The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Suffering is one of the hardest realities of the Christian life, yet James 1:12 reveals a powerful truth: there is blessing on the other side of perseverance. Trials are not meaningless interruptions—they are often the very tools God uses to shape our faith, deepen our dependence on Him, and draw us closer to His heart.
This devotional reframes suffering through a biblical lens, reminding us that while pain is real, it is never wasted. Even when life feels overwhelming or unfair, God remains sovereign and present. Instead of placing our hope in temporary outcomes, we are called to anchor ourselves in eternity—trusting that God is working through every trial for His glory and our ultimate good.
Highlights
Suffering is a reality for all people, including faithful believers
God remains sovereign over every trial—we are never outside His awareness or plan
Trials are often used to shape us into the image of Christ
Perseverance in suffering leads to spiritual growth and eternal reward
Faith becomes our anchor in seasons of uncertainty and pain
Fixing our eyes on eternity helps us endure present hardships
God walks with us through both valleys and mountaintop seasons
Our suffering can equip us to comfort and support others
Resources Mentioned
James 1:12
John 16:33
Romans 8:18
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
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Biblical humility and servant leadership are beautifully displayed in Philippians 2:5-8, where Jesus models a radically different view of greatness—one rooted in love, sacrifice, and selflessness. Rather than clinging to His divine status, Jesus chose to humble Himself, taking on the role of a servant and ultimately giving His life on the cross. This passage challenges the way we view power, status, and what it truly means to love others.
Through a personal story and powerful reflection, this devotional reminds us that the lowest places—often the ones we avoid—can become the greatest opportunities to demonstrate Christlike love. When we shift our mindset from self-importance to selfless service, we begin to reflect the heart of Jesus in our everyday relationships. True love isn’t about convenience—it’s about willingness to serve, even when it costs us something.
Highlights
Jesus redefined greatness by choosing humility and servanthood over status and power
True love is often expressed through simple, lowly acts of service
Pride can keep us from opportunities to love others well
Humility means thinking of others more, not thinking less of ourselves
Serving others becomes natural when we are motivated by genuine love
Letting go of comfort and control draws us closer to God’s heart
The “mindset of Christ” transforms how we approach relationships and daily interactions
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
When Love Took the Lowest Place
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:5-8, NIV
When I was in college, I took a job at a fast food restaurant to supplement the income from my journalism internship because I wanted extra money for a trip. I quit after only 3 weeks – as soon as I earned the amount I needed for the trip – because I felt like the job was beneath me. But reflecting on it now, I can see how that humbling experience was valuable. As you can imagine, cleaning a public restroom in a fast-food restaurant was never pleasant. But years later, when God led me to clean a restroom for a family member battling cancer, I was grateful I learned that sometimes the lowest tasks are connected to the highest ways of showing love.
Sometimes we think that if we have power or status, we should use it to make our lives easier. We may refuse to do lowly jobs at work or at home because we have a higher job position than others on our team, or a higher status in our family than others.
But Philippians 2:5-8 shows us a picture of Jesus that turns our ideas of greatness upside down. Jesus had the highest power and status possible – he was equal with God. Yet, Jesus didn’t use that power and status for himself. Instead, he “made himself nothing.” In some translations, it says he “emptied himself.” Jesus poured out his rights and his comfort so that he could fill our greatest need. When Jesus came from heaven to earth, he went from being in a perfect environment where he had everything he could ever want to dealing with human needs in a fallen world, where he would experience the full range of suffering we go through here.
Jesus made that choice because of his love for his creation – including us. Love motivated Jesus to come to earth to pay for humanity’s sins himself, so we could connect with a holy God and be saved.
When Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, he was the highest person in the room, yet he chose the lowest task.
Why did Jesus, the King of Kings, become a servant? It was because he saw us. Jesus saw that we were broken, lost, and separated from God by our sin. He knew that the only way to reach us was to come down to where we were.
True humility involves thinking of ourselves less and thinking of others more. Serving others is something we’ll naturally want to do if we’re motivated by love. When we love people, we don’t mind doing lowly jobs to help them. Parents don’t mind changing diapers because they love their babies. Friends don’t mind driving across town late at night to help a friend in need because they love their friends.
Philippians 2:5-8 starts out by saying: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” That’s a challenge for us every single day. But the more we ask Jesus to help us focus on what matters most from his perspective, the more we can apply that wisdom to our relationships with each other.
When we choose the lowest place, we end up in the highest place we can be, which is close to God’s heart. God’s core nature is love. Jesus shows us what God’s love looks like in action, and we can see from Jesus’ life on earth that God often expresses his love through humble service to others. By doing simple tasks with great love, Jesus shows us that taking the lowest place is an important way to move higher in our relationships with God.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how taking the lowest place in love can help you move higher with God, reflect on these questions:
When you feel above a certain task or person, what does that reveal about your heart?
Jesus let go of his heavenly rights and comforts to serve us on earth. What’s one right or comfort you find difficult to let go of?
How does knowing that Jesus chose the cross out of love change the way you view your own struggles?
Who is one person in your life who you can relate to this week by practicing having the “mindset of Christ”?
Why is love a more powerful motivator for service than just feeling a moral obligation to do what’s right?
Further Reading:
Matthew 20:28
John 13:14-15
Galatians 5:13
1 Peter 5:5
Mark 9:35
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This devotional highlights the importance of intentional, Christ-centered community—not perfect people, but faithful ones who pursue Jesus together. Even when relationships feel messy or uncomfortable, God uses them to strengthen our faith, bring healing, and encourage us in ways we can’t experience on our own. If you’re in a season without a church community, this is an invitation to reflect, rebuild, and take one step toward the relationships God has prepared for you.
Highlights
Church community can be difficult to build, especially after past hurt, busy seasons, or constant life changes
Genuine Christian relationships require vulnerability, trust, and letting go of self-protection
Healing from church wounds is possible—and often leads to deeper, more meaningful community later
You don’t need perfect people—you need people who genuinely pursue Jesus, even imperfectly
Strong community isn’t found by accident; it’s built through intentional investment and consistency
Even Jesus modeled the importance of close, faith-centered relationships during His ministry
Community won’t replace God, but it strengthens and supports your faith in every season
Identifying what’s holding you back is the first step toward building the relationships God has for you
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
When You Don't Have a Church Community This Easter
By: Peyton Garland
Bible Reading:
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)
In our first five years of marriage, my husband and I moved six times. Jobs and dreams pulled us all over the place, back and forth across the country. But while this wild newlywed season was beautiful, it left little time for us to invest in a church community.
Many believers are left without a church community this Easter, whether caused by time and location constraints, old church wounds, or a tried but failed attempt to find “their” people. Relationships can be complicated, awkward, and intimidating to navigate, especially for Christian adults who are encouraged to develop vulnerability and share their faults and fears with others.
Church community—the healthy kind—requires an unguarded trust in others, a release of self-preservation and appearances, but it’s in this uncomfortable place that our pride dies and our souls find the encouragement to continue in the faith when the days are dark and lonely.
Granted, I understand the skepticism of opening up to others in the church, especially as someone who once had a bitter taste in her mouth for any assembly that remotely resembled the unhealthy church I grew up in. However, on the other side of my church hurt, after lots of therapy and answered prayers as my husband and I settled into a church community to raise our sons, I can say, wholeheartedly, that you need a church community.
You don’t need “your” people. You need Jesus people who messily, openly, sacrificially love Him. In finding those believers—and in becoming one of them—you find a community you can lean on in all seasons, even when the spiritual high of holidays like Easter and Christmas fades.
My church has a saying, “You don’t stumble upon great Christian community; you create it.” So no matter how many fair-weather churchgoers come and go in this religious Easter season, no matter your past hurt or the present inconveniences that make community easy to avoid, I challenge you to invest your heart and faith in others.
Jesus’ earthly ministry was short, only three years, but even He recognized the need for godly friendships and fellowship with others, calling twelve men to quite literally travel and live with Him. If Jesus recognized the need for a Christian community, who are we to disregard His example in this resurrection season centered on life, love, and sacrifice for others?
Intersecting Faith & Life:

When my husband and I met, we were both Christians, but both of us had been deeply, deeply wounded by the church. Legalism kept me tethered to weekly attendance, all out of fear, but my husband’s personal hurt had driven him completely away from church. When we met, and I mandated his church attendance if he wanted to continue dating me, he admitted it was the first time he had set foot in a church in roughly five years.
Today, we are life group leaders for seven young families in our church. It’s funny, and often ironic, how God not only heals us, but calls us to the places we thought we could never navigate again. God defies the impossible, even in our finite bodies, if we are willing and able to get uncomfortable and be molded for His purposes.
Meanwhile, though my husband and I have come a long way in establishing a church community for ourselves and our sons, we understand how hard it is to sustain these relationships. Jesus people are still people, and their flaws and your flaws combined won’t make for perfect friendships. Church community won’t save you. It won’t even sustain you, at least not on its own.
But when you dig your heels in deep and choose to love others because God dug His heels in deep to save and sustain you, despite all your wrongdoings, you find that His resurrection hope lasts far longer than the Easter season. You realize that His ability, through you, to be long-suffering towards sinners is what makes life worth living.
If you aren’t part of a church community, find some quiet time to take personal stock in why. Has your life season been overwhelmingly busy? Has the church hurt you? Did you try one or two different small groups or Bible studies that simply felt impersonal or off?
Recognize your why, but allow this newfound understanding to challenge you to step up, get uncomfortable, and relentlessly pursue the godly relationships God has in store for you.
I promise, you won’t regret it.
Further Reading:
How to Get Back into Church
Romans 12:4-5
Proverbs 27:17
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Struggling with anxiety, overthinking, or “what if” spirals? This special bonus episode from Faith Over Fear explores how to find peace through Scripture when your thoughts feel overwhelming and hard to control.
In this honest and deeply personal conversation, Jennifer Slattery and Carol McCracken unpack what’s really happening when anxiety takes over—and how God meets us in those moments. Through stories of health uncertainty, sleepless nights, and persistent fear, they reveal how biblical truth can interrupt anxious thought patterns and help us anchor our minds in God’s character.
Rather than trying to suppress anxiety, this episode offers a better path: renewing your mind through Scripture and learning to recognize the difference between fear-driven thoughts and God’s truth.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
Why anxious thoughts often feel true—even when they’re not
How “what if” thinking fuels anxiety and fear
What it means to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Why suppressing anxiety can actually make it worse
How to practice a simple “truth pause” when fear rises
Practical ways to retrain your mind using Scripture
To find more content from Faith Over Fear: Follow on your favorite podcasting app:
Spotify:
Apple
For more Faith-centered podcasts: Lifeaudio.com
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Peyton Garland highlights how culture’s attraction to Easter reflects a deeper longing for hope, renewal, and life. While seasonal symbols like flowers and celebrations point to new beginnings, they ultimately fall short without the true source—Jesus. This devotion challenges believers to live out their faith authentically year-round, not just during holidays, so others can clearly see the hope of the gospel through their lives.
Highlights
Faith Is Not Seasonal: Following Christ isn’t limited to holidays like Easter—it’s a daily calling.
Culture Reflects a Deeper Longing: Easter traditions point to a universal desire for renewal and hope.
Authenticity Matters: People can recognize genuine faith lived out in everyday life.
Evangelism Is for Everyone: Sharing the gospel happens through how we live, not just what we say.
Hope Has a Source: True and lasting hope is found in Christ, not in temporary cultural symbols.
Intersecting Faith & Life
The world is searching for something real, and Easter often amplifies that search. When believers consistently live with joy, peace, and authenticity, others notice. Instead of waiting for the “right season,” we are called to embody the hope of Christ daily—allowing our lives to reflect the truth we believe.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
Why It's Important to Recognize Culture's Draw to Easter
By: Peyton Garland
Bible Reading:
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” - Luke 6:45 (ESV)
Believers were never called to be ostriches. We don’t get to stick our heads in the sand and wash our hands of the world’s problems. It’s hard to love nonbelievers if we are never around them. It’s hard to reach a world we’ve pushed away in the name of fear or a false sense of religious superiority.
We were also never called to be seasonal participants, waiting to share our faith when Easter or Christmas rolls around. Truth be told, friends, if no one knows anything of our faith outside the holiday obligations we push, what does that say of our hearts?
Scripture is clear that who we are, who we choose to be, will be evident by the life we live. We can preserve our comfort, keep our favorite sins close, and play the church game all day long, but the world is desperate for hope, and in this desperation, they will see straight through you.
This desperation for fulfillment is culture’s draw to Easter, even the secular aspects. The fresh flowers, baby chicks, and Easter eggs are marketable depictions of newness, life, and hope. They are images that beg people to wake up, look around, and rest in light.
But without the Light of the world, holiday simplicities can’t sustain us. Easter egg dye wears off, chocolate bunnies are consumed, and life moves on. Deep down, the world knows this. It groans because of it, creating a ravenous need for authenticity.
Don’t starve the world of the God who fills your soul with good things daily. You know the secret to eternal hope, to the Light that isn’t dimmed by circumstances or seasons, to the hope that makes death a gateway to eternal fresh air for our healed bones.
Evangelism isn’t reserved for religious seasons or church staff. It’s not limited to international missionaries or non-profit directors. It’s a mandate, an honor, bestowed on each of us as we love people in word and deed with the Love who saved our souls.
Interesting Faith & Life:
My husband and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary on a cruise, where we were paired with another young couple for dinner each evening. A few nights in, the husband looked at us and said, “I’m assuming you’re church people, right?”
He didn’t mean it disrespectfully, not in the slightest. He was genuinely curious and wanted to confirm his thoughts. My husband and I laughed and nodded our heads, knowing this was, in a simple form, a compliment to how we carried ourselves. We weren’t drilling them with theology or even trying any subtle evangelism. We were just living with the hearts God had curated in us.
This isn’t to brag on us. Trust me, apart from God’s grace, the two of us are a dynamic disaster, but we live what we believe as best we can. Our personalities simply can’t handle inauthenticity; most of that comes from all the deceit both of us experienced from our unhealthy church upbringings. But by believing in God as our source of goodness, freedom, and rest, we can live life with a sense of peace and joy. And apparently, nonbelievers see it. And they sense its importance.
After all, it’s created beings feeling that natural pull to their Creator, that soulful invitation from the Holy Spirit alone to come home to light and love.
Prayerfully consider the life you live, in and out of Christian holidays, and take personal inventory of whether others truly believe that you live what you claim, that Christ’s resurrection has given you joy to live life filled with boldness and peace, come what may.
Further Reading:
5 Thoughts on Being a Witness for Christ
2 Timothy 1:8
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