https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/rss.xml Multiple-part articles and images in one place Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Mon, 25 May 2026 21:22:52 -0400 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-things-to-help-a-friend-who-self-harms.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-things-to-help-a-friend-who-self-harms.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ I have had many friends who struggled with self-harm. When I was in elementary school, one of my friends would cut herself and always wore a jacket so others wouldn't know. She wouldn't talk about her self-harm; however, it was apparent to me since I was her friend. Anytime she would push up her sleeves, I would see the fresh cuts and the scars, but I wouldn't say anything. To be honest, at first, I didn't know what to think of it, and I consulted my mom.When I told my mom about my friend, she said that my friend was struggling with self-harm and that she was going to reach out to the school in order to ensure there wasn't an unsafe situation at my friend's home and to get my friend the proper help she needed. My friend disappeared for a while after that, yet when she returned, she was more talkative and didn't seem down anymore. I didn't understand it now, however, as an adult, I understand that she got the help that she needed, and she was able to start a life without self-harm.If you also have a friend who self-harms, know that there is hope for them. Even if it feels hopeless right now, there is always hope because of God. He is the giver of all good things (James 1:17), and we can trust Him with the future. In addition to finding hope in God, we can also do many things ourselves to help our friends who struggle with self-harm.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Cunaplus_M.Faba Fri, 22 May 2026 10:25:44 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/7-ways-to-cope-with-diabetes.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/7-ways-to-cope-with-diabetes.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ I have many family members who have been diagnosed with diabetes. Throughout their life, I have seen them cope with this lifelong diagnosis, and I have also seen how much it has changed their life. Photo Credit: Image created using ChatGPT2025  Fri, 22 May 2026 08:55:35 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/6-signs-of-summer-depression.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/6-signs-of-summer-depression.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ Summer depression is a real issue as it is often associated with seasonal depressive disorder (SAD). While many people think seasonal depressive disorder only occurs in the fall or winter months, it can actually happen during any season of the year, even summer. Although many of us associate summer with being the happiest season of the year, there are many people who don't feel this way. They see summer as a dreaded season and seek to avoid it at all costs.The good news is that if you have summer depression, you don't have to go untreated. There are many things that can help you, such as getting the right medication and starting therapy. Through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you will be able to work through the deep sorrow in your heart and heal from the pain within. While I cannot promise you that your summer depression can be entirely healed, it can be alleviated.Below are a few signs to look for in your own life to see if you have summer depression, but it is not a diagnostic tool. You do need to talk with your primary care doctor about any symptoms or behaviors you are noticing in order to get the help that you need. In truth, the only way to get the proper treatment is to talk with your primary care doctor, receive a diagnosis, and go from there. Take the first step today and make an appointment to talk with your primary care doctor about your concerns surrounding summer depression.Photo Credit: unsplashandrewle Thu, 21 May 2026 16:19:47 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/8-ways-to-combat-the-afternoon-slump.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/8-ways-to-combat-the-afternoon-slump.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ By 3 p.m., many of us have hit our limit. We have been behind the computer screen all day, and our motivation has evaporated. While we started the day with a mind of production, we are now tired, drained, and worn out. If you work in corporate America, you are too familiar with the 3 p.m. slump and how hard it can be to recover from. If we are never careful, the 3 p.m. slump will turn into the 4 p.m slump, and we won't get any work done for the rest of the day.Our employer won't be too happy with us, and our future self won't be either. This is why we need to be proactive and take the necessary steps to fight back against the daily afternoon slump. By combating the 3 p.m. slump, we will be able to remain productive for the remainder of our day and ensure we produce the best work possible. While it will be a challenge some days, as long as we are trying our best, we are making progress.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/diego_cervo Thu, 21 May 2026 14:38:24 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/6-natural-remedies-to-help-with-depression.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/6-natural-remedies-to-help-with-depression.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ In addition to seeking out medical help in the form of doctors and therapists, there are also natural remedies that we can utilize to help us with our depression. It should be noted that natural remedies are not intended as substitutes for medical treatment. These remedies can help; however, they cannot help depression in the same way that medication and therapy can. Therefore, it is best to utilize these natural remedies in conjunction with medication and therapy.As someone who has tried strictly natural remedies in the past to treat my depression, I can share with you that it doesn't work. You have to use both medical treatment and work on your own in order to see your depression begin to improve. With that being said, here are a few natural remedies that I have found to be helpful to my own struggles with depression. You might find other natural remedies to help you, and that is great. Ask the Lord to guide you and help you as you navigate this diagnosis.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Sorajack Thu, 21 May 2026 10:10:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/10-ways-to-cultivate-a-happier-life.html https://www.crosswalk.com/health-and-wellness/10-ways-to-cultivate-a-happier-life.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ King Solomon was said to be the wisest person of his time. He received endless knowledge, wisdom, and everything he could ever want, yet he still was not happy. This was mainly because Solomon did not have a strong relationship with God, nor did he practice contentment. If we are going to cultivate a happier life, we must follow Paul's example, not Solomon's.Paul understood contentment, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13).Cultivate a happier life with these 10 steps.Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Aziz Wed, 20 May 2026 13:24:06 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-phrases-in-relationships-symbolize-zero-respect.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/7-phrases-in-relationships-symbolize-zero-respect.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ In healthy relationships, both partners show mutual respect for one another. They follow Paul's teaching of, “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).Rather than putting one another down, they build one another up. For example, they make statements such as, “You do such a great job at listening!” or “Thank you for taking time out of your day to sit and talk with me. It means a lot when you listen to me.”  These types of phrases show respect within the relationship. It is important to be aware of positive phrases and statements to better weed out negative phrases. If you ever find yourself in a relationship where your partner is showing they have zero respect for you, it is time to reassess the situation. If you are married, this could be trickier; however, God never calls us to stay in an emotionally abusive marriage.  For individuals who are only dating, it would be best to leave the relationship. There is no point in staying with someone who doesn't extend respect to you. With time, their disrespect will become worse. A person who lacks respect for their spouse lacks respect for themselves and for God. Stay away from anyone who is disrespectful to others. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Delmaine Donson Thu, 14 May 2026 14:14:53 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/10-ways-the-psalms-lead-us-to-deeper-worship.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/10-ways-the-psalms-lead-us-to-deeper-worship.html Whitney Hopler and Matthew Jacoby https://www.crosswalk.com/author/whitney-hopler/ When you want to deepen your relationship with God, you need to move beyond simply knowing about Him and seek personal encounters with Him. The Bible’s Psalms can help you do that. The Psalms are full of honest expressions of what it means to relate to God. They describe faith in action while dealing with the tension between this fallen world’s realities and the hope God offers you.Here’s how you can deepen your relationship with God by reading and responding to the Psalms:Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Sergio Yoneda Thu, 07 May 2026 10:45:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers-and-scriptures-for-cinco-de-mayo.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/prayers-and-scriptures-for-cinco-de-mayo.html Whitney Hopler https://www.crosswalk.com/author/whitney-hopler/ Cinco de Mayo honors the memory of an important battle in Mexico, called the Battle of Puebla. On May 5, 1862, a small and humble Mexican army stood up against a much bigger and stronger French army. Even though the odds were against them, the Mexican soldiers fought with great courage and won. May 5th has become a beautiful celebration of culture, bravery, and most importantly, freedom. As Christians, we love the idea of freedom because God is all about freedom. God gave us ultimate freedom by saving us through Jesus Christ, and the Bible tells many stories of how God helped small groups of people overcome big challenges.When we enjoy the colorful food and the joyful music of Cinco de Mayo, we can let it inspire us spiritually, as well. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo can remind us of how God sets us free from our fears and sins. We can celebrate the fact that no matter how small we feel, our great God is on our side. Here are 5 prayers and scriptures for Cinco de Mayo.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages / Allison Achauer Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:45:00 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/ways-to-clean-your-home-and-heart-this-spring.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/ways-to-clean-your-home-and-heart-this-spring.html Carrie Lowrance https://www.crosswalk.com/author/carrie-lowrance/ Warmer weather is finally here, and it’s time to do some spring cleaning. This time of year, we clean out closets, bookshelves, pantries, garages, etc. Experts have proven that getting rid of clutter helps bring calm and peace to our minds. Spring is also a great time to clean our hearts. It’s easy for things to build up that need to be dealt with. Let’s take some time to clean our homes, minds, and hearts of all the clutter so we can move on to more peaceful lives.The Spiritual Significance of Spring CleaningThe tradition of spring cleaning goes back to various cultural practices around the globe. For ancient civilizations, spring represented birth and renewal. In Jewish tradition, a practice called ‘Bedikat Chametz’ involves cleaning the home before Passover to remove traces of leavened bread, symbolizing the removal of ego and excess. In Asian cultures, there is a ‘cleaning festival’ in which homes are cleansed to invite prosperity and positive energy for the New Year. This shows that cleaning serves a dual purpose, refreshing the physical space and also symbolizing a fresh start.The Connection Between Physical and Spiritual RenewalDecluttering the physical space of the clutter that accumulates over time, creating chaos and an overwhelming environment, is important. Clutter leads to anxiety and stress, which leads to the inability to focus and reflect. By taking time to organize our surroundings, we free ourselves from distractions. In spiritual terms, this creates space for fresh energy and inspiration.Creating a sacred space. After cleaning, we can rearrange our prayer areas to help promote tranquility and grounding.Rituals of renewal. When we integrate rituals into our cleaning, it makes the experience more spiritual. We can pray before we clean and talk to Jesus throughout the process.Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Anchiy Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:29:24 -0400 2026-05-25T21:22:52-04:00