Then, I told her that I had been looking for books on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and other related topics. She rolled her eyes and suggested that I visit a Christian bookstore in the area. But I sensed that I should ask her some questions about the selections in the store. Why so many books about the dark side of the spiritual world, like the occult, but so few about God’s goodness? Why sell books about demons but not about holy angels? It turns out that she was the store owner and manager. Even though my questions and tone of voice were polite, an angry expression flashed across her face and she blurted out: “I just stock what sells the most. If you want something else, then go somewhere else.” After I nodded and walked out, I prayed for God to reach out to her and shine light into the darkness that surrounded her so she could see the value of what’s good.

In Romans 12:21, the Bible urges you to fight back against being overcome by evil and instead to overcome evil with good.

Physically, if a room is completely dark, you can drive away the darkness by turning on a light. Even a small flashlight or candle flame cuts right through the darkness. Spiritually, if people in this fallen world around you are glorifying evil, you can overcome that by making choices that reflect God’s goodness.

Choosing what’s good may be unpopular sometimes, but it’s always worth it. When you choose goodness even though others around you are choosing spiritual darkness, you welcome God’s power to flow through your life freely. God will empower you to make the good choices he leads you to make day by day. When someone speaks hurtful words to you, God will give you the strength you need to answer with kindness. When others tell lies to get ahead, God will help you tell the truth. When people around you are selfish, God will empower you to be generous. The more you seek God’s guidance for your decisions, the more God will give you the power to follow through with those decisions well.

Every day, you face choices. You choose how you treat your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers who are unkind. You choose what you watch, what you talk about, and how you respond when you’re treated unfairly. The world will too often tell you to put yourself first, hold grudges, and seek revenge when you’re hurt. But God calls you to be a light in this dark place.

You might think your good choices don’t matter very much in this world that’s full of other people glorifying evil. But never underestimate the power of a good action you do with love. Doing something kind for people can make them feel loved. Speaking honestly to people can bring hope that breaks through their confusion or suffering. Choosing to forgive people for their mistakes can break a cycle of anger that’s lasted for a long time. When you choose what’s good, you show the world what God’s love in action looks like.

So, don’t let the darkness around you change who you are on the inside. Pray for help from God’s Holy Spirit and stand strong in the Holy Spirit’s power as you make your decisions every day. As you choose what’s good, God will use your light to make a real and positive difference in the lives of those around you!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to choose what’s good even when the world around you is glorifying evil, reflect on these questions:

• Where in your daily life do you notice the world glorifying things that don’t please God?
• When have you felt tempted to respond to someone’s sinful choice by going along with it rather than speaking up against evil?
• What’s one act of goodness you can do today for someone who has been difficult or unkind to you?
• How does knowing that God gives you strength through the Holy Spirit change the way you view challenging situations?
• What are some simple habits you can set in your life to protect your mind and heart from dark influences?

Further Reading:

3 John 1:11

Deuteronomy 30:15

Psalm 34:14

Matthew 5:16

Amos 5:14-15

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

Discover how to trade superstition for steady faith by focusing on Jesus rather than the religious practices and objects that remind us of Him. Through the story of the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, explore why invoking Jesus’ name is not a formula for getting what we want and why spiritual growth comes from knowing and trusting Him. Whether you keep a cross nearby, read Scripture daily, or rely on familiar prayers for comfort, consider how these practices can deepen your relationship with God instead of becoming substitutes for it. Learn practical ways to build authentic faith, trust in Christ’s victory over darkness, and pursue a closer walk with the Lord.

Highlights

• Understand the difference between genuine Christian faith and superstition rooted in religious objects or rituals.

• Explore Acts 19 and the account of the sons of Sceva to discover why Jesus’ name is not a magical formula.

• Recognize that the power of salvation and victory over darkness comes from Jesus Christ Himself.

• Learn how crosses, Bibles, prayer, and other spiritual practices can serve as reminders of faith without replacing a relationship with God.

• Reflect on whether any religious habits have become ways of seeking control or protection rather than trusting the Lord.

• Discover why authentic spiritual growth comes from knowing Jesus and relying on His finished work on the cross.

• Consider practical ways to invest in your relationship with God and develop a steady, sincere faith.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Trading Superstition for Steady Faith
By: Sophia Bricker

Bible Reading:
“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17, NIV).

A card and a cross. Those were the two items I regularly kept with me during my first year of middle school, or junior high as it is sometimes known. The card bore the picture of Saint Patrick with a blessing printed on the back, which I kept in my pocket or bag while at school. But the cross? I wore it every day regardless of outfit or occasion. Like the card, it was Celtic-inspired, an Irish pewter cross with a clover in the middle.  

To many, this could have looked like an attestation to faith. Far from it. At the time, I did not know or follow Christ. Instead, I found comfort in the strength that these items seemed to hold, as if the presence of the card or necklace could protect me. I was bullied relentlessly in middle school, so perhaps the superstitious possession of these items was a grasp at safety. Regardless, the items held great power in my mind. I had mistaken a symbol for the truth being symbolized. 

Only later did I learn that the power of the cross, or the example of a saint’s life, comes only because of the crucified and resurrected Christ. 

Some Jewish people did something similar during the early days of the church. In the book of Acts, we read about itinerant exorcists, the sons of Sceva, attempting to invoke the name of Jesus through Paul's name to drive out demons. Undoubtedly, they had heard about the power of Christ to free people from the control of spirits and so assumed that merely saying His name would work to drive away the demons. They were mistaken. 

One day, the evil spirit replied to the men attempting to drive him out: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15, NIV). Instead of leaving victorious that day over the realms of darkness, as they had attempted, they were left beaten and bloodied (Acts 19:16). Their experience showed that Jesus’ name is not a magical word that can be wielded for man’s purposes. Superstition cannot replace true faith. 

One day, every knee will bow to the name of our Lord Jesus, creatures and spirits alike (Philippians 2:9-11). Even now, demons tremble at the power of the Savior. The lack is not in Christ, for He has defeated the powers of darkness, making a spectacle of them on the cross (Colossians 2:15). But the power is in the Person, not the name alone. Paul and the other apostles could drive out spirits and perform miracles only because of Jesus–they knew the Lord and had trusted in the salvation He died to give. 

Of course, today, we are not likely to attempt to invoke the name of Christ in the matter of demon possession. Those in other parts of the world who face more concrete spiritual attacks know that the strength to combat the works of Satan comes from Christ, not the act of speaking words. However, we could still fall into the trap of thinking that certain rituals or objects provide us with safety. Even prayer can be used in this way, when we think the Lord will be more likely to hear us for our many words (Matthew 6:6-8). 

Let us not make the mistake of confusing the symbols for the truth symbolized. A wooden cross or crucifix hanging on our wall is a strong reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice; yet it alone, divorced from the Person of the Savior, has no power to save. The Bible we keep by our bedsides contains the precious promises of God; It does not convey the promises merely by our owning a copy of Scripture. Similarly, we could study beautiful paintings of believers following Christ throughout history, but doing so would not automatically make us grow in sanctification. Symbols and spiritual rhythms have their place as long as we do not mistake them for the real things: Jesus and our relationship with Him. 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Is there anything in your life that has taken a superstitious turn––prayer, Bible reading, keeping religious items? Of course, these things are good and right, but anything can be used incorrectly if treated as a talisman to guard against harm. What might you do today to trade this superstition for steady faith?   

What are some practical steps you can take this week to invest in your relationship with the Lord, as you would a friend?

Further Reading:
Mark 3:10-12
Acts 8:9-25
Acts 16:16-18
Philippians 2:5-11
Hebrews 2:5-18

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

Is protecting your peace selfish, or is it biblical? When daily demands, stress, conflict, and constant noise leave you feeling exhausted, setting healthy boundaries can feel uncomfortable. But the Bible shows that protecting your peace can be a way to care for your spiritual well-being and reconnect with God. In Luke 5:16, Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places to pray, demonstrating that even amid a demanding ministry, time alone with the Father mattered. Rather than allowing busyness, fear, or other people’s expectations to control your life, you can follow Jesus’ example by making room for prayer, rest, and a heart grounded in God’s presence.

Highlights

• Discover why protecting your peace is biblical and how Jesus modeled solitude and prayer in Luke 5:16.

• Learn how quiet time with God can restore your spirit, refocus your heart, and help you carry life’s burdens.

• Explore how Jesus sleeping during a storm demonstrates trust in God even when circumstances feel frightening.

• Understand how rest can become an opportunity to exercise faith rather than give in to worry.

• See how Jesus’ silence before false accusations reveals the strength of responding with wisdom instead of reacting in anger.

• Identify healthy boundaries that help you communicate clearly and protect your spiritual and emotional well-being.

• Reflect on practical ways to reconnect with God, surrender your fears, and cultivate peace in stressful seasons.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

3 Reasons "Protecting Your Peace" Isn't Selfish, It's Biblical

By: Lia Girard

Bible Reading:

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

– Luke 5:16, NIV 

“Protecting my peace” is a popular saying these days. Possibly because in a world that’s developing at warp speed, peace feels harder to find, and nearly impossible to guard and honor. Sometimes “I’m protecting my peace” is the only way you and I know how to say, “I’m exhausted and can’t think straight,” or even “I need to figure out a sleep schedule.” 

But beyond any scattered desires to turn down noise or declutter, protecting the gift of peace that Jesus provides is far more than simple self-care. It’s a sacred practice that invites you to experience a peace that surpasses understanding. And to help you grasp the importance of protecting this peace, here are three of many reasons Jesus modeled it in the Bible.

1. Jesus chose peace to reconnect with God.

Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” This tiny-but-mighty eight-word bit of scripture proves that even God prioritizes peaceful solitude—so you can, too. Jesus encourages you to remove yourself from crowded, overstimulating, demanding places, to go somewhere alone.

Following Jesus’ example, you can use this alone time to recenter yourself and reconnect your heart to God’s will. When the only sound is your prayer or your breath, you may more easily sense his supernatural presence. Here, you can ask God to refill your empty spirit and tend to your weary soul. Protect this habit of going to a quiet place to pray, because it reminds you that you can rely on God to lift your heavy burdens.

1. Jesus still slept amid the storm.

If you wonder whether getting enough sleep is important for your faith journey, just look to Jesus’ example in the book of Mark. In the middle of a “furious squall” while waves careened over their boat, Mark 4:38-40 says:

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I love that Jesus lives out what he teaches. His burning question to disciples who were panicking and wondering if God even cares was, “Do you still have no faith?” I like to believe that this is Jesus’ best living proof of Psalm 4:8, which says, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety." 

When you don’t allow yourself the peace of sleep because you choose to fret, you’re missing out on an opportunity to exercise your faith. 

1. Jesus held onto the truth in silence, instead of being triggered into a fight.

In the book of Matthew, when Jesus is being cruelly and falsely accused in front of Pilate, Jesus chooses not to fight back. Matthew 27:12-14 describes the scene:

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.

Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”

But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

In a violent and evil event such as this, Jesus knew his accusers had no genuine desire to know the truth. He knew launching into any verbal defense would not change their hearts. Remaining silent is a bold demonstration of something I always like to say to my kids: “The truth is your strength.” 

Jesus demonstrates that he had no ego to defend. So he remains at peace and allows his accusers to expose their maniacal malice. He refuses to get riled up by a trial rigged against him. His silence proves that remaining peaceful is courageous protection of inner resolve. 

So if you ever feel your calm getting tossed around by demands, circumstances, or lies, know that God is offering you a way out. You can choose to protect the peace he gives you.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you think about ways you can reconnect with God and reorient your heart toward faith (instead of fear or anger), consider these questions:

• What time of day or evening can I set aside to be alone with God?
• What fear am I holding tightly that I can instead place in God’s hands?
• What healthy boundary can I establish for myself so that I can communicate clearly, rather than simply argue?

Further Reading:

Hebrews 13:5 

John 2:24-25

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:19 

 

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

Discover how the Holy Spirit’s intercession offers hope when you feel too weary, discouraged, or heartbroken to pray. God knows you intimately and understands what you need before you can express it. Even when your only prayer is a quiet plea for help, you can trust that He is present and attentive to your pain. Learn how to bring your deepest emotions and hardest struggles to God without fear or shame, deepen your relationship with Him during difficult seasons, and rest in the assurance that you are never alone. When words fail, God’s love and the Spirit’s intercession remain.

Highlights

• Understand what Romans 8:26-27 teaches about the Holy Spirit interceding for us in our weakness.

• Find comfort in knowing God hears you even when you cannot find the words to pray.

• Discover how the Holy Spirit helps carry your deepest needs to God when life’s trials feel overwhelming.

• Remember that God remains present even when He feels distant during difficult seasons.

• Learn why you can bring your deepest emotions, fears, and struggles to God without pretending to have everything together.

• Find encouragement to trust God through financial stress, family difficulties, illness, and other ongoing hardships.

• Reflect on what you have struggled to bring to God and take a step toward Him in honest, heartfelt prayer.

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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Full Transcript Below:

The Lord Intercedes for Us
By: Michelle Lazurek

Bible Reading:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” - Romans 8:26-27

It was a summer of trial. It was one thing after another, with no end in sight. My husband and I prayed together and clung to God's promises. We read the Word and hoped God would lessen the trials and be a little more merciful. But it never stopped. My husband’s income became volatile. My daughter’s car died, right after her hours were dramatically reduced at her job. My son moved away with no opportunity to see him in the near future. It was all too much. For several months afterward, trials kept coming hard and fast; they were actually comical. Each week brought something new to our home that we had to fix. One night, as I got into bed, I considered praying. However, I had no words to pray. 

Instead, I repeated the word “help” in my mind. The tears streamed down my face and onto my pillow; I remembered this verse in that moment. This is what it's like for the Holy Spirit to intervene for us with wordless groans. The Spirit knows exactly what we need even when we cannot articulate or formulate the words to pray in an intelligible language. When I’ve been in so much pain due to illness, I’ll groan to find relief from the pain. This is why the Spirit groans—to help find us relief from our pain. 

The good news is that because God knows us intimately and knows everything about us, he already knows what we need before we express it. The genius of the gospel is that we don't need to have the right words or say exactly what we need to express. Even when we don't pray and ask for exactly what we need, the Holy Spirit’s love and omniscience carry our requests to His ears. 

Isn’t it nice to know we don’t have to have it all together to have an intimate relationship with God? We have all gone through difficult trials in our lives. But some seasons seem harder than others. When it feels as if God is being relentless and allowing trials to transform our character, we can take solace in knowing that we don't need to pray the right words—or even pray any words at all. All we need to do is come to the Spirit with a contrite heart, and he will do the rest.

Is there something that you have not taken the time to pray for? 

Is there something that you've not brought to God because it's simply too difficult for you to express? Perhaps you have a wayward child, a difficult relationship, or some other hardship that is preventing you from having an intimate relationship with God. Everyone goes through dry spiritual times. Simply because God feels distant does not mean he is. Instead, he is always present with us. Even if we cannot feel his presence, we can take comfort in knowing he is with us, knows exactly what we need, and his Spirit intercedes for us. 

Don’t be afraid to bring to God your deepest, darkest feelings. It is not unknown to God. In fact, it is downright silly to hide our deepest feelings from God because he knows us so intimately—he even knows how many hairs are on our heads! God wants us to come to him with our feelings because he loves us. He never asks us to be perfect to be a part of God’s kingdom. 

Father, thank you for knowing us intimately. Thank you for sending your Spirit to be our advocate, even in times of great trial. Take comfort in knowing that you are interceding for us with groans that only God can hear and understand. Remind us that God will answer our deepest groanings. Amen.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

What is an area of your life that you have difficulty bringing to God? Take a moment to bring it to Him now. 

Further Reading:

Matthew 26:49

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How do you overcome fear and anxiety when something frightening or uncertain happens? Whether you’re worried about your health, struggling with work stress, facing relationship challenges, or fearing for someone you love, anxious thoughts can quickly replace peace with panic. Isaiah 41:10 offers a powerful reminder that you don’t have to face frightening circumstances alone: God promises to be with you, strengthen you, help you, and uphold you. When fear threatens to take control, His presence gives you a place to turn for comfort, courage, and hope.

Highlights

• What Isaiah 41:10 teaches about trusting God when fear and uncertainty overwhelm you

• How fear can affect your thoughts, emotions, and ability to experience God’s peace

• Practical ways to respond to anxiety about work, health, family, and relationships through prayer and faith

• Why you don’t have to face frightening circumstances or difficult decisions in your own strength

• How remembering God’s past faithfulness can strengthen your confidence in His promises

• Ways to redirect fearful thoughts by focusing on Scripture, prayer, and God’s constant presence

• Reflection questions to help you identify your biggest fears and learn to place your worries in God’s hands

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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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! 

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Full Transcript Below:

What to Do When Fear Knocks on Your Door

By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“Do not be afraid – I am with you! I am your God – let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you.” – Isaiah 41:10, GNT

When my husband Russ called me from his hotel room in China, fear started to creep up in my mind. Russ was traveling alone on a business trip, waiting for a Monday meeting, when he told me he was feeling sick and wasn’t sure where to find medical care in a country where he didn’t speak the language. I urged him to ask someone at his hotel’s front desk for help, but before I could even finish my sentence, he said he had to lie down – and then our phone call got cut off. Try as I might, I couldn’t get back in touch with him. Immediately, fear knocked on my door, filling my mind with terrifying thoughts that Russ could die all alone halfway across the world. As I felt overwhelming fear, I had a choice: either give in to panic or turn to God. I chose to respond with prayer and trust by letting go of my worries and placing my husband into the hands of God, who was right there with him in that hotel room.

Fear has a way of showing up unexpectedly and uninvited. It demands your complete attention, trying to distract you from God’s love and replace your peace with panic. When fear knocks on your door, it wants to control your thoughts and feelings so much that you may be convinced you’re helpless against fear. But you don’t have to open the door to fear and let it take over your life. You have a powerful, loving Heavenly Father who promises to stand with you through every scary situation, no matter how intimidating the situation appears to be.

Where does fear knock on the door of your life and try to creep in?

Maybe it happens at work, where you face the threat of layoffs, a stressful workload, or a high-stakes project that you don’t know how to handle well. Fear might tell you that your future at your job is ruined. You can overcome that fear with faith by remembering that God is your ultimate provider. Instead of letting panic control your workday, you can take well-being breaks throughout the day to pray, asking God to give you what you need and guide you to the best opportunities.

Or, maybe fear knocks when it comes to your health or the health of someone you love. A troubling symptom or an agonizing wait for test results can make your world feel like it’s spinning out of control. When anxious thoughts of fear creep into your mind, you can fight back with faith by fighting anxiety with God’s help. You can choose to place your body and your loved ones into God’s compassionate hands, since God is the ultimate healer and he cares.

Your relationships can also bring overwhelming fear into your life. You might be terrified of losing a marriage, dealing with a broken friendship, or worrying constantly about your children. When you feel powerless to fix a person or a situation, fear tries to convince you to hold on tighter out of desperation. But if you have faith that God will help you in scary relationship situations, you can overcome that fear and let go for your well-being and the well-being of everyone involved.

God doesn’t expect you to face these scary situations in your own human strength. In Isaiah 41:10, God reminds you that you never have to be afraid because he’s always right beside you. He promises to make you strong, help you, protect you, and save you!

So, when fear tries to distract you, redirect your focus back to God’s promises. Talk to God in prayer and trust God to do everything he promises to do in this powerful verse. No matter how scary it is when fear knocks on your door, you never have to fight the battle alone.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to respond when fear knocks on your door, reflect on these questions:

• What’s the biggest fear knocking on the door of your life right now? 
• In what ways does fear usually try to pull your attention away from God? 
• How can you let go of your current worries and place them into God’s hands to help you with those situations? 
• What’s one past experience where God proved he keeps his promises by helping you through a scary situation? 
• How can you remind yourself of God’s powerful presence with you whenever you start to feel overwhelmed by fear?

Further Reading:

Psalm 56:3

2 Timothy 1:7

Psalm 23:4

Philippians 4:6-7

Joshua 1:9

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Instead of preparing your heart for disappointment by always imagining the worst, you can learn to approach uncertainty with faith and biblical hope. God’s promises remind you that He remains present in difficult circumstances and can bring good from situations you don’t understand. Through prayer, Scripture, and intentionally shifting your thoughts toward what God can do, you can begin to break cycles of anxious thinking and find greater peace in the present. Discover how to replace fearful expectations with hope, trust God with your future, and encourage others through the joy and peace He provides.

Highlights

• What anticipatory anxiety is and how worrying about what might happen can affect your peace

• How Romans 15:13 encourages believers to trust God for joy, peace, and overflowing hope

• Why expecting the worst can become a habit—and how to begin choosing hope instead

• How biblical promises like Romans 8:28 can help you trust God when you cannot control the outcome

• What David’s confidence in Psalm 27:13 teaches us about expecting to see God’s goodness during difficult times

• Practical ways to use Scripture and prayer to redirect anxious thoughts and strengthen your hope

• How trusting the God of hope can help you experience greater peace and encourage others through your faith

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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Full Transcript Below:

Focus on the Best That Could Happen Instead of the Worst

By: Lia Girard

Bible Reading:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

– Romans 15:13, NIV 

I wish I were the only one who struggles with what a former counselor of mine called “anticipatory anxiety” or “feeling physical and mental consequences from something that hasn’t happened yet or might not happen at all.” But if this were true, and I was the only person prone to overthinking and overstressing, there wouldn’t be so many reminders in the Bible to “cast our cares,” and “not worry,” and “fear not.”  

The one who made each one of us knows that fearing what might not even happen can upset anyone’s equilibrium. This inclination to auto-traumatize potential outcomes can dig a familiar rut. I’ve even heard people say it feels safer or more comfortable to “not get their hopes up.” 

But what if it were just as possible... to be intentionally hopeful? 

What if you and I could decide, in the middle of our rising fear and discomfort, to always ask, “What’s the best that could happen?” Instead of expecting the worst—because we’re trying to dull any disappointment we might endure if hopes are dashed—there’s also the biblical option to believe in better days ahead. Even to expect miracles. 

You see, even though David was cornered by enemies who were plotting to destroy him, he proclaims in  Psalm 27:13—

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Here’s the reality: you can’t control everything. But you can control your own choices. You can choose to trust Romans 8:28, which promises, “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” And as you trust in God’s ability to bring forth good things from all of our combined circumstances, you can also give yourself this valuable pep talk found in Romans 15:13—

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Are you noticing the energy in this verse? Not just “fill you with a bit of joy” or even “fill you to the brim.” But to fill you with all joy and peace so that you overflow with hope. This kind of experience can transform your day, and even inspire others to choose hope, too. Best of all, none of this is accomplished by your power alone. When you trust in God, the power of the Holy Spirit can generate hope in such abundance that it spills out into your own and others’ lives. 

Pay attention here, too, to who fills you with joy and peace. Not your work plan or your accomplishments. Not your bestie or your spouse. The one who provides the joy and peace you need is the God of hope. 

It becomes clear, after parsing through Romans 15:13, that your only part is to trust in him. Trust in all his promises, such as Jeremiah 29:11— 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This is yours to claim, too. God wrote you a love letter so you would tuck what is possible, divine, and true in your heart and know it well. Especially during times you may feel tempted to look for the worst possible outcome, instead of what his goodness can make happen. Why not try it today? After all, what’s the best that could happen?

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Knowing that God desires you to feel hopeful rather than fearful can help pull you out of the rut we all get stuck in sometimes. Try writing down or memorizing verses like these during challenging times:

• Isaiah 40:31: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
• Hebrews 6:19: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
• Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

Further Reading:
Looking Back with Gratitude, Looking Ahead with Hope – The Crosswalk Devotional

A Prayer to Not Fret in Confusing Times – Your Daily Prayer

Hope Bible Verses – biblestudytools.com

 

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God doesn’t always provide immediate relief, but His presence and power remain constant even when life feels out of control. When you’re facing uncertainty, remembering how God has carried you through past hardships can strengthen your faith and help you trust Him with today’s struggles. Rather than focusing only on when your circumstances will change, you can grow closer to Jesus by learning who He is and relying on His strength. Discover how to find peace amid anxiety, trust God when answers seem delayed, and build a resilient faith that holds firm through life’s fiercest storms.

Highlights

• What Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:41 teaches us about His power and authority

• Why God doesn’t always provide immediate relief when we face fear, anxiety, and difficult circumstances

• How life’s storms can reveal doubts and strengthen our understanding of who Jesus truly is

• Why remembering God’s faithfulness in past struggles can help you trust Him through present challenges

• How to rely on Christ for lasting peace instead of depending only on changes in your circumstances

• Why God can use difficult seasons to deepen your faith, develop perseverance, and strengthen your spiritual foundation

• Practical ways to turn to Jesus in moments of fear and find comfort in His unchanging character and presence

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

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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! 

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Full Transcript Below:

Encountering the God Able to Calm Our Fiercest Storms
By: Jennifer Slattery

Bible Reading:
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” - Mark 4:41

Often, when difficulties hit, I want immediate rescue. In the past, when God didn’t respond as I’d hoped, I tended to feel frustrated or abandoned. At times, I even accused Him of ignoring me when I most needed Him. Yet, looking back on our history, I’m able to see how often He used my most challenging circumstances for my good: to liberate me from a harmful behavior, heal a wound, or deepen my faith.

While I occasionally still slip into old, panicked responses, this after-event realization strengthens my soul. I’m better able to pause and reflect on all the times He’s rescued me from past storms and what this reveals regarding His power, nature, and heart. I increasingly go from, “Who is this God, who commands even the winds and waves,” to, “This is the One who holds all of Creation, myself included, in His hands.”

In the passage surrounding today’s verse, Jesus was teaching the disciples this same truth. This was relatively early in His earthly ministry, and therefore early in His relationship with these men who chose to abandon whatever dreams and goals they held previously because they believed He offered something better. 

Although they didn’t yet understand what that meant, and in fact, were operating on false assumptions that kept them from knowing and therefore trusting in Christ’s true nature. They’d accepted Him as the long-promised Messiah, yet their comprehension of what that meant, and what He came to do, remained far too small. They wanted temporary solutions and comfort and freedom from circumstantial oppression (largely, at the hands of the Romans and the religious elite). 

But Jesus was doing a much deeper work that would anchor them through all of life’s hardships. And He used the storm recorded in Mark 4 to do so by first making them aware of their need and the fear this evoked. 

Consider, He timed His rescue intentionally, with His loving gaze focused on the work He was doing in their souls. He allowed them to feel the full weight of the situation, not out of callousness or rebuke, but rather to allow the doubts and lies lurking in their souls to rise to their awareness. 

Imagine if your doctor knew how to give you medication without you realizing it for an illness you didn’t know you had. This would affect you physically, in preventing whatever distress you might experience as your disease progressed, but it wouldn’t deepen your trust in his care. If anything, that might convince you that you didn’t need his intervention. In contrast, your confidence in him is likely to significantly increase if the successful treatment comes after you’ve felt the full weight of your condition and your longing for relief. 

Jesus could’ve easily prevented the storm recorded in Mark 4. He could’ve had the disciples wait to enter that boat until after it passed, or never asked them to cross the lake in the first place.

But then, they never would’ve reached the place where they exclaimed, with awestruck amazement, “Who is this Man who holds authority over even the wind and waves?!”

Again, they knew, before climbing into the boat, that He was the long-promised Messiah. They didn’t realize, however, how insufficient their view of Him in that role was. He was providing an expanded and much more faith-anchoring perspective. To stand strong for all that lay ahead, they needed to recognize Him as more than the Father’s chosen servant or yet another divinely empowered prophet. They needed to see Him as He truly was, and is, God the Son, Co-Creator, in human form. 

Through the storm, He also forced them to confront a core need for safety, which only He could fully meet. In this, He was teaching them to rely on Him, rather than themselves, which ultimately positioned them for strength. 

Notice, also, His rescue didn’t arrive a moment too late. When all hope seemed lost, and all their fighting against the external chaos left them physically and emotionally spent, He arose and brought enduring, supernatural calm. 

This helped develop their endurance and inner grit. The next time they landed in a terrifying situation, they could look back on how He’d carried them through that frightening night and trust that He could, and would, do so again. 

Intersecting Life & Faith:

God doesn’t change. The same Savior who remained with the disciples in their fear remains with us in ours as well. The same Messiah who knew precisely when to calm the winds and waves understands when our rescue will impact us most as well. His delays might feel frustrating, and at times, deeply unsettling, and that’s okay. He understands our overwhelm, and He longs to comfort us in today’s challenges. But He does so with His gaze fixed on building a faith that, progressively, brings lasting peace. 

We reach that place, in part, by turning to Him in crisis, asking for the help we need, but also reminding ourselves of the heart and ways of the One providing it. Because of that, not circumstantial relief is how we develop the rock-solid faith that allows us to thrive, regardless of what life throws at us. 

This is a topic with which I’m highly passionate, because it has provided me more relief in my anxiety than temporary “rescue” ever has. And, to build these important truths into my soul, I spent much of August discussing some of God’s most comforting divine attributes. I invite you to peruse my Instagram page to glean from some of those reels and posts. Just Google my name, Jennifer Slattery, to find me and more of my faith-building content. 

 

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Following God doesn’t always mean taking the easiest path. Sometimes faith requires perseverance when you’re tired, uncertain, or unable to see how things will work out. Yet true worship is about more than singing songs or gathering with other believers. It’s a daily choice to honor God, trust His promises, and remain faithful even when the journey feels long and the destination seems far away.

When circumstances test your faith, God invites you to keep drawing near to Him through prayer, Scripture, obedience, and praise. Worship can become an expression of trust when you don’t have all the answers or when following God costs you something. Rather than allowing exhaustion, disappointment, or uncertainty to pull you away from Him, you can learn to recognize His faithfulness along the way. Discover how to persevere in your walk with God, worship Him through challenging seasons, and find renewed strength by keeping your heart focused on His presence.

Highlights

• Why worship sometimes requires sacrifice, perseverance, and a willingness to trust God through uncertainty

• How following God faithfully can mean choosing the difficult path instead of the easiest one

• Ways to worship God when you feel tired, discouraged, or unsure of what lies ahead

• Why worship involves daily trust and obedience, not just singing or attending church

• How prayer and Scripture can strengthen your faith during a long or challenging season

• How to recognize God’s faithfulness even when you haven’t reached your destination

• Practical ways to keep your heart focused on God and continue following Him when the journey feels difficult

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

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

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Do you want to listen ad-free?

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

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Full Transcript Below:

You Don’t Have to Fear What Hides in the Dark 

By Deidre Braley 

Bible Reading:
Since the children have flesh and blood, (Jesus) too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. - Hebrews 2:14-15

Our children have become afraid of the dark. Our daughter sleeps with her door open now, to let in a crack of light, and many nights after bedtime, our son wanders out of his room and calls down the stairs for me. 

“I’m scared,” he will say, bleary-eyed and slumping. In the cocoon of his room, he imagines the beasts he has read about in his books. He hears noises he can’t identify. He looks outward, and all he can see is darkness, and he shudders to think of whatever lies hidden within it. 

Downstairs in the kitchen, all the lights are on, and it still smells like whatever we had for dinner. I am packing lunches, presetting coffee, and wiping down counters. Everything is in order. In this brightly lit space, his fears feel distant, improbable. I am watching over him, and I am certain no beasties will get him tonight. But as I lead him back up the stairs, through the dark hallway, and into his bed once more, it is as though I am seven years old again, too. I see the shadows. I know what it’s like to lie awake, afraid of what hides in the dark. So I lay beside him for a while, then I rub his back and tuck the covers up under his chin, to make sure nothing can get to him there. 

And when I wake up in the middle of the night, my mind racing with existential dread and worries about looming disaster and grief, I am no different than my children: in the darkness of my room and my limited understanding, these threats feel as real as real can be. There is no doubt about it—the human experience can be terribly frightening. 

What I like to remember during these times is myself as a parent, standing in the brightly lit kitchen, knowing that even if my child is feeling afraid in his particular room, I am presiding over the whole house, and that he is safe and that everything is in order. Though he may not sense it when the lights are turned off in his own bedroom, he is actually surrounded on all sides by light and love and security.  

I think it is the same with God and us. 

But we are not just contained within his care and the light of his goodness. Because God did not choose to stay in the brightly lit space, where our fears were distant and removed from his

reality. Jesus—God in the flesh—came to dwell with humanity and was, as it says in Hebrews, the “pioneer of their salvation” (2:10). He engaged with the darkness and wrestled with the power of death—that darkness that haunts us mortals and keeps us lying wide-eyed and terrified in our bedrooms at night—and came out on the other side gripping the keys to death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). He entered into our greatest nightmare with us so that we wouldn’t have to leave in fear of what hides in the dark all our lives. In doing so, he showed us that he has the final say, that he holds the ultimate power, and that we are children who are surrounded by his light. 

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

In the book of Revelation, John records what the new creation looked like in the vision he received from God. He writes: 

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.” (21:23-25) 

One day we will live in a place where there is no longer any darkness to fear—no beasts hiding in the dark and no dread of the future looming beyond what we can see. Though we long for that place now, we already have a God who is, by his very nature, light and life and love. His glory is already radiant. His power is already all-encompassing. And his presence is already here, through his Spirit dwelling with us. So the next time you wake up in the night and your mind begins to race with worries, try this prayer: 

God, I am so afraid, and everything feels so dark. But I know that you are God of the living, and that you are also God of the light. Please come into this darkness with me and illuminate it with your presence. Please help me to see my circumstances from your standpoint: in a brightly lit place, totally surrounded by light. Amen. 

Further Reading:
Hebrews 2
Revelation 21

 

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