Joshua’s story captures the transition from inherited faith to personal conviction. As he prepares to step into the wider world, he’s learning to discern God’s voice through Scripture, live out his beliefs with courage, and take ownership of his relationship with Jesus.
Making Faith His Own
Growing up in the Church gave Joshua a strong foundation—he knew who God was, understood the truth of Scripture, and saw faith modeled around him. But as he grew older, he realized that secondhand faith wouldn’t sustain him forever. There comes a time in every believer’s life when belief must move from borrowed to personal, from taught to lived.
For Joshua, that shift began when he understood Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7–8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Faith, he discovered, is not passive—it’s participatory. A meaningful relationship with Jesus requires active pursuit. It means showing up not just to church, but to Christ Himself, seeking Him daily and allowing that pursuit to transform you from the inside out.
As Joshua began this journey, one truth stood out: to discern God’s voice, he needed to know Scripture. God’s guidance will never contradict His Word. That conviction has shaped how Joshua approaches the Bible—not as a checklist, but as a conversation. He began practicing the Discovery Bible Study method, which invites reflection through five simple questions:
- What does the passage say?
- What does the passage say about people?
- What does the passage say about God?
- What in my life needs to change as a result?
- Who else needs to hear this?
Through this process, Joshua began not only to understand Scripture but to internalize it—to let it speak to his circumstances, shape his decisions, and clarify God’s voice. Jesus’ promise in John 16:13 became real: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
Now, as Joshua prepares to leave for college, he’s stepping into a world that often challenges the values of faith. We live in a post-Christian society—one where Christian belief is no longer the norm but often the countercultural way. Yet Joshua isn’t retreating from it; he’s preparing to engage it. Like the Apostle Peter urged, he wants to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).
Practicing the way of Jesus—through Sabbath, prayer, Scripture, and community—has become Joshua’s preparation for this next chapter. These ancient disciplines are not outdated; they are the timeless framework for living well in a modern world.
As his family counts down the last few Sundays before his departure—five to be exact—there’s both grief and gratitude. Saying goodbye to the child who’s been part of their home for 18 years is bittersweet. But there’s also deep pride in seeing the man he’s becoming: someone who loves God, lives by conviction, and owns his faith with authenticity.
“Children are a heritage from the Lord… Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.” (Psalm 127:3–4)
Joshua’s arrow is ready to fly—steady, guided, and aimed toward the purposes of God.