The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Holy Spirit gives believers hope, peace, and strength to endure life's storms. Romans 15:13 reminds us that God's power is always available, even when we feel weak, overwhelmed, or powerless. Discover how relying on the Holy Spirit helps us navigate hardship, grow in faith, and find lasting hope in every season.
Life has a way of reminding us how little control we really have. In today's devotional, Melinda Eye Cooper shares how a devastating winter ice storm and days without electricity became a powerful illustration of our dependence on God. Just as our homes cannot function without power, our spiritual lives cannot thrive apart from the Holy Spirit.
Highlights:
Discover what Romans 15:13 teaches about the power of the Holy Spirit.
Learn why life's storms reveal our need for God's strength and presence.
Be encouraged by how the Holy Spirit provides hope, peace, guidance, and comfort.
Understand how difficult seasons can deepen your faith and dependence on Christ.
Find reassurance that God never leaves you to face hardship alone.
Be reminded that true spiritual strength comes from the Holy Spirit, not ourselves.
Join the Conversation
How has God strengthened you through a difficult season? We'd love to hear how the Holy Spirit has encouraged, guided, or sustained your faith during life's storms.
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
No Power
By Melinda Eye Cooper
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
Living in middle Tennessee for the past thirty-plus years, I can attest that we rarely see much snow. Schools often close if the forecast calls for anything frozen, including flurries. But we’ve had a few serious winter storms, and they almost always involve ice.
In January of 2026, one of those storms came through our area.
We did our best to prepare in case the power went out. We’d stocked up on bread, bottles of water, and snacks. My husband brought a generator home from work to help keep our refrigerator running and a small space heater. Thankfully, we had a wood-burning fireplace, so we figured at least we’d keep warm.
Snow started turning into sleet on Saturday and eventually turned to freezing rain. Temperatures plummeted. Tree branches snapped under the weight of accumulating ice, falling on power lines. The sky flashed when a transformer blew with a loud pop.
Sunday, early in the morning, we lost power, and so did our neighbors. We tried to stay warm using the space heater and fireplace, but our house grew frigid. It was uncomfortable, to say the least. We barely slept the first night, even though we were using nearly every blanket we could find.
It didn’t take long for reality to sink in. The power could be out for days or a week.
Our neighbors texted the next afternoon that they were heading to Kentucky to stay in a hotel. The storm wasn’t nearly as bad there. We did the same, taking our dog with us.
Getting inside a warm hotel room with a nice soft bed was a sweet relief. The lights worked. The television worked. And a hot shower was minutes away. It didn’t take long to get nice and comfortable.
When we received notice that power had been restored to our area a couple of days later, we made our way back home. The drive revealed a lot of damage. Even though the thick ice covering trees and grass glistened in the sunlight and was beautiful in a terrible way, the storm mostly left a trail of destruction with downed trees, telephone poles, and broken tree branches in its wake. The storm and loss of power over the next several days (and a couple of weeks for some) caused a lot of problems, and sadly, some folks didn’t survive.
We came home to a mess. Electric cords were draped everywhere, from hooking things up to the generator, and blankets were piled up. It was freezing inside the house. The heat was on, but it took a long time for the house to warm back up.
Honestly, seeing the mess reminded me just how much we really need power in our homes. We rely on it heavily for day-to-day life. It runs the stove, HVAC unit, refrigerator, freezer, water heater, washer and dryer, lighting, appliances, and television. Almost everything.
Even with our great efforts to prepare for a lack of power during the storm, it was still terrible. Our home quickly became uncomfortable without electricity. It seemed we could do nothing.
We need power.
Standing amidst the mess, it hit me spiritually. We need the Holy Spirit at every moment of our lives. We can’t do anything good without Him; we’d be uncomfortable, cold, and powerless.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As a saved person, I’m deeply thankful for what Jesus did for me. I’m still in love with Him after many years as a Christian. But to be honest, I’m just beside myself that God also gave us the indwelling, powerful Holy Spirit to help us in life.
He does so many things for us, including:
Reveals Jesus
Convicts us of sin
Teaches us
Reminds us
Encourages us
Protects us
Guides us
Warns us
Gives us hope and spiritual gifts
Tells us the truth
Helps us pray
Never leaves or forsakes us
When a storm of life comes, whether it is a financial struggle, divorce, or the death of a loved one, we may be brought to our knees. The powerful Holy Spirit is with us in these hardships. He is our shelter when these storms blow through.
Those difficult times show us just how much we need Him and rely on His power. They draw us into a deeper, more trusting relationship with our beloved Father.
Father, thank You for giving us the powerful Holy Spirit to lead us through our lives. Helping us to grow closer to You and more like Jesus. In His name, Amen.
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What do you do when your prayers seem to go unanswered and God feels silent? In today's Crosswalk Devotional, we reflect on Psalm 13:1 and David’s honest cry: “How long, O Lord?” Seasons of waiting can leave us questioning whether God is listening, but Scripture reminds us that faith is not the absence of questions—it is choosing to trust God's character even when we cannot see His hand at work.
Psalm 13 shows us that God welcomes our honest prayers. Like David, we can bring our fears, doubts, and disappointments to Him without hiding them. As we remember His past faithfulness and cling to His promises, we discover that His silence is never the end of the story.
Highlights:
Discover how Psalm 13 teaches us to trust God during seasons of silence and unanswered prayer.
Learn why honest questions can strengthen, rather than weaken, your faith.
Understand how David models lament by bringing his pain directly to God instead of pulling away.
Be encouraged to remember God's past faithfulness when waiting for His future answers.
Explore why trust is a decision rooted in God's character—not simply a feeling.
Find hope in knowing that God continues to speak through His Word, even when His answers seem delayed.
Join the Conversation
Have you ever experienced a season when God felt silent? What has helped you continue trusting Him while you wait for His answers? We'd love to hear your story in the comments.
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
Holding on When God Feels Silent
By: Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” - Psalm 13:1 (ESV)
I looked at my journal from the beginning of the year. Six months had passed, and I realized several of my prayer requests remained unanswered. Several family members had been going through trials and needed help, but as I glanced at the list, God had not yet answered them. The phrase from Psalm 13 entered my mind: "How long, O God?"
Instantly, I felt guilty for having questioned God. But then I remembered that Psalm 13 was in the Bible, and if the psalmist was allowed to say those words, so was I. As I have begun to pray more, I have found it to stretch my faith. Mostly because many of my “big” prayers have yet to be answered. God’s silence is often very hard.
Have you ever just wondered: Is God listening?
Faith doesn’t ignore silence—it learns how to speak honestly to God within it.
In Psalm 13, we see the language of lament. David, the author, asks multiple “how long” questions here. Suffering, hardship, and sorrow were regular parts of David’s life, especially as he ran from the murdering king Saul. Including those questions here, David reminds us that God gives us permission to feel this longing. To feel the tension of having faith but feeling distant from God. Faith includes honest questions.
“How long, O Lord?” - Psalm 13:1
David continues in Psalm 13, bringing his pain to God. He doesn’t withdraw, but turns toward God. The whole of Psalm 13 is a prayer to God. We might shy away from being honest or be too hesitant to express our frustration with the unanswered prayers, but David helps us remember that God is big enough to handle all of our requests and questions.
David asks for light, help, and intervention. Just because God hasn’t answered a prayer or feels silent doesn’t mean we stop praying. In faith, we continue to come to God and talk to Him. In the midst of his questions and doubts, David says, “But I trust…” (Psalm 13:5). The circumstances haven’t changed, but David’s focus has. Trust is a decision, not a feeling. David is honest about his feelings, but then holds on to the truth of God’s character.
The rest of the psalm, the last verse especially, ends with a declaration of praise. It is a future praise - one that has yet to happen, but David says he knows God will answer! How? Because David has focused on two things. David says in Psalm 13:3, “O Lord, my God…” David has a personal relationship with God. One that was tested over time. God had already proven Himself faithful to David in the past, because in Psalm 13:6 Davida says,“ he has dealt bountifully with me.”
A faith that holds on, in the midst of silence and doubts, focuses on these two things: a personal relationship with God and God’s past actions. Don’t think that this quiet season is a reflection of God’s love for you. God loved us first (1 John 4:19). You can question God and still trust him. In fact, Psalm 13 reminds us that God welcomes our questions. Silence is never the end of the story. Keep holding on!
If you’re in a season where God feels quiet, I walk slowly through Psalm 13 on my podcast, Psalms to Help You Sleep, helping you turn your questions into prayer. Listening to God’s word can be a soothing balm to our weary souls. If prayer feels like too much, start with just a simple: “God, I want to trust you, but it's hard.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
God’s silence seems harsh, doesn’t it? One thing I need to remember, and I hope to encourage you to remember as well, is that ultimately God is never silent. Yes, our hearts feel as if God isn't speaking to us or answering our prayers. The truth we need is that God is always speaking, through His word.

The Bible is always available to us, and it is the light, the help, and the guidance we need in times of great hardship. In the midst of any situation, God’s word, the Bible, can provide hope. God welcomes you, even your questions. The silence is not the end of the story. As you go to God, no matter how you feel, answer these questions honestly before him. Start here:
Where does God feel silent right now?
What honest prayer needs to be spoken?
Further Reading:
Lamentations 3:22-23
Psalm 55:22
Philippians 4:6-7
1 Peter 5:7
Exodus 16:18-21
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1 John 3:1 and the powerful truth that believers are deeply loved and called children of God. Our identity was never meant to be defined by a job, relationship, opportunity, or the approval of others.
Rejection can leave us questioning our worth, but God’s love is not dependent on whether we fit someone else’s expectations. When we root our identity in Christ, we can make decisions from a place of confidence and obedience rather than fear, insecurity, or the desire to be accepted.
Highlights:
Discover the life-changing truth that your identity is found in being a beloved child of God.
Learn how rejection and unmet expectations can challenge our understanding of our worth.
Understand why fitting into someone else’s mold can keep us from embracing God’s unique calling.
Be encouraged that God’s love and acceptance remain constant, even when circumstances change.
Explore how confidence in Christ helps us make decisions based on faith rather than fear or approval.
Remember that your value comes from God’s opinion of you—not the opinions or acceptance of others.
Join the Conversation
What areas of your life make you question your identity or worth? How can remembering that you are a child of God change the way you approach decisions and challenges?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
Live Confidently in Your Identity in Christ
By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” - 1 John 3:1
You're not a fit.
Those words stung as the church leader told us we were no longer a fit for the pastoral opportunity. After many interviews and discussions with church leaders, we mutually decided that we were not the best candidates to assume a pastoral role in their church. Although it was mutual and we knew this was true, those words still stung as a fresh wave of rejection hit us like the ocean's waves.
As much as we knew deep down that we did not possess the skills or abilities they were looking for in their next pastor, we still wanted to be wanted. It was not easy to hear that someone else had been chosen over us. Whether it's the end of a romantic relationship, the termination of a toxic friendship, or the end of a lucrative job, the desire to be included and loved unconditionally is a basic need for every human being.
As we pondered whether we had truly made the right decision, we knew what we were both thinking: we wanted to say yes because we were afraid of what would happen if we said no. Fear and money are not reasons to do something. Talking yourself into something because you're afraid of what it's like to be alone or to lose something is not a reason to do it. Talking yourself into something is like telling yourself you're not in a bad relationship. All the signs of abuse are there, but you choose not to see them. In the same way, we were trying to fit ourselves into a mold that didn't fit our gifts or abilities.
God has wired each one of us with unique gifts that only we can use. No matter how much we try to be like someone else, we will never be exactly like another person. We can only be us, the person God has created us to be. The quicker we embrace that and solidify our identity in Christ rather than in our job or in our relationship, the happier we will be.
The above reminds us that God loves us, whether we fit a particular mold. Whether we choose to acquiesce to others' expectations or not, our identity in Christ remains solid. Christ's death on the cross afforded us the grace and ability to access God whenever we choose. It also solidified our rank as his children and his chosen people. Because we are God's children, we are afforded an inheritance that will never spoil or fade.
God wants us to live each day in the freedom of being God's children. He wants us to trust him and know that he is guiding every decision we make. Whether we ask God for direction on our next romantic relationship, next job, or how to navigate a difficult relationship, God's love and acceptance of us will never change.
Do you live every day knowing that God loves you unconditionally? Do you find yourself talking yourself into situations because you want to be loved and accepted by others? Do you choose the right job or the right relationship—or choose to be single—even though you know you've lost, and loneliness will result?
It takes someone solidified in their identity in Christ to not capitalize on a seemingly lucrative opportunity. However, the more we wire our brains to live in the freedom and liberty that has been afforded us through Christ Jesus, the better off we will be in every facet of our lives. It will no longer matter what people think of us if we don't have a relationship, we lose our job, or we lose a friendship. People's opinions no longer matter when we know whose opinion matters most. When we make decisions not out of fear or money, but out of obedience and true understanding of calling, that is a life well lived.
Father, let us be people who live in the understanding of our identity in Christ. Let us live every day free to make decisions not based on fear or money, but out of obedience and a calling to you. Let us trust in you, knowing that you have ordered all our steps and will provide for our every need. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What keeps you from living a life confident in your identity in Christ?
Further Reading:
1 Peter 2:9
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Today's episode is a special bonus from the On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse hosted by Kristy Graham.
What does it look like to trust God when He calls you into some of the world's most difficult and dangerous places? In this powerful episode, Kristy experiences firsthand what Samaritan's Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team members endure as they prepare to serve during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bev Kauffeldt, who has served on the last two Ebola responses, led Kristy through the training.
Kristy got into the many layers of personal protection equipment to experience the process our DART members go through in the field. This inspired Kristy as she experienced the discomfort our teams willingly step into as they fight this dangerous outbreak. It also helped her know how to pray for our teams more specifically.
At the training, Bev talked with Kristy about a passage of Scripture that has been on her heart:
“This verse—I shared it with the team today because it's so perfect. In Acts 20:24, Paul says my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus, the work of telling others of the good news about the wonderful grace of God.”
— Bev Kauffeldt, paraphrasing Acts 20:24
As believers, we must have a posture of humility. Someone who speaks into this posture in this Ebola response is Dustin Martin, a water, sanitation and hygiene technical advisor who supports Samaritan's Purse field offices around the world. Dustin will likely go to the DRC soon. He shared how he is preparing both physically and spiritually to be deployed and why he desires to go serve in this dangerous situation.
“I want to be able to go to the ends of the earth for people that I haven't even met before because that's what Christ did for me. He took on humility. He took on human form when He had no need to. And if He did that for me, there's just no appropriate response but to do that for others.”
— Dustin Martin
Once Kristy was out of the personal protective equipment, she met Kate Allen, an emergency doctor, who the Lord has called and sent to many DART responses, including Ukraine and Iraq.
They spoke about putting on the armor of God, trusting that the Lord goes before us. We are not promised safety, but God does promise that He is with us always.
“God doesn't say you're going to be absolutely fine … but He does promise that He goes with us. And He promises that He goes ahead. And He promises He hems us in from behind. So, we go with His Spirit, and we go knowing that He has a plan, and that He has already paid the ultimate price.”
— Kate Allen
If you'd like to keep up to date with more stories from On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse, please visit SamaritansPurse.org
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We reflect on 1 Peter 4:8, which reminds us that “love covers over a multitude of sins.” While discernment is important, a critical spirit can quietly keep us guarded, distant, and unable to love others the way Christ has called us to.
Past hurts and disappointments can cause us to constantly evaluate, judge, and protect ourselves from being hurt again. But God does not call us to carry the burden of figuring everyone out. He calls us to love. Through prayer, humility, and trust in God’s protection, we can move from criticism toward compassion and reflect the heart of Jesus.
Highlights:
Discover how 1 Peter 4:8 reveals the power of love to cover and restore relationships.
Learn how past wounds can create a habit of judgment and constant criticism.
Understand the difference between biblical discernment and a critical spirit.
Explore five practical steps to replace judgment with love, including prayer, encouragement, and believing the best.
Be reminded that God—not our ability to evaluate others—is our ultimate source of protection.
Find freedom in loving others the way Jesus loves us, even when it feels difficult.
Join the Conversation
Where do you find yourself becoming more critical than loving toward others? What is one way you can choose compassion and grace in a relationship this week?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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:
5 Steps to Stop Being Overly Critical
By: Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8 NIV
Have you ever been hurt by an authority figure?
I remember it, almost clear as day… I was in third grade. Somehow, the teacher always seemed proud of her classroom power. I liked to talk. She didn’t like talking. And there I went – I started up talking…
My punishment? She had me kneel before a statue on hard, cold linoleum for hours (or for what felt like hours). It hurt. It was embarrassing.
Here, and amongst other times like this, I learned something: You can’t trust everyone in a position of spiritual authority. Just because they have a position of power doesn’t mean they’ll use it for good.
As a kid, I took the lesson and stuffed it deep in my pocket. Be careful, Kelly. You may get hurt. Even holy people can’t always be trusted.
I started to keep my antennae up. I won’t get hurt or embarrassed like that again.

Safety, now, became hyper-awareness as I talked to people in authority. I’d ask:
- Are they speaking the truth?
- Do they have the right motives?
- Will they dupe me?
- Are they living what they say, or are they a fraud?
- Are they trying to profit for themselves, and do they even really care?

In an effort to protect myself from future hurt, I started to live as a constant judge. A critic. A person continually sizing up good or bad. Right or wrong. Theologically correct or not right at all.
People became either good or not so good.
One morning, something hit me: I can’t be loving when constantly judging.
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8)
God doesn’t require me to figure everyone out; He calls me to love. God doesn’t ask that I know every motive; He asks that my highest motive be love.
Love is powerful. Love actually covers. It does something. It is a cause that always has an effect.
Yet, a critical spirit? It can easily hide under the guise of good intent, while being all wrong. Jesus was not a fan of the Pharisees, who showed themselves pious, but underneath were void of true understanding.
What can I do instead? I can:
1. Pray that I can see what God loves in each person.
2. Authentically bless them in prayer.
3. Encourage them where they may need help or ministry.
4. Believe the best and hope the best about them.
5. Love them anyway.
The highest understanding is love. The highest pursuit is love.
WE don’t have to entirely know a person to love them. We don’t have to have it all figured out to show love.

Love is simple.
Judging is complex.
Plus, it is a lot to uphold. It’s a lot to manage. It keeps the heart guarded. It blocks God’s outpouring and sin-covering love.
At the end of the day, being critical doesn’t keep us safe. God is the only protector, and when we trust Him to protect us, we can begin to love others, even when it may feel scary.
Will everyone treat us right? Will everyone do right? Not at all.
But do we always act right and always do right? No, we don’t.
We love the way Jesus loved us.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Where do you find yourself judging more than you are loving people? How might believing the worst about others be preventing you from seeing their best? Identify ways that your judgment has impacted relationships… What would it look like for you to do something new?
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