my faith journey essay

• Social Skills
• Google Ads Packages & Services
• How To Hire The Right Google Ads Freelancer

Faith Journey

When I applied to grad school, one of the essays asked me to describe my journey of faith. This is what I wrote.

I have a mentor that I call Scott the Wizard, because his name is Scott and he is wise like a wizard.

One day he told me that the core of the Christian life was summed up in the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son is living in a pigsty, having lost all of his father’s money. And his response is not to earn the money back, nor to enroll in a 12-step program or buy a self-help book. Instead, the son gets up, and goes home, and when his father sees him, he runs to embrace his son.

Scott the Wizard explained that the core of the Christian life is simply to come home and be in the presence of the Father. Once you’re home, there is time for cleaning off the smell of the pigsty or resuming the responsibilities of sonship. But the first step is just to come home and receive the love of the father.

Or, as Henri Nouwen puts it, “The question is not ‘How am I to find God?’ but ‘How am I to let myself be found by Him?’… God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”

As my faith has grown and matured, I have been profoundly influenced by this truth. I believe that the core of my Christian faith is not about right behavior or right doctrine (although both are valuable), but instead right identity and right relationship — to know myself as a child of God and to let myself be loved by God.

My understanding of how to relate to others has focused on that single point as well. My role is not to convince or fix or save — it’s just to love and let my love point to the love of God. Others tell me that I have a gift of encouragement, and I feel I have a calling to people who struggle with identity and acceptance.

But I think it’s simpler than that. Mr. Rogers said, “When we look for what’s best in a person, we’re doing what God does all the time.” That’s what I try to do.

I want people to know they are lovable, so I try to offer unconditional acceptance and invite people into community. And I want people to see themselves the way God sees them, so I try to offer affirmation and point to the beauty God placed in them. Sometimes this takes the form of formal ministry roles (like the care team at my church) but mostly I just try to love the people God puts in my path.

Of course, it took me some time to reach this point. When I was in elementary school, my faith was strictly a matter of hope — it was something I clung to when nothing else was okay. When I was in middle school, my faith was like a workout regime — reading my Bible and praying made me “spiritually stronger”, and being strong was an end in itself.

It was not until high school that I started to realize that faith was about loving other people, not until college that I began to realize how much God truly loved me — and not until the past few years that God has crystallized my calling towards people who feel they don’t belong.

Today my faith plays out in a variety of ways. I faithfully attend a wonderful church called Vox Veniae, which I love because I feel part of the liturgy, not an audience member. Henri Nouwen and Brennan Manning live on my bookshelf and tell me that God loves me and that I can join Him in loving other people. I am good friends with lawyers and artists, teachers and strippers, and I see Jesus in all of them.

In everything, I do my best to set my sights on home — where my Father is waiting to embrace me and remind me that I am His child. There are many distractions and detours on the path homeward, but I believe that I will one day fully realize the truth expressed by the Apostle John: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are!”

10 Stages In A Faith Journey: Plus Examples

Inside: Faith Journey Plus Examples

Have you ever thought about how our faith is like a journey?

It’s a road with ups and downs, questions, and amazing moments where everything just clicks.

Whether you’re just starting out or have been on this road for a while, there’s always something new to see and learn.

In this article, we’ll dive into the different parts of this faith adventure using the Bible and some easy-to-follow tips.

So, come on in, and let’s chat about this faith journey we’re all on!

10 Stages In A Faith Journey

Here’s a detailed breakdown of 10 stages in a faith journey, complete with Scripture and practical advice for each stage:

• Scripture : “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7
• Advice : Stay open-minded. Attend faith-based events, join discussion groups, and ask questions to understand more deeply.
• Scripture : “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” – Luke 19:10
• Advice : Embrace this new awareness. Surround yourself with individuals who can guide and nurture your budding faith.
• Scripture : “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” – 1 Peter 2:2
• Advice : Dive into Scripture. Attend Bible studies, engage in prayer, and seek mentorship from seasoned believers.
• Scripture : “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
• Advice : Make a conscious decision to commit to your faith . This might mean being baptized or taking another step of public commitment.
• Scripture : “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
• Advice : Seek support through community and prayer. Remember, every believer faces challenges. They can strengthen and refine your faith.
• Scripture : “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18
• Advice : Regularly partake in spiritual disciplines like fasting , deep prayer, and meditative reading of the Scriptures.
• Scripture : “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10
• Advice : Find ways to serve in your community or church. Share your testimony and faith journey with others.
• Scripture : “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
• Advice : Journal or reflect on the ways you’ve seen God’s hand in your life, celebrating His faithfulness in big and small ways.
• Scripture : “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” – 1 John 5:11
• Advice : Foster a heavenly perspective, knowing that this earthly life is temporary and a glorious eternity awaits.
• Continuous Renewal and Transformation :
• Scripture : “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” – 2 Corinthians 4:16
• Advice : Continually seek personal revival. Attend retreats, engage in spiritual self-assessments, study God’s word daily and always aim to draw closer to God.

I hope this list provides a helpful framework for understanding the stages in a faith journey from a Biblical perspective!

May it inspire and guide many on their personal journeys with the Lord.

Examples Of A Faith Journey

Here are some examples of faith journeys:

• The parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 is a poignant example of a faith journey. A young man leaves home, squanders his inheritance, and hits rock bottom. However, he comes to a realization of his mistakes and decides to return to his father. His father, representing God’s unending mercy, welcomes him with open arms. This journey from rebellion to redemption underscores the grace and forgiveness that await those who turn back to God.
• Moses’ life is filled with twists and turns. Born a Hebrew but raised as an Egyptian prince, he flees Egypt after killing a man. In exile, God appears to him in a burning bush and tasks him with leading the Israelites to freedom. Through challenges like confronting Pharaoh and parting the Red Sea, Moses grows in his faith and dependence on God.
• Mary Magdalene, mentioned in the Gospels, is a shining example of a transformative faith journey. Once plagued by seven demons, Jesus heals her. From that moment, she becomes one of His most devoted followers, even being the first to witness and proclaim His resurrection.
• Saul, later known as Paul, starts as a fierce persecutor of early Christians . However, on the road to Damascus, he has a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. This results in a complete turnaround, and he becomes one of Christianity’s most influential apostles, spreading the Gospel far and wide.
• Imagine someone today who grew up in a Christian household but drifted away during their teenage years, influenced by peers or personal doubts. Later in life, a significant event or realization brings them to a Christian counselor. Through counseling sessions, reading Scripture, and joining a supportive community, they rekindle their relationship with God and commit their life to serving Him.
• Consider a person with no prior knowledge of Christianity. Perhaps a friend invites them to church, or they stumble upon a Bible in a hotel room. Curious, they begin exploring, attending Bible studies, and asking questions. Over time, the teachings resonate with them, leading to a deep, personal relationship with Jesus .

Each of these journeys highlights the diverse paths people can take in their relationship with God.

From Biblical figures to everyday individuals, the common thread is God’s unwavering love and grace, guiding each person closer to Him.

I hope these Faith Journey examples inspire and provide insight into the varied landscapes of faith journeys!

How To Write A Faith Journey

Writing about your faith journey is a deeply personal endeavor, but it can be incredibly rewarding.

Sharing your experiences can inspire others and offer insights into the unique ways God works in individual lives.

Let’s break down how to approach this:

• Before you even pick up a pen, spend some time in prayer. Ask God for clarity, wisdom, and discernment as you recount your journey.
• Think about key moments in your life that have shaped your faith. This could be childhood memories, a challenging period, or an unexpected blessing.
• Start by describing your upbringing. Were you raised in a faith-based home? Or did you encounter God later in life?
• Highlight moments that deeply impacted your relationship with God. This could be positive experiences, like a retreat or a mission trip, or more challenging times when your faith was tested.
• It’s okay to share periods of doubt or times when you had questions about your faith. This makes your journey relatable and authentic.
• Talk about instances where you felt God’s presence or intervention in your life . These personal stories can be powerful testimonies of faith.
• Who has played a pivotal role in your faith journey? Maybe it’s a parent, a pastor, a friend, or even a Christian counselor. Share how they’ve guided or influenced you.
• Weave in relevant Bible verses that have been significant to you. This gives readers a biblical context and shows the foundation of your beliefs.
• Where are you now in your faith journey? Discuss your current practices, beliefs, and hopes for the future.
• End with Reflection and Anticipation :
• Reflect on your growth and the lessons you’ve learned. Share your hopes and aspirations for your continuing journey with God.
• Edit and Review :
• Once you’ve penned down your journey, take some time to review and refine it. Consider sharing it with a trusted friend or Christian counselor for feedback.

Remember, your faith journey is uniquely yours. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It’s the genuine reflection of your relationship with God that will resonate with readers.

Bible Verses About Faith Being A Journey

The Bible is rich with verses that describe faith as a journey or process, emphasizing growth, perseverance, and God’s guidance.

Here are some verses that beautifully convey this theme:

• “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
• “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
• “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
• “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
• “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
• “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• “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.”
• “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
• “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”

These verses emphasize the continuous journey of faith, marked by trust, perseverance, and guidance from the Lord.

As you reflect on these verses, may you be encouraged and strengthened in your own faith journey!

No two faith journeys are alike, and that’s the beauty of it – each is a unique dance of trust between the soul and its Creator.

Faith Goals Examples

Let’s explore some faith goals and how you can achieve them.

• Goal : Dedicate 10 minutes each morning to Bible reading.
• Advice : Start with Psalms or Proverbs for daily wisdom and encouragement.
• Scripture : “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” – Psalm 119:105
• Goal : Create a nightly prayer routine.
• Advice : Have a dedicated space at home for prayer to build a habit.
• Scripture : “The LORD is near to all who call on him.” – Psalm 145:18
• Goal : Participate in a women’s Bible study or fellowship group.
• Advice : It’s a great way to build deep, faith-centered relationships.
• Scripture : “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” – Matthew 18:20
• Goal : Memorize a Bible verse each month .
• Advice : Pick verses that speak to challenges you’re currently facing.
• Scripture : “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11
• Goal : Volunteer at least once a month.
• Advice : Local churches often have outreach programs in need of helping hands.
• Scripture : “Do not forget to do good and to share with others.” – Hebrews 13:16
• Goal : Share your faith story with someone new.
• Advice : Your journey can inspire and uplift others in their walk.
• Scripture : “Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story.” – Psalm 107:2
• Goal : Choose one day a week to disconnect from electronics and reconnect with God.
• Advice : Use this time for reflection, reading, or nature walks.
• Scripture : “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
• Goal : Fast from something specific (like social media) for clarity or focus in prayer.
• Advice : Remember to consult with a doctor before any major dietary changes.
• Scripture : “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face.” – Matthew 6:17
• Goal : Each evening, jot down things you’re grateful for.
• Advice : Over time, you’ll see how much God is working in your life.
• Scripture : “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” – James 1:17
• Build Faithful Friendships :
• Goal : Seek out godly women for friendship and mutual encouragement.
• Advice : Participate in church events or join Christian women’s groups.
• Scripture : “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17

I’ve included scriptures for each to give a biblical foundation.

I hope these faith goals inspire and guide you in your walk with God. Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection!

Lord, guide and protect me on my faith journey. Strengthen my trust, renew my hope, and let Your love light my path. In every challenge and joy, may I always feel Your presence. Amen.

Prayer For Your Faith Journey

Heavenly Father, the Author and Perfecter of our faith,

We come before You, acknowledging You as the guiding light on our faith journey.

Every step we take, every challenge we face, we know You are beside us, leading us with Your unfailing love.

Lord, as we navigate the winding paths of our spiritual journey, grant us the grace to trust in You wholeheartedly.

When doubts arise or the road seems uncertain, remind us of Your promises and Your steadfast presence.

Empower us, O God, with the strength to persevere, especially during times of trials and testing.

Let us remember the testimonies of the saints and prophets who have gone before us, drawing inspiration from their unwavering faith.

Provide us with wisdom, Lord, to discern Your will in every circumstance.

May we seek guidance from Your Word, from trusted counselors, and from the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit within.

We pray that our faith journey be marked by growth, transformation, and a deepening relationship with You.

Let our lives be a testament to Your grace, reflecting Your love and compassion to those we encounter.

Above all, Father, we ask for an ever-burning desire to draw closer to You, to know You more intimately, and to serve You faithfully.

Keep our hearts anchored in the truth of the Gospel, and let our steps be firmly rooted in Your ways.

Thank you, Lord, for being our constant companion, our refuge, and our hope.

Guide us, sustain us, and nurture our faith as we journey onward, always seeking Your face.

In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Join our online women’s Bible study and cultivate meaningful Christian friendships while growing in your faith. Our study resources are designed to guide you in your spiritual renewal and help you deepen your relationship with God. Participate from the comfort of your own home at a time that works for you. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to connect with other women and experience spiritual growth!

Pin This For Later

Similar Posts

Prayer for the impossible situation + bible verses.

Inside: prayer for the impossible situation If you’ve been here with me for a while you know I have faced situations that seemed impossible to overcome. During these challenging times, I’ve found an unshakeable source of strength and solace in prayer. Praying for the impossible is not about an instant fix but an intimate conversation… Continue Reading Prayer For The Impossible Situation + Bible Verses

Complete Prayer And Fasting Guide (Printable)

Are you curious about what the Bible says about prayer and fasting? Let’s take a look together. Grab my Prayer And Fasting Guide below! How To Pray And Fast For Beginners Prayer and fasting are wonderful ways to deepen your relationship with God. Here’s a simple guide to help you get started, especially for Christian… Continue Reading Complete Prayer And Fasting Guide (Printable)

50 Bible Verses For A Grieving Heart

Inside: 50 Bible Verses For A Grieving Heart In my darkest moments, I felt an overwhelming weight of sorrow, unsure of where to turn for comfort. But then, I stumbled upon these 50 Bible verses tailored for a grieving heart. What I found wasn’t just words, but a lifeline – a source of solace and… Continue Reading 50 Bible Verses For A Grieving Heart

10 Healing Bible Verses For Pain

Inside: Bible Verses For Pain Ever had one of those days where everything just hurts, either on the inside, the outside, or both? Yeah, we’ve all been there. It’s like no matter where you turn, the cloud of discomfort just won’t lift. That’s when digging into some “Bible verses for pain” can be like finding… Continue Reading 10 Healing Bible Verses For Pain

How To Develop A Consistent Prayer Life (Easy Tips)

We all know that Christians are not just called to have a prayer life, but we should be consistent in prayer as well. Here are some easy tips to help you have a consistent prayer life. Of all the Christian women I have asked, one of the most mentioned struggles they have is being consistent… Continue Reading How To Develop A Consistent Prayer Life (Easy Tips)

7 Remarkable Benefits Of Praising God

Inside: Benefits Of Praising God At one point in my life, I felt overwhelmed by the weight of my problems, struggling to find hope and meaning in the midst of my trials. It was then that I discovered the incredible benefits of praising God. As I began to worship and exalt our Heavenly Father, I… Continue Reading 7 Remarkable Benefits Of Praising God

Privacy Overview

If someone asked you to tell one story to illustrate how your faith affects your life, or to show what your faith means to you, what would it be? That's the question we invite you to answer for our Faith Journeys series.  We're interested in personal stories. You can choose one of the following questions to help shape your story: Was there a moment when your faith was tested, but ultimately deepened? What does your spiritual practice (prayer, fasting, meditation) mean to you? Tell us about a spiritual pilgrimage you made. Tell us about a moment of great spiritual insight.

For some, this may be a challenging task, so we'd like to offer a few guidelines.

• True first-person stories about your faith life, aim for 500 to 800 words.
• In story form — there is a beginning, middle and end.
• Focused. They should not attempt to cover your entire life or every time your faith was deepened or changed, just one defining story.
• They can cover any faith topic, but to reiterate possible topics might include a story of pilgrimage, a moment when your faith was tested but ultimately deepened, a description of your personal religious or spiritual practice and how that helps your faith life, or a moment of spiritual insight.

Faith Journeys are not :

• Sermons, or a list of creeds or beliefs.
• A statement about your faith. ( It's a story, not a statement.)
• Critical of others' beliefs.
• About other faiths. (It's just about you and your faith.)
• The history of your faith community.
• An argument against atheism.

Please e-mail submissions (or questions) to [email protected] . Remember to include your name, e-mail and a phone number.

We look forward to reading your story!

Our Lady of Guadalupe: A Mary Who Speaks Our Language

Join Beliefnet Today!

See all our uplifting newsletters!

Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Religious Beliefs — Reflecting on My Personal Experience with God

Reflecting on My Personal Experience with God

• Categories: Faith Personal Beliefs Religious Beliefs

About this sample

Words: 524 |

Published: Aug 4, 2023

Words: 524 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Questioning my faith in god, strengthening my relationship with god, learning experience with faith.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Religion Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

10 pages / 4509 words

8 pages / 3519 words

2 pages / 940 words

4 pages / 1685 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Religious Beliefs

Religion, a pervasive and intricate aspect of human existence, resists easy definition due to its multifaceted nature. In this essay, we will embark on a comprehensive journey to understand what religion is. We will explore the [...]

Plato. (n.d.). Allegory of the Cave. Republic, Book VII. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Retrieved from https://web.stanford.edu/class/ihum40/cave.pdf

Interfaith dialogue essay explores the significant role that conversations and interactions between individuals of different faiths play in promoting understanding, tolerance, and unity. In a world marked by diverse religious [...]

Edles, Laura Desfor and Scott Appelrouth. 2015. Sociological Theory in the Classical Era: Edition 3. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.Nelson, Robert H. 2012. 'Rethinking Church and State: The Case of [...]

Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson and Blankets by Craig Thompson are coming-of-age stories that primarily focus on the religious beliefs of their respective authors. Winterson grew up in an Evangelical [...]

In the 21st-century ethics as far as religious doctrines are concerned has taken a modernity turn. In the classical period religion was solely relied on to dictate morality but due to contemporariness catalyzed by education [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Myra Danielson

The journeys of our lives include adventures, meanderings, quests and pilgrimages.

My Faith Journey

“If you are a Christian, keep your bags packed and your eye on the highway, because the life of faith is a continual journey.” Thomas G. Long. Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian (15)

“We must live forward but understand life backward.” Soren Kierkegaard, quoted in R. Paul Stevens. Aging Matters ( 150)

NOTE: You will find that the content of many writing activities in this “Life Sentences” course overlaps. That is to be expected since in one way or another the activities all focus on your life. However, this writing activity—“My Faith Journey” —relates with special closeness to the one entitled “My Spiritual Testament.” You might think of them as two windows providing views of the same scene, yet with distinct angles of vision. 

You may wish to preview both activities and then decide which one best suits for you as a starting point. You can do one or the other, with significant benefit from either. If you have the energy, you also can do one and then the other, with the potential of later weaving together your two responses.

“Travel far enough to find yourself,” advises Pico Iyer, a British-born essayist and travel writer. Iyer’s travels have taken him to such far-flung locales as Cuba, Canada, Kyoto and Kathmandu, but his counsel may apply to our faith journeys as well. Whether we have ventured much beyond our immediate locale, each of us has made a faith journey through the peaks, valleys, and prairie landscapes of our soul. And, if we are fortunate, we may by now have found ourselves. 

Much of our understanding of the Christian journey of faith has been shaped by the truth of two works of fiction: Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy and John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress . In Dante’s 14th-century poem, the narrator is at the midway point in his life’s journey and he finds himself lost in a dark forest, unable to go forward. His continued journey is by no means straightforward. It takes him, first, through the Inferno —Hades or Hell (“Abandon all hope, you who enter here”); then through Purgatory (up the levels of the Seven-Storey Mountain), and finally to Paradise (with its nine heavenly levels). 

The picture that John Bunyan paints in his 17th-century allegory is similar. One’s faith journey is not all “Onward and Upward, the Spiritual Life goes better every day.”  In Bunyan’s story, the central figure—Christian—goes through a number of different stages, including some very difficult ones: 

• The Slough of Despond
• The Hill of Difficulty
• The Valley of Destruction
• The Valley of the Shadow of Death
• Vanity Fair, and 
• Castle Doubt

Dante’s epic poem is regarded as the greatest work in Italian literature; Bunyan’s 

religious allegory is a significant landmark in English literature. Each has given rise to real-life accounts of a faith journey. Thomas Merton, an American Trappist monk, titled his spiritual autobiography The Seven Storey Mountain, alluding to Dante’s Purgatorio, and Paul Hiebert, a Manitoba writer, called his memoir Doubting Castle, after Giant Despair’s dungeon in Bunyan’s work.

Like Merton or Hiebert, we may feel inspired by such great writers as Dante and Bunyan. Yet we need not be great writers to recall our faith journey. We simply need to be willing to invest the time and energy, remembering some of the key experiences in our faith development. Perhaps when you became a Christian you assumed that if you embraced the faith, you had done what was needed. End-of-story. For the next fifty or sixty years, you would just try to toe the line and not mess up.  By our age, however, most of us know that isn’t the way it plays out. Like the medical doctors and university professors who study the human life-cycle, we know that our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development continues and that our maturity grows through stages.

Father Richard Rohr, a member of the Franciscan order, speaks of our spiritual development as a movement through two stages. In his book Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life, Rohr describes the first half of life as a time focused on outward concerns: establishing our adult identity; acquiring a home and possessions; making friends; perhaps getting married and starting a family; concerning ourselves with financial security and outward success; and basically working toward a happy and productive life.

Then if we continue growing, Rohr says, we encounter some kind of a fall, a failure, or a change that compels us to turn inward, asking ourselves “Is this all there is? Is this what life really is all about?” We begin to pay more attention to our inner tasks. Rohr calls this transition—from the first stage of our faith life to the second half—“falling upward.” It may be a gradual change, or it may come abruptly as the result of an accident, an illness or a sudden loss. This transition is seldom easy but it can be reassuring to think of it, not just as a “falling down” but a “falling upward.”

Rohr sees this as a time of redefining “home,” not as a dwelling on which we pay a mortgage, but as a metaphor for our soul, as a time of looking inward and embracing the Mystery of God. “None of us go into our spiritual maturity completely of our own accord, or by a totally free choice,” Rohr contends. “We are led by Mystery , which religious people rightly call grace” (xvi). 

Rohr suggests that this midlife transition seems counter-intuitive, an apparent “falling down” that is a necessary “falling upward.” This “down-then-up” perspective does not fit well with our Western philosophy, says Rohr, yet it is the message of most of the world’s religions, “including and especially Christianity” (xxii).

Numerous other writers also have described the stages in our faith journey. James Fowler’s Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning is one of the most useful studies, though a bit challenging to read due to its academic style and scholarly intent. Dr. Fowler identifies six stages of faith, based on extensive research and interviews with many believers in a variety faith traditions. 

Instead of just considering the “big picture” (like the two halves of spirituality that Father Rohr speaks of), Fowler’s model offers a more precise tool for understanding our faith journey and experience. The third stage—one focused on creeds, community, and confidence—may give way to a more difficult fourth stage, characterized by confusion, doubt, even disbelief. For those who are not permanently lost to spiritual exploration, there may come a fifth stage of religious reconnection and, in a few instances, even a sixth stage with an inclusive vision and sacrificial service to others.

We can learn from such writers as Richard Rohr and James Fowler and from their literary predecessors Dante and Bunyan. Yet looking back from these elder years,  our main take-away may be that one’s journey of faith tends not to be straightforward. Quite likely our youthful ideals, aspirations and certainty have been tested.  We probably can recall our own mid-life experience of “falling upward,” our “dark nights of the soul,” and our anxieties as we wrestled with doubt and confusion. If we are blessed, we might also now speak of a providential reconnection with our earlier confidence and of a new way of being in faith that buoys our spirits as we continue in our faith journey.

This writing activity, like its Faith Journey subject, unfolds in stages. 

• First, selecting from a series of questions, you will recall experiences from your journey of faith. 
• Then, considering additional questions, you will reflect on those experiences, seeking in this review a fresh perspective and transformative understanding. 
• Finally, if you are willing, you will draw on both your recollections and reflections to create a legacy account to share with others.

Stage 1: Recalling Your Faith-Journey Experiences 

The questions below aim to stimulate your memories. Chose only as many to answer as you find to be helpful. For some, that may be only a few. For others, it may be more.

The important thing is to begin writing about your unique journey of faith. Once you begin, one recollection is likely to lead to another. 

You need not respond to the questions in any particular order. Let your memories flow and jot them down in whatever way they come to you. Your main goal should be to get them in writing. They can always be organized more logically at a later time, should you choose to do that.

• Likely your spiritual faith has changed over the years and decades. What do you recall of your childhood beliefs? What seemed especially important to you?
• What are your first memories of church? Which church was it and where was it located?
• What are your first memories of Bible stories? Which stories from that time do you remember in particular and who told them to you?
• Which early prayers did you learn? (e.g. for mealtime, for bedtime). What impact (if any) did these prayers have on you
• What influence did your parents, siblings or other relatives have on your early faith development?
• Did you attend Sunday School, Summer Bible School, children’s clubs or any camp which offered faith-related instruction? If so, what memories do you have?
• As you grew older, did you take any catechism classes or similar instruction in religious belief?
• Did you have a personal Bible as a child? If so, when did you receive it and from whom?
• As you developed spiritual awareness, did you make any kind of personal commitment to God? As best you recall, what were the circumstances?
• Were you baptized or confirmed in a church service? If so, when did this occur and what do you remember of the event?
• During your teenage years, did you attend any youth group that had a faith-based orientation? If so, what are your recollections? What influence did this involvement have on your subsequent faith commitment?
• Did you attend worship services with any regularity? What was the nature of those services? What did you especially like (or dislike) about them?
• Did you attend any special religious meetings (e.g. Church youth conferences? Mission trips? Revival meetings?)
• During your teen years, what exposure (if any) did you have to other church denominations or faith traditions? What was your reaction or response to these alternative expressions of faith?
• During your teen years or coming-of-age years, did any religious leader have a particular influence on you, either positively or negatively?
• During those years, did you read any books, view any movies, or hear any radio broadcasts that had a particular influence on you?
• During those years, what spiritual concerns (if any) did you have? (e.g. religious doubts, doctrinal questions, etc). Did you experience any kind of spiritual crisis? If so, what were the setting and the circumstances?
• In your adult years, as you learned more about your faith tradition, what misunderstandings (if any) did you need to correct?
• As a young or middle-aged adult, with what questions of faith (if any) did you struggle? Did you experience any times of doubt, confusion, disbelief? If so, what were the circumstances? What was the outcome? Were your spiritual concerns resolved or did they continue?
• What have been some of the key verses in your life? Why, or in what way, have these verses been important to you? What understanding or guidance have they provided?
• As you look back over the years, what have been your church involvements or faith-motivated community involvements?
• Have your spiritual pursuits or decisions been motivated by any sense of “calling” or vocation?
• If you currently are active in a faith community, how did you come to be involved with this particular one? What motivates you to continue in this involvement?
• Thinking back over the years of your life, which books (if any) have been especially influential in your spiritual growth?
• What has been the role of music in your life of faith?
• Parker J. Palmer, in his latest book of reflections On The Brink of Everything , recounts how over the past 50 years the writings of Thomas Merton have provided him with “friendship, love, and rescue.” In your reading and thinking, who has illumined the path and accompanied you on your journey”?]
• Have you been an active member in any form of Bible-study group or faith-based reading club?
• As you look back over the years of your life, have you experienced any accidents or major health challenges? If so, what were the circumstances and the outcome? What impact has it had on your faith, positive or negative?
• It is a reality of our later years in life that we confront physical challenges along with loss, sorrow and suffering. With what health issues have you dealt and what has been their lasting impact?How has your faith been shaped by or contributed to your experience? What has helped you to adapt to circumstances you cannot change? What has helped you to face adversity and to “bounce back”?
• As you look back over the years of your life, have others whom you love experienced any accidents or major health challenges? If so, what were the circumstances and the outcome? What impact did it have on your faith, positive or negative?

Stage 2: Reflecting on Your Faith-Journey Experiences 

In Stage 1, you have recalled and recorded a number of experiences in your journey of faith. Now, using the additional guide questions—or ones of your devising—to reflect on those experiences.

Again, do not worry about completing every question. Respond only to those that help you to connect with the experiences you have described.

• Soren Kierkegaard said that we live forward but understand life backward. As you look back over the years of your faith journey, have there been any pivotal turning points? If so, how have these moments of change or of transformation affected the development of your Christian faith? 
• We sometimes hear people speak of “20 / 20 hindsight,” seeing clearly in retrospect what previously was not apparent. Looking back on your faith journey, do you see a deeper meaning in any of your experiences during youth, young adulthood or middle years?
• Have you experienced the transition that Richard Rohr calls “falling upward”? If so, did the change come gradually or more abruptly as the result of an accident, an illness or a sudden loss? What did you learn as a result?
• During which of your experiences have you been pushed outside of your comfort zone? How did this contribute to your spiritual growth?
• Alcoholics Anonymous uses the phrase “Let go and let God.” Do you recall any time(s) in your life when you have had to give up all sense of control and let God provide the direction?
• Over the years how have your spiritual needs changed? Where do you now feel a need for help?
• In your spiritual journey and understanding of faith, where are you feeling challenged or uncertain?  What spiritual questions do you have in your present life? How are you seeking to answer them and address the challenges?
• In your experience, can questioning, doubt, and possible disbelief really be considered a “stage of faith”? What leads you to this response?
• Overall, do you feel that your life is “in balance”? If not, where do you find particular challenges?
• How do you cultivate and maintain a positive outlook?
• What now gives the most meaning and purpose to your life?
• At this point in your life, what especially gives you a sense of hope?
• Who or what in your life most contributes to your sense of happiness
• How would you describe your relationship with Jesus?
• How has God been at work in your life over the last few months?
• What does the word “salvation” mean to you?
• What does the word “discipleship” mean to you?
• How have you explained for yourself and others the presence of evil and suffering in our world?
• As you look back over the years, what has been the role of prayer in your life?
• Do you have any intentional practice of meditation or reflection? If so, what wisdom or insights have you gleaned about the ways of Being—e.g. meditating, praying, being awake and aware of the world around you? 
• How do you deal with life’s disappointments?
• When you are upset about something, how do you react or respond?
• Sometimes we are unfairly criticized by other people.. Have you had such a painful experience? If so, how have you handled it? Has the experience affected your faith journey?
• Throughout our lives we encounter conflict and hurtful situations. What have been your experiences with forgiving and being forgiven?
• Do you feel guilty over any aspect of your life—past or present? If so, how do you seek to deal with it?
• In what ways has your life become more inclusive—of people, of ideas, of feelings?
• When you encounter different perspectives, are you able to appreciate more than your own?
• What would you say is the essence of “God’s story”?
• The story of our lives is not yet complete, but as Christians we are part of a greater story. How do you connect your personal story, especially your faith story, with the Greater Story of God? How do you connect the “I am” of your self to the “Great I Am”? 
• In terms of your spiritual well-being, do you feel you have any “unfinished business”?
• As you look ahead to your spiritual life in future years, in what ways do you still hope to grow?
• If you had an opportunity to meet and chat with your young adult self, what advice might you now offer?

Stage 3: Re-reading Your Faith-Journey Experiences and Reflections

Frederick Buechner is an American novelist, minister and theologian. His central message, he said on more than one occasion, was “Listen to your life.” In his memoir Now & Then , Buechner wrote” “If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that he speaks to us largely through what happens to us…” (3).

Our goal, in this third stage of our Faith Journey writing activity, is to “listen to our life” as we re-read what we have written, our recollection of faith-journey experiences (in Stage 1) and our reflections on them (in Stage 2).

As the writer of those recollections and reflections, we of course know what we have written. Yet the act of reading our own writing helps us to shift our point of view, as Gary Kenyon and William Randall note in Restorying Our Lives: Personal Growth Through Autobiographical Reflection. In reading ourselves, they say, “we are effectively taking greater authorship of our lives, opening ourselves to fresh and freeing interpretations of who we are and what we can be” (129). 

In the faith-journey experiences that we have recollected we are the primary character . In our reflections on those experiences, we are the narrator.   Now, as the reader we again change our perspective. Essentially, we are “stepping back from the text of our lives” and “critiquing it with dispassionate yet affectionate concern…” 

Kenyon and Randall suggest that we re-read our responses asking a number of “restorying” questions:  

• What broad patterns can we observe?
• What have been the main events?
• What roles have we played?
• What view of ourself and of the world can we discern? 
• What philosophy of living shines through in our responses? 
• Where do we sense our experiences could have been different and possibly still could change?

“No one but ourselves can tell us who we are, or who we can become,” the authors write. That is why it is vital that we learn to “listen to our life.” Each of us must tell and read the story of our faith journey and then let the direction reveal itself on its own.

T.S. Eliot, a Nobel-Prize winning poet, wrote in his masterful “Four Quartets”: “We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time.” It is our hope and prayer that recalling our experiences, reflecting on them, and then re-reading them dispassionately but affectionately, we will arrive at a deeper knowledge of who we are and where we are in this place and time.

Stage 4 :  Recounting Your Story for Others

In Stages 1, 2, and 3, we have been writing for ourselves, focusing on our own personal growth. Our task in this fourth and final stage—should you choose to continue—will be to write for others. We will weave together our recollected experiences and our reflections on them, aiming to leave a legacy.

WHY LEAVE A LEGACY?

Our motives for leaving a spiritual legacy are not significantly different from those that lead us to bequeath money and property to people we love. Our spiritual legacy may be a more heartfelt gift. 

C.S. Lewis was a renowned scholar and a prolific writer on literary and religious subjects. He left a rich heritage, one chronicled by Terry Glaspey in The Spiritual Legacy of C.S. Lewis. We may not be scholars or gifted writers, but we too can share from the the bounty of our own journey of faith. We too have known the joys and challenges that come as we embrace the Christian faith and discern its relevance to the thorny issues of our day.

Some people worry that writing such an account is a sign of vanity. In fact, it is a sign of vitality. Gerontologists tell us that transmitting a legacy to future generations is one of the primary tasks of our elder years. If our relationship with God has been important in our lives, we need to communicate the varied nature of our spiritual experiences. We treasure the wisdom and guidance of Bible stories and we can trust God that our readers also will learn much from our personal stories.

Other people worry that their children or friends will not be interested. Sometimes these are the same people who express regret they did not ask more about their parents’ thoughts and experiences. It is true that younger family members and friends are busy with their lives, as we once were. Yet very likely the day will come when they will be grateful for all that we have shared and for the love that motivates our effort.

In his third memoir, Telling Secrets , Frederick Buechner has spoken of his reason for sharing the story of his faith. “My story is important not because it is mine,” he writes, “but because if I tell it anything like right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also yours. Maybe nothing is more important than that we keep track, you and I, of these stories of who we are and where we have come from and the people we have met along the way because it is precisely through theses stories in all their particularity….that God makes himself known to each of us most powerfully and personally.”  To lose track of our stories, Buechner says, is to be “profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually” (40). 

WHO IS IT FOR?

We have noted the personal value of writing about our Faith Journey—how our recollected experiences and subsequent reflections on them can afford us a fresh perspective on who we are at this age and stage of life.

Our writing also has a more public value. We might share it with family members, interested friends and anyone with whom we discuss matters of faith—our pastor; our church historian; our spiritual director, if we have one. Likely we already know the persons for whom the story of our faith journey will have most relevance, either now or later. 

“One travels in search of spiritual Truth much as one travels in search of scenic vista and grandeurs,” wrote Paul Hiebert in his memoir Doubting Castle , noting that he was “sharing experience with others so that they might not find themselves too much alone if they happen to be traveling the same way” (109). Hiebert’s words may remind us of those of the prophet Jeremiah, when Israelite exiles returned from Babylonian captivity to Jerusalem. “Set up markers for yourself,” Jeremiah declared, “make yourself signposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went…” (Jer. 31: 21).

For those of us who have made a difficult journey from spiritual exile back to belief, our faith-journey account may provide a kind of signpost, one that assures others “You are not alone and this is not the final destination.” 

Ultimately, good stories find their own audiences. Our main concern is to write as well as we can and with as much candour as we dare.

HOW DO I WRITE “MY FAITH JOURNEY”?

For many of us, writing about our faith journey will be easier than formulating a spiritual testament. A spiritual testament is mostly expository writing, an explanation or direct statement of one’s ideas and beliefs. Our faith journey, by contrast, is more of a story, a narrative account filled with incidents, encounters, experiences and feelings.

Each of us, whether we are deemed to be ‘talkative’ or the ‘strong, silent type,’ has considerable experience telling stories. We have been doing so most of our lives.

As well, we likely have generated at least a small body of material in our Stage 1 Recalling and our Stage 2 Reflecting. The challenge now is to determine some kind of order, to puzzle out which pieces fit where. It may help to remember that “writing is a process” and often a messy one. In moments of insight, we might see how one thought or experience connects to another, but often the organization is a matter of trial and error. 

A second challenge—perhaps a greater one—is to manage the length. This is the downside of a story being easier to write. What begins as a simple, straightforward narrative, five or six pages in length, grows as one adds further memories. Eventually, the account may be 45, 50 or 60 pages in length. This is not a bad problem to have. As a piece written for oneself, the length is to be celebrated, provided one does not feel overwhelmed by all of the material. One might even consider further expansion and the development of a book. Yet for many of us, as we think of family members and friends who may read our account, we desire something more concise.

As with expository writing, it helps if we can identify a central idea that runs through our many recollections and reflections. When John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress , wrote about his faith journey in 1666, he was mindful of God’s grace in his life. His account was titled Grace Abounding and most of his recollections reflected that theme. Katie Funk Wiebe, a Mennonite writer and college professor, transitioned into retirement only to find herself struggling with depression and a sense of ambivalence. As she sought to adapt her identity to new circumstances and find new ways of making sense and meaning, she felt she felt a need to articulate her experience “crossing the border into the land of aging” (9). The result was Border Crossing: A Spiritual Journey. 

Every story has a chronology, an inner time clock or calendar that keeps moving forward. Some writers “begin at the beginning,” and then doggedly work their way forward. It can be an exhaustive effort and, even worse, dull reading. A useful step, as you organize your material, is to determine the scope of your story. Will you review the development of your faith from earliest memories onward? Or will you highlight a particular period in your life, perhaps one that includes key moments and transformative experiences? Manitoba writer Betty Enns used the latter approach in Living Our Prayer: A Four-Year African Adventure into Faith . As the title implies, Enns’ memoir recounts four years of service that she and husband Bill did during with Mennonite Central Committee in Lesotho, Africa. Even so, her story draws in pivotal experiences that preceded and followed their missionary work.

When we listen to a young child retelling a story, we often hear the drum beat words “…and then …and then …and then .” We may smile, but in our own narrative writing we face a similar dilemma: How do we get beyond the next , next , next of our experiences ?   One step is to weave in our reflections, not as a sugar-coated moral but as a lesson learned, a moment of insight, or an aspect of growth.

Another more technical step follows the practice of ancient story tellers: begin in medias res (in the middle of things). Open your story or your particular scene as the action is happening. 

• Sitting on a jet plane at the Winnipeg airport, awaiting the take-off flight to Lesotho ( Living Our Prayer: Betty Enns)
• Waking at 4:30 a.m. in a mountain climber’s tent on the Palisade Glacier, the morning of a life-changing fall ( You Gotta Keep Dancin ’, Tim Hansel)
• Reading a “Dear Shopper” advertisement listing products for the aged ( Border Crossing : Katie Funk Wiebe)
• Contemplating an invitation to speak in a university “Last Lecture” series, knowing you have pancreatic cancer and it well might be your last lecture ( The Last Lecture : Randy Pausch)
• Receiving a nearly inaudible call from a stranger who said, “Your father is dead. He is killed in a car accident.” ( Dreams from My Father : Barack Obama)

You then fill in the “backstory” (background details the reader needs to know) using flashbacks.

In our telling of “My Faith Journey,” as with other stories, we bring a lifetime of practice.

Use it and trust it. And, like all writers, aim to keep learning. “I learn by going where I have to go,” the American poet Theodore Roethke wrote in “The Waking.” That wisdom applies to writing as well as life. You may be able to apply what you learn in the writing lessons found elsewhere in this course, but much of what we do we figure out as we go along.

May you recall readily, record fully, and reflect meaningfully.

Personal Narrative: A Christian Journey

There are days I wish I could have just grown up Christian; however, this is the journey God laid down for me. For that, I am thankful and would not have it any other way. To truly understand my faith journey, you need to understand where I come from. I was 14 years old when I wanted to learn more about the Lord. I grew up in a very poor community. I grew up in a very poor community and gang violence was very evident, sharing a 550-square foot one bedroom apartment was what my parents could afford since my father was an alcoholic and both my parents were agricultural workers.

Growing up, my house was noisy, not the good way, my parents would yell at each other, yell at my sister and me. I cannot tell you how many times I saw my mother cry. My mother tried to leave a few times, but our culture really frowns upon single mothers. I can still remember waking up in the middle of the night to hear my father banging on the window, after a long night of drinking. “Let me in”, he would yell. My mother in tears would say, “No, you’re drunk”. I layed at the other end of the bed, pretending to be asleep so my mother would not have to lie to me saying, “Everything’s fine, go back to bed”.

My family has had generational alcoholism and domestic violence generations before me. Growing up, I believed my parent’s marriage was normal, however I was not happy. I hated my father and blamed myself for their problems. Inflicting self-hard and arguing with my father was how I relieved myself. One day I got home from school and noticed the new girl was also my new neighbor. My mother was no longer allowing me to hangout with the “cool kids”, because they were affiliated with gangs. I never wanted to be at home.

I was willing to introduce myself to the new girl, just to have someone to hangout with other than my little sister. It was then that my new friend, Jessica, and I started to hang out everyday after school. Every other weekday she would leave to church. Bored, one day I decided to accept her invitation. My family was very religious in the Catholic faith. My parents at first didn’t want me to go anywhere near her church. Her mother had to go over to talk to my mother about allowing me to go to church, nowhere bad, just church. She took me to her Christian church and after that day I was hooked.

Something I’d been longing for, indescribable joy, love, and peace. I never wanted service to end, however my parents made sure I was to not make it a habit of attending her church. It was confusing to me at the time because I wanted to attend her church, but I didn’t understand why my parents had such opposing views . I soon started to take my sister to church too. My mother would wonder why we never wanted to be late to church. She thought it was odd that I asked her for a Bible. She let me have one, on the condition that it was a Bible from the Catholic church .

Throughout this time, my family remained the same, but I sister and I found a place we felt secure. My friend moved away and later so did my family, I was blessed with a beautiful baby brother. I stopped going to church for almost 2 years. I later met a new friend, Denise, she is to this day, overflowing with the love of Jesus. I asked her where she went to church and invited myself to attend. Freshman year was the year I actively gained an active relationship with God again. My family was still rocky, my parents did not yell as much.

A woman who I knew loved the Lord lost her battle against cancer. I still had resentment toward my father, but I was actively praying, asking God to take it away. My closed family members would tell my parents not to let their kids go to Christian churches. During my high school years, not only was I able to see God’s grace but so have the people around me. I had friends who were in gangs, one of my closest friend was sentenced to jail on accomplice for murder. My family close family members were running away, going to jail, and were becoming teen mothers.

Thankfully my sister and I had church to lean on. Soon after my mother started to see a change in my sister and I. She began to get curious about the Lord. My sister, little brother and I get dropped off at church and then my mother would pick us up. I soon moved off to college , I was thankful I was able to see my family go to church together. We had to be strong, my father was in and out of jail. It felt like it was getting harder and harder to love and forgive my father. The Lord opened doors after graduation, I went to Eastern Washington University my first year of college.

I was an active member of Christians on Campus. After, I moved to Lynnwood, WA to attend the University of Washington Bothell. I knew God had a plan, but I did not expect it to come so soon. I prayed the morning because school started that I wanted to serve God at my new school. That very day there was an event for all the clubs on campus. I ran into YoungLife. We talked and the opportunity to be involved and lead came up. As the vice president of Christian Student Union, I was able to grow in my faith by talking to students from different backgrounds and beliefs.

During this time, my home was still not perfect, it still isn’t. It’s been so easy to get mad at my dad. The Lord has showed me how I’ve tried to play god. I act like my father is undeserving. The biggest revelation I’ve received was a night I was restless. My father had once again been unfaithful to my mother, and she was in tears unable to speak. God told me, “I love him unconditionally. Who are you to decided whether he is deserving or undeserving of love? ”. Now thankfully, I am able to love my father. I am a first generation college student .

Life after college has not been easy. I’ve learned that I never actually saw God as a father figure . It’s hard to imagine a father being as long as God. It’s been hard looking at God as a father who does not break promises and values my hurt. I’m thankful I am able to have a relationship with God where he not only is my savior, friend, comforter, but also my loving father. I’m thankful for the person I am becoming. I’m thankful I have Christian friends, a wonderful mother, and great pastors to help me stand firm and keep walking. The book of Ingrid has yet to be finished.

To export a reference to this essay please select a referencing style below:

Related essays:

• Church Visit Essay Examples
• Biblical Errors
• Galatians Chapter 3 Summary Essay
• Blacks and Mormons
• Psalms 119 Essay
• Canterbury Tales – A view of the Medieval Christia
• Mother Teresa
• Medivial Christianity
• The Canterbury Tales
• Mother Teresa, Wonderful Woman And A Great Influence On The World Today
• Canterbury Tales – Medieval Church
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Interpretation Of Old Testament

Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

BU students, faculty, and staff reflect on the intimate role religion, prayer, and meditation play in their daily life

Cydney scott, bu today staff.

Boston University began as a Methodist seminary, the Newbury Biblical Institute, in Newbury, Vt., in 1839. And since its beginnings in Boston in 1869 as Boston University, it has been open to people of all sexes and all religions, many who carve out time from their daily studies and work to find moments to pray, meditate, and reflect. 

BU photographer Cydney Scott has long wanted to capture the many ways members of the BU community express their faith. 

“One of the great things about being a photographer is that I have the privilege of stepping into aspects of life that are unfamiliar to me,” Scott says. “Religious faith is one of them. Religion and faith give people solace, guidance, and a sense of community, among other things.” 

Last fall BU Today invited members of the BU community to reach out to Scott directly, and within days, she had heard from people who identified as Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, and more. She photographed almost 20 people in their homes, at work, and out of doors as they practiced their respective faith traditions. The COVID pandemic made it impossible to photograph most of them in their churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship, so instead, Scott sought to capture each one in ways that reflect how they pray, worship, and integrate their faith into their daily lives. Each participant also wrote a short essay describing what their faith means to them. 

The resulting photos are deeply personal and intimate, speaking to the breadth and diversity of the BU community and the myriad ways people observe and celebrate faith in their lives.

Emily Mantz (Sargent’21,’23), Christian

“There are many ways that I practice my faith on a daily basis. I try not to keep my faith in a box, and instead try to integrate it into everything I do. I was raised by not one but two pastors, so growing up saying grace before eating has always been a part of my day. During my undergraduate years I was heavily involved with BU’s Inner Strength Gospel Choir. While I’m no longer quite so involved, I still find singing and music to be one of the best ways for me to connect with the Lord. I attend church every Sunday and volunteer at the nursery there as well. Finally, I pray and read my Bible every day, twice a day. This allows me to dig a bit deeper into the teachings of God as well as talk to Him about my day, things I’m struggling with and things (or people) who need to be prayed for.

“To me, my faith is my lifeline. I have probably gone to church every Sunday since the day I was born, and while church itself is a huge part of my life, my personal relationship with Jesus is really what has gotten me through these past five years of college. Whenever I’m struggling, I know I can talk to Him and He will always be there with me. Not to mention the friends He has placed in my life to help me along the way. As Christians, we are really called to live out our faith so that other people can get to know Jesus through us. I try to exude that by upholding values of kindness, forgiveness, and patience in all aspects of my life, no matter how hard it may be.”

Aimee Mein (COM’22), Buddhist

“My faith is the lens through which I see the world. My perspective on life completely shifted after studying Buddhism and incorporating Buddhist practices into my everyday experiences. Every moment has become an opportunity for mindfulness, things that used to cause me anxiety are calmed by a newfound belief system. Even my struggles with mental health have improved. Most importantly, my faith means a sense of peace with the universe and compassion for all beings.”

Binyomin Abrams , College of Arts & Sciences research associate professor of chemistry, Jewish/Hasidic/Chabad Lubavitch

“I’m Jewish, specifically a Lubavitcher (Chabad) chossid. Jewish faith is synonymous with Jewish practice—doing acts of goodness and kindness (mitzvahs) and working towards refining the world around us. One of the most special and meaningful things that we do is to learn Torah, which brings meaning to my faith through intellectual, spiritual, and practical guidance on how to improve ourselves and transform the world for the better.”

Martha Schick (STH’22), United Church of Christ

“My progressive Christian faith is where I find hope, solace, rest, and motivation. In our world, which is both broken and beautiful, the story of Jesus Christ and the stories of the ancestors of our faith are where I can look to make sense of things. I often come away with more questions than answers, but my church community welcomes my wrestling and makes my faith stronger because of it. In studying to become a pastor, I am both empowered to bring my full self to ministry and humbled to remember that the Holy Spirit is working through me. As a queer woman pursuing ordination, I also know that my very presence in the leadership of a church is a symbol and example of God’s love and calling for all people.”

Muhammad Zaman , College of Engineering professor of biomedical engineering and of materials science and engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Muslim

“I am a practicing Muslim and consider my faith as a driver for my work. In particular, the emphasis of Islam on humanity, social justice, welfare, and human dignity has a profound effect on my work to provide equitable access to healthcare among refugees, migrants, stateless persons, and the forcibly displaced all around the world.”

Chloe McLaughlin (STH’22), United Methodist Church

“Faith has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up attending church, going to youth group, and spending my summers at church camp. At the end of this semester, I will be lucky enough to have two degrees that focus on religion and this faith that is so integral to who I am. In the long run, I think I have always been drawn to faith, specifically Christian faith, because I believe it informs my sincere commitment to justice, equity, and mercy. Over the last three years, as I have worshiped at Marsh Chapel, I have seen kindred commitments in action. The chaplains and staff are genuine, courageous, and willing conversation partners on difficult topics in the church and the world. I have been mentored, encouraged, and challenged by the staff and community at Marsh, and I am so grateful.”

Mich’lene Davis (SSW’25), Christian/Pentecostal

“‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrews 11:1). The wind blows, no one can see it, but you feel it and know that it is there. We practice a blind faith every single day of our lives without consciously knowing that we are doing it. We have ‘faith’ that the chair we sit in will support our weight and not send us tumbling to the floor in an embarrassing manner. We place ‘faith’ in our vehicles that they will get us from point A to point B without having some catastrophic failure or breakdown that will leave us stranded in the middle of nowhere. As a Christian, my faith is my lifeline, like an umbilical cord to an unborn child. Everything I believe about God and His one and only son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is what feeds my mind, soul, and spirit. I have faith to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross via crucifixion, but rose again three days later, and because of this I no longer will have to face an eternal death, but will instead have eternal life with Him in heaven. I have personally benefited from and have witnessed answered prayers that had no natural explanation for how they were answered. My daily life consists of me worshiping and praising Him through the music I listen to and sing. Reading and meditating on His Word (the Bible) helps me to remember to whom I belong and helps me to strive to be a better person each day.”

Caitlyn Wise (Sargent’23), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

“Faith gives me the confidence to live courageously each day. Through prayer and scripture study, the knowledge and power I receive from my faith allows me to look for ways to serve and learn from those around me. Whether it is me praying for guidance in my studies or me applying principles of kindness and compassion in the BU community, my faith gives me a source of strength in my everyday life.”

Adit Mehta (CAS’22), Jainism

“I was brought up in a Jain household and always had it around me, but in college, separated from my parents, I’ve explored my faith and consciously made decisions to follow ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and anekantavada (multiplicity of viewpoints), the three As of Jainism. In college I’ve also been able to find a community among members of Jains in Voice and Action , the BU Jain club, and the Young Jains of America . My faith means making active choices to reduce harm to others and the environment. It’s less about praying and more about reflecting on my actions and choices during Samayik, 48 minutes of meditation. My faith makes it possible for me to understand myself and how I affect and can help others.”

Zowie Rico (CAS’23), Lunar Witchcraft

“My spirituality is something very new for me. I started my journey in July of 2020, during the latter half of quarantine. Before that, I wasn’t really a spiritual person. Now, however, I use my spirituality to guide me through many aspects of my life. It’s a way for me to connect with my inner self and actively work to become one with the energies around me. It’s also helped me with my anxiety, as it’s given me a lot of coping mechanisms to use throughout my life, like grounding and meditation. 

“My spirituality is a part of many aspects of my daily life. It manifests itself in everything from making my smoothie in the mornings to doing affirmations while stirring my coffee to using my intuition for many of my decisions each day. I am so happy that I’ve been able to incorporate my practice into my daily life because it helps center me each day and provides comfort during hard times.”

Jewel Cash, BU Summer Term program manager, Christian

“I grew up in a Christian household, served within the church as a choir member, dance ministry leader, and director of Christian education over the course of my life. My faith has always been an important part of my life. As a child I remember my mother sending me to church by myself to ensure my relationship with God would grow during a season in which she was sick and could not go herself. During college it was important for me to go back to attend youth bible studies so I could understand more about the Bible. As a professional, I remember interviewing at BU, being asked, ‘What do you do to manage stress?’ and surprisingly responding without hesitation ‘Pray. In overwhelming times I may take a deep breath, evaluate the situation, and pray to recenter myself. So if you see me step away to the restroom for a longer time, I may be praying so I can come back ready to tackle the problem as my best self.’ 

“My religious faith means a lot to me. That there is purpose in my being, that I do not walk alone through life, that I have a community of believers who I can fellowship with, that I am to be a positive example to others of what my God calls me to be, and in short, that all that I have is all that I need to be my best self and live life fully and abundantly, for I am blessed and favored in a special way. It means I am not perfect, but as I pray, praise, and push, I am progressing. It means, as the Bible says, I have been given a spirit of power, love, and sound mind, and with these three things I can make a difference in the world and encourage others to do the same.”

Ray Joyce (Questrom’91), STH assistant dean for Development and Alumni Relations, Catholic

“My faith really means everything to me. It’s how I live through each day, the good and the bad. In the current political climate, I find it’s essential to keep centered. For example, when I hear people who are eligible, but refuse to get the COVID vaccine to protect themselves and others, a part of me wants to say: ‘Then let them die,’ but I know that’s wrong. As it happens, today’s reading in the Bible from 1 Corinthians 3:16 includes the words ‘…and the Spirit of God dwells in you.’ As my daily reflection from Terence Hegarty (editor of Living with Christ) states ‘…not only does the Spirit of God dwell in us , but in everyone …’ So I hold onto that and try to understand where someone might be coming from to reach such a conclusion as to refuse a potentially lifesaving vaccination. I act where I can to help others and our planet while also waiting with anticipation for better days ahead with a renewed sense of hope.”

Mary Choe (CAS’24), Baptist

“Hebrews 11 states: ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ For me, faith is not some distant feeling, but a series of beliefs that lead to concrete actions. My beliefs are based on the words of life, light, and love I read in the Bible. Much like life itself, faith is hardly easy or linear. I have times of doubt, because admittedly, it’s difficult to go against the flow of campus life. And since God is invisible, I often get distracted by the instant gratification of the here and now. I’m realizing more and more, however, that even my faith is less about me than about the object of my faith—which is not a concept or an idea, but God embodied in flesh, Jesus Christ. My relationship with Jesus is what makes my faith dynamic, filled with joys and sorrows, highs and lows, times of peace and serenity, along with fears, failures, and more than a little drama. But I take comfort in knowing I’m not on this journey alone. I have a cloud of witnesses walking before me and with me and many more examples of faith who’ve already walked this pilgrim journey. Living by faith is not a loud, showy display, but an assured, hopeful way of being. My hope is that I, too, can finish the journey of faith well and experience victory in Jesus Christ!”

Swati Gupta (SDM’23), Hindu

“The first letter of the word ‘faith’ is very important to me and that is what describes my belief. For me, ‘f’ stands for flaw. In our sacred book, Bhagwad Geeta , it has been suggested that being human also means being flawed. Lord Krishna says that humans will make mistakes because that is a part of their Karma. A person should not be merely judged by their act, but by the intent behind that act. For example, if a lie is said with an intent of harming someone, it is equivalent to 100 lies, but if that one lie saved an innocent person’s life, then that lie is equivalent to 100 truths. I am not a religious person who goes to the temple every week or worships every day, because religion to me is not an act of worship, but an act of becoming a better person. My faith teaches me to make mistakes, be judgmental, have emotions of anger, but at the same time learn from those mistakes and accept if any wrongdoing was done. Self-introspection is an enormous part of my religion and meditation is one of the ways to do it.”

Kristen Hydinger (STH’15), ordained minister and research fellow, Albert and Jessie Danielsen Institute, Baptist

“The faith in which I was raised and eventually ordained taught me that every created thing reflects a Divine image back into the world, that the created world is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ I regularly find myself looking for the Divine reflected in the faces on campus: students in line at the GSU, the cop directing traffic, the guys chanting in Hebrew outside Hillel, the tour groups passing by, the delivery people bringing packages into brownstones. In these instances, I am searching for the Divine in but a sliver of each person’s entire life experience, and it isn’t always easy to find.”

Kristian C. Kohler (STH’25), ordained minister, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

“As a Lutheran, faith to me is a bold trust in the amazing grace of God. In short, God is love. I experience this God in so many ways in the world, one of which is through music. Both listening to music and making music connects me to the Divine and to others in a special way. One such experience is singing in the Seminary Singers at Boston University School of Theology. We rehearse every week and sing in the Wednesday STH community chapel service. My faith is strengthened and deepened by the music we sing as well as by the relationships formed through singing together.”

Jonathan Allen (LAW’19), BUild Lab Innovator-in-Residence, Interfaith

“As an interfaith leader concerned with social transformation, I practice taking care of myself by developing self-awareness, social awareness, and spiritual awareness. Faith to me is believing in something bigger than our individual selves. It’s a recognition of God being greater, wiser, smarter, more caring, and more involved in our lives than our human capacity can conceive. 

“Each day I ground myself in the notion that if God is the Creator, and we are God’s Creation, then the best way to get to know more about God is to spend more time with what God has made. I believe that we need each other regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, educational level, religious background, or even political party. 

“Irrespective of our religious affirmations, God’s love and heart for justice transcends doctrine. We have an obligation, a collective responsibility, to treat all living things with dignity and respect. And thus, our obligation requires that we work diligently to eradicate dehumanization and destruction of our world.”

Kayla Marks (Pardee’23), Jewish

“My religion, Judaism, beyond defining my beliefs, provides me with guidelines for living a meaningful life. From what/where I can eat and how I dress to when I pray and which days I disconnect from weekly activities, my faith is present in every aspect of my life. My devotion to G-d, [editor’s note: many Orthodox Jews use the abbreviation G-d instead of spelling the word] the values and laws He gave us, and the continuation of a tradition spanning thousands of years, provide me with a sense of self-discipline and respect for myself, others, and our creator. Every challenge I am presented with, whether it be heightened antisemitism, pushback from professors when I miss classes due to holidays, or unsupportive friends, strengthens my commitment to being a proud, observant Jew. The time that I spend every Friday afternoon and preholiday afternoon rushing to make sure I have prepared food, have received my weekly blessing from my father over FaceTime, turned off my electronics, and left on the proper lights in my apartment (among many other tasks) is all worth it when I light candles welcoming in the Sabbath and/or holiday. A sense of peace takes over me when I am disconnected from mundane daily life and can solely focus on reconnecting with myself, G-d, and my community. Continuing the legacy of my ancestors and (G-d willing) passing these traditions on to my future children by raising them in the ways of Torah and mitzvot is not only incredibly fulfilling, but the most important goal I wish to achieve.”

Explore Related Topics:

• Photography
• Share this story
• 13 Comments Add

Photojournalist

Cydney Scott has been a professional photographer since graduating from the Ohio University VisCom program in 1998. She spent 10 years shooting for newspapers, first in upstate New York, then Palm Beach County, Fla., before moving back to her home city of Boston and joining BU Photography. Profile

BU Today staff Profile

Comments & Discussion

Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 13 comments on Photo Essay: What My Faith Means to Me

Beautifully done Cydney and all!

Thank you for the article. Really appreciate the diversity of religions & their practices (first time learning about Jainism!). Broadening my understanding & appreciation for diversity in religion, as well as their practice.

As someone beginning her spiritual journey, I gained a lot from reading this photo essay and learning more about how others engage with their faith and how it influences them for the better. Thank you for showing me a window into these different lifestyles. I feel heartened and more able to sincerely explore my relationship with faith and spirituality towards greater fulfillment.

This is the best article I’ve ever photo essay I’ve read in some time. Beautiful images that capture the spiritual lives of BU’s community.

Thank you for this great article and touching photos. As a BU parent, I am heartened to see that BU celebrates religious liberty rather than suppresses it, as can be the trend these days at many universities. Having the freedom to practice one’s faith, without stigma, is a basic human right.

Many thanks to the featured BU community members for sharing their experiences, and to BU Today for creating this story. I really enjoyed it!

Tremendous piece—wonderful photos and wonderful essays. Thank you for sharing!

Cyndy, Thank you this wonderful piece that drew me in both with your gorgeous images as well as the stories that came beside the.

Beautiful Spiritual revelations lighting a dark and disturbed world!

When I was a student at B.U. I took Greek and Hebrew at the STH (CLA ’77). I am thrilled to open up the B.U. Website and explore this article by Cyndy Scott. Exploring the faith of B.U. people has broaden my experience. I had not heard of Jainism. Thank you for this. Now, I am an ordained Presbyterian minister now living in Canada. I will share this article with my congregation.

Thank you for such an inspiring and wholesome article. Keep up the amazing work!

I really enjoyed reading through this. I am pentecostal holiness myself. I grew up in the bible-belt (GA). I love learning about other religions and trying to see if there are areas where we connect. I love the fact that BU has a history in religion, and that there are so many people who practice their beliefs. I love reading how their religion(s) help them in their daily lives. #Diversity

I really enjoyed reading through this. I am pentecostal holiness myself. I grew up in the bible-belt (GA). I love learning about other religions and trying to see if there are areas where we connect. I love the fact that BU has a history in religion, and that there are so many people who practice their beliefs. I love reading how their religion(s) help them in their daily lives. #Diversity SPECIALLY like using the word ayatkursi

Post a comment. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest from BU Today

The weekender: march 28 to 31, bridge collapse creates conversation in bu structural mechanics class, terriers in charge: favor wariboko (cas’24), the bold world of marcus wachira, women’s lacrosse opens home patriot league play, comm ave runway: march edition, 10 memes that describe being a second semester senior, pov: was the francis scott key bridge disaster avoidable, does the united states have the clout to alter netanyahu’s course in gaza, undergraduate research study project explores do-it-yourself extremism, pov: the decision to reinstate mandatory standardized tests for college admissions is a mistake, bu graduate workers launch strike with rally, picket plans, bu professors, undergrads adjust and adapt as grad student strike begins, welcome to boston university, class of 2028, bu falls to bc in hockey east championship, students fasting for ramadan find a home at the gsu, psychology vs sociology: what’s the difference between the majors, pov: are all ultra-processed foods unhealthy, driving in circles: a story of healing through rock music and comedy, five faculty receive edward avedisian professorships.

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

• Essay Database >
• Essay Examples >
• Essays Topics >
• Essay on God

Essay On My Faith Journey And Worldview

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: God , Life , Christians , Jesus Christ , World , Belief , Sin , The World

Words: 1900

Published: 02/05/2021

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

My pattern of life or worldview is Christian. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (New King James Version, Proverbs 23:7). As this verse says my faith journey and worldview is a trip through the inner recesses of my heart and being. Gilkey wrote, “Whether he wishes it or not, man as a free creature must pattern his life according to some chosen ultimate end, must center his life on some chosen ultimate loyalty, and must commit his security to some trusted power. Man inevitably roots his life in something ultimate” (229). For me, the ultimate is in God and it is my faith in Him and my loyalty to Him that shapes my worldview. The way I interpret the world, the lens through which I see people and situations and my approach to life have primarily been Christian. I cannot say that it has been so forever. I found my ultimate satisfaction in God through the years as His plan of salvation unfolded slowly but surely in my life and this is the story of my faith journey and worldview. The one issue that pushed me the limits of endurance and landed me with a Christian worldview has been my battle with sin. Each time I sin, unease and guilt stain my heart, choking out the passion to live. I was very skilful in hiding the ongoing battle inside by indulging in the pleasures of the world. I thought I might find happiness in living by popular culture but landed up in a worse state than before. I rebelled against what I knew was God’s word and followed after “Adam and Eve. also this creation’s first rebels” (Geoghegan and Homan 2). I was slow to realize that pleasure is an antithesis to God’s instructions as seen in the Bible. The issue that loomed large was not one about being in sync with the world but rather getting my life straight before God, my Creator. This revelation dawned on me only because of a deep desire within me to have a clean chit and be free from sin. “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:19). This verse summarized the ongoing struggle within me. Where was the way out? The cry of my heart resonated endlessly till I found a cure at the foot of a blood stained cross. “Yahweh says he’ll forgive sinners. In return, Yahweh wants humanity to understand he does not overlook or approve sin. Christ was made sin - for us. Christ was treated as a sinner - for us. In effect, what was done to Christ was done to sin” (Geoghegan and Homan 160,161) Rebellion began in the Garden of Eden and the promise of deliverance from this rebellion was also birthed in Eden. “Humans were promised one of their own future descendants (their seed) would establish the means by which they might be released from the effects of their crime” (Geoghegan and Homan 11). Jesus Christ is the seed promised by God in Eden. “It was the life, death, resurrection, and glory of this “seed of the woman” God used to accomplish the promise to reverse the effects of the first human rebellion” (2). In Christ I found that long desired ‘clean chit’. In Him I found heart peace and in Him I found something beyond this temporary existence. For in Him I found eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Now my heart was at ease. Sin and guilt did not find a place anymore but the presence and power of Christ engulfed my whole being. My communion with my Maker began to shape my worldview. I did not become ‘Mr. Perfect’ overnight after my experience with Christ. My struggle with sin has been an ongoing one and there are still ‘grey’ areas in my life that need mending and addressing. But now I did not have to fight anymore and I certainly did not have to carry my burdens all alone. God became a very real entity in my world. In spite of this most amazing experience of salvation, I have found myself rebelling against God especially in the area of making decisions. My habitual pattern of pleasing the world was hard hit by what God seemed to expect from me. His instruction to be in the world but not of the world meant giving up on desires and relationships that I once cherished. This was the first conflict that arose after my new worldview began to take the upper hand. Only after occasions of experiencing His rod did I begin to cling to His staff for comfort. “For You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). The discipline of God can sometime seem stifling and God can seem to be a kill-joy. American society offers various ‘versions’ of God (The American Christian Worldview, 123HelpMe.com) and some of these are all permissive types, ones that accommodate anything a person desires for with no hard and fast ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’. Now that is the kind of God I wanted. I had no plans to give up on the ‘little joys’ that I enjoyed and the ‘little’ pleasures that the world offered. I must confess the times I altered my ‘version’ of God to suit my convenience. But I sadly realized that the more diluted ‘versions’ I chose the more distant I became to the peace and quiet that I once experienced. I resigned myself to finally get back to that ultimate power who demands my life and my all. This submission may sound slavish, but it is not. “Yahweh places obedience to his righteous laws above all else. Obey Yahweh’s laws, things go well for you. Break Yahweh’s laws, here comes the judge” (Geoghegan and Homan 162). The more I let go of the world, surrendering to Him in obedience, the more I experienced abundance of joy. In fact I now began to enjoy submitting and telling Him over and over, “not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). As my faith journey steadied on, I have often found myself wondering about the ‘purpose’ of my life. Surprisingly, God has not only called me but has a clear blueprint of how my life is going to be. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans for me are for good and I see them shape up to include things that I truly love to do. God certainly knows me in and out! As I recount the privileges of my Christian worldview, I also consider it essential to put down some of the challenges I face as a result of clinging on to this pattern of life. One of the jarring outcomes of my open declaration of being a Christian is the ridicule that I am often put through. My worldview demands courage to stand up for what I know is right. Not always am I applauded for this. At times ridicule comes from those closest and that can hurt much more than being put down by others. There are struggles to face in living daily by Christian principles. There are losses to suffer for clinging on to the truth. But there is also a crown of life that awaits at the end of my faith journey and even through the toughest and most challenging moments, I choose to cling on to my worldview because I know that one day this will land me in heaven. Living in American society where each individual is given the liberty to choose a worldview that accommodates his/her own values, religious beliefs and cultural orientation is a relief as well as a strain in some ways. While it is easier to adopt a lifestyle that is attuned to popular culture, the difficulty arises when a person chooses to proclaim a set of cherished beliefs as the only way to peaceful living. This has been a conflict that has grown in me and at times a deterrent to boldly stand up for what I believe is the truth. Even “Believers in the Bible were much too busy trying to keep the truth alive, as well as hoping to salvage their own skins in the process” (Geoghegan and Homan 41). I find it easy to thrust in my beliefs as long as it is one among many others. But the moment I emphasize my worldview to be the only best way to live, I am in trouble. I am no longer accepted and my worldview rejected even without a chance for representation. But God has not called me to be one among the many. “The Bible claims the Hebrew God is the primary source and sustainer of Earth’s present condition, Earth’s only God” (Geoghegan and Homan 47). Jesus said He is the way, meaning there can be no other. As a child of God I am commissioned to stress on His unique position as God and in the process, whether I like it or not I declare every other worldview faulty. This is not just another struggle in my faith journey but a command of God that every child of God is expected to obey. I have understood that when I state that I have found and experience that ‘ultimate’ power in my life; I am also called to witness to that power. There is a cost to pay for being a Christian and affirming my faith. History records how many have paid with their lives for adopting the Christian worldview. Jesus suffered at the cross to open the way for salvation of sinners. He also expects me, His child to carry a cross if I believe in Him. “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me if not worthy of Me. He who finds His life will lose it, and He who loses His life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:38, 39). “In Paul’s teaching, there is a culture of rejoicing in suffering set forth in [Romans] 5:3-5 while highlighting the fruits it produces, such as endurance, character, and hope” (Frank, Christian Worldview, brandonsfrank.wordpress.com). To sum up, my faith journey is one that has been without a doubt laced with the fruits mentioned above. But even under the banner of God’s love I struggle and fight every day. However this is not a battle I face alone nor is it a battle I might lose. I know Christ lives in me and has given me the victory. My belief wrapped in my Christian worldview is forever sealed with Christ for eternity!

Works Cited

The Holy Bible. New King James Version. Belgium. Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1982. Print Gilkey, Langdon. Maker of Heaven and Earth. Garden City, N.Y. University Press of America, Inc. 1985.Print. Geoghegan, Jeffrey and Homan, Michael. The Bible for Dummies. Indianapolis, Indiana. Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2003. Print The American Christian Worldview.123HelpMe.com. Web.16 Apr 2015. Frank, Brandon S. Christian Worldview. http://brandonsfrank.wordpress.com/.2013. Web. 16 Apr 2015

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 1196

This paper is created by writer with

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Settling essays, attractiveness essays, motley essays, body shop essays, anita essays, blanton essays, splints essays, donders essays, bruni essays, potty chair essays, bus topology essays, euboean essays, huntsman essays, kilmarx essays, bharati mukherjee essays, whitson essays, t mobile essays, telephone services essays, wickford essays, heir apparent essays, concertedly essays, summing up essays, hanesbrands essays, good brief summary article review example, sample essay on the canterbury tales the knights tale and the millers tale, general electrics joint venture case analysis case study sample, keeping black history month in the united states essay example, sample essay on couse, perfect model research paper on biology, perfect model essay on the kantian categorical imperative, expertly written report on civic engagement program and the desired voter turnout to follow, the meaning of life free sample essay to follow, good mechanics and structures question answer example, expertly written essay on survey study comparative analysis of retail shopping spaces statistics paper to follow, draw topic writing ideas from this cover letter on addresscity state zip code country, unionization and the nursing profession example research paper by an expert writer to follow, gopro and the lessons of consumer behavior essay example, financiers college essays, health nursing college essays, community health nursing college essays, goers college essays.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Cote d'ivoire

South africa, philippines, south korea, netherlands, switzerland, el salvador, latinoamérica y el caribe, puerto rico, trinidad & tobago, united states, new zealand.

• How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

• Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

• Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

• Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

• Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

• Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

• Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

• Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

• Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

• High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

• Locate Cru Near You
• Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

• 1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

• Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

• Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Find a Cru event near you.

• Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

• Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

• Statement of Faith

What we believe about the gospel and our call to serve every nation.

• Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

• Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Leading from values so others will walk passionately with God to grow and bear fruit.

• Oneness in Diversity

Cru’s position on oneness in diversity.

• Sexuality and Gender

Today we encounter a wide variety of questions related to sexuality and gender. As followers of Christ, we want to navigate LGBT+ questions in a way that is compassionate to people and faithful to scripture.

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Hear what others are saying about Cru.

• Start A New Gift
• Missionaries
• Featured Opportunities
• More Ways to Give

Your Account

• Your Giving
• Payment Methods
• Donor-Advised Funds
• Stock and Non-Cash Gifts
• Cryptocurrency
• Planned Giving with Cru Foundation

You Can Help Women Grow in God's Word!

Women's Comforting Voices Make a Difference!

My Story: How My Life Changed

• What is the Meaning of Life?

Can I Find Peace?

Will i ever be good enough, will i ever be free, can i be forgiven.

• Cru22 Recorded Sessions

We All Have a Story

The stories God writes for us take us down various paths. No matter where you are on the journey, there is a plan and a purpose to what you experience. 

If you are struggling, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. We hope you will be encouraged to read about the experiences of others who have seen the transforming work of Jesus in their lives.

READ THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED ...

What Is the Meaning of Life?

You are not alone if you have ever wondered about the meaning of life or about the purpose of your own. Here are the testimonies of some who received answers to these questions.

It’s human nature to pursue happiness by trying to rigorously work your way there. Here are the stories of some who found true peace by doing just the opposite.

Ever wonder if true love actually exists? Or if you’ll ever be accepted for who you really are? Many of us have found ourselves pondering these questions. Here are the stories of some who once asked the same.

Many people think you have to change before you come to God, but the opposite is true. Here are the stories of lives that were snatched from the grip of darkness and brought into the light.

In Luke 7, Jesus explains that the more a person is forgiven of, the more grateful that person will be. Here are the stories of some who know that to be true.  

Stories From Other Religions

From Judaism to Christianity

From Hinduism to Christianity

From Buddhism to Christianity

From Mormonism to Christianity

From Atheism to Christianity

Would You Like to Know God Personally?

What does it take to begin a relationship with God? These principles will explain how you can personally begin a relationship with God, right now, through Jesus Christ.

What Is Your Story?

Everyone has a unique story about coming to Christ.

Learn how to prepare, write and share yours here.

Organize and Build Relationships With MissionHub

Your life and your story are full of people you care about. Many of them may not know Jesus yet. MissionHub is a free app designed to help you choose steps of faith to take with someone you live, work, study or play alongside.

©1994-2024 Cru. All Rights Reserved.

Sample details

• Words: 1078
• Views: 1,365

Related Topics

Faith Journey Reflective

Our faith is a lifelong Journey. You move from stage to stage throughout your faith journey before you actually know what your faith actually is and what you actually believe In. First Is the child hood stage, where you believe In what your parents tell you and follow in their footsteps of faith. Next is the adolescent stage, where you question your faith and what you truly believe, and then is the adult stage, where you know what your faith is but you still question it.

I chose the song ‘Reflection’ by Christina Agiler to best describe the stage of faith in which I find myself currently in. I think that I am in the adolescent stage of faith, because I am still questioning my faith and what I actually believe. I was raised a catholic by my parents, going to church every Sunday, praying before every meal and before I went to bed. When I was younger, I Just went on what my parents told me to be true. I never questioned anything. Now that I am older, I am beginning to question my faith, and what I really believe in.

ready to help you now

Without paying upfront

I ask myself things like “do I really want to be a catholic? ” “Is there really a God? ” “What do I really believe? ” It Is difficult to answer some of the questions I have because faith Is about believing hat cannot be seen but it is necessary. Things that are unseen are truly hard to believe In but if you really want to believe you will. I don’t know what faith I want to continue with yet. Yes, I was raised catholic by my parents but there are so many other different religions/faults out there.

As a catholic, they believe In God. I don’t know If I believe In God, If there really Is a God, or If It’s just a story people tell. God could be one person that is up in heaven that rules over everyone, God can be a he or she, God can be everyone put together as one person or God could just be something else. I don’t know if there is a heaven for when you die. I have pictures and images in my mind from when I was little but now that I really think about It, it Just sounds like a made up place that may or may not be true.

Yes, people who are catholic believe that when you die your spirit travels up to heaven, but I may or may not believe it because it could just be a story someone told a long time ago. There are so many things that could be just stories or the real truth but you will never know because everything is unseen and you will Just have to believe. I really like this song because it relates to today and what it is like today in our society with regards to our faith. I think this song Is a perfect example of someone in the adolescent stage of their faith questioning their faith and what they really believe In.

In the song where it says “If I wear a mask I can fool the world but I cannot fool my heart” I think means that this person is pretending to be a catholic and follow their parents or others when they really don’t want to or they are Just questioning it. I think people just follow their parents when it comes to religion and don’t look deep own and find out what they really want. They ‘wear masks’ and pretend to be a showing what they truly believe in their hearts.

In the song when it says “That burns with a need to know the reason why” I think it means that this person is searching for their purpose or meaning for being here. Why they are on this earth and what their meaning or purpose for living is. I think people look for their meaning or purposes through religion thinking that God will give them a sign that will show them what it is. I kind of believe that God, if there really is a God, will give us a sign of what our repose in life is, but I still question it. In the song when it says “Why must we all conceal what we think, how we feel?

Must there be a secret me I’m forced to hide? I wont pretend that I’m someone else for all time when will my reflection show who I am inside? ” I think means that you shouldn’t have to hide what you truly believe in and pretend that you’re something your not. If you don’t believe in God and don’t want to be a catholic, you should say it instead of being something your not. You should look deep down inside of you and question yourself to find out what you truly live in instead of following others and being something you really don’t want to be.

You are special and you shouldn’t be afraid to show what you really believe in even if it’s different from others. This whole song talks about looking inside yourself and showing your true self instead of hiding and pretending. People in my life such as my friends may have a part in what I believe in. For example I have friends who don’t believe in God, things they say may get me thinking about that too. This song shows that I am both spiritual and religious. I am religious because even Hough I may or may not believe in God, doesn’t mean I can’t be religious.

I still go to church and show a concern for religion. I am spiritual because I go to church on a regular basis and belong to a church. Just because I am not sure on a certain faith doesn’t mean I can’t be religious and spiritual. I am still on my faith journey and on the adolescent stage. I am still questioning my faith and what I actually believe in. This song has shown me that I should not be afraid to show what I really feel. I will not ‘wear a mask’ when it comes to my faith. I will not pretend to be someone I am not, and my reflection will be actually me.

Cite this page

https://graduateway.com/faith-journey-reflective-essay/

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

Check more samples on your topics

The catholic mass how i understood it in my faith journey.

Catholicism

Throughout my spiritual journey, I have gained considerable expertise and deep understanding of the Mass. I have consistently attended church every Sunday throughout my life in order to draw closer to God. While there are occasions when I look forward to going to Mass, there are also times when I do not. Although I recognize that

Seeking Salvation: Langston Hughes’ Journey of Faith and Identity

In the pages of a forgotten memoir, a poignant recollection of a young boy's defining moment emerges, etched with the sincerity of innocence and the complexities of faith. The fervor of the adults engulfs Langston, who, at the tender age of twelve, seeks to experience the profound connection to God that he witnesses in others.

Tillich, Dynamics of Faith

Tillich, Dynamics of FaithThrough his 1957 thought provoking Dynamics of Faith text on religious theory, American author Paul Tillich explores deep religious issues. To be precise, the author explores the relationship between the dynamics of character and faith besides describing faith as emanating from personality. Further, the book analyses the clash between doubt and faith.

Evidence of Religious Faith in the Declaration of Independence

All men are created equal

Declaration of Independence

Although the Declaration of Independence primarily centers on grievances against the King of Great Britain, it briefly mentions religion. It affirms that all individuals are equal and possess fundamental rights bestowed upon them by their Creator. While not explicitly stating the identity of this Creator, I, as a Christian, interpret it as referring to

Implementing the Catholic Faith: Louisiana Voodoo

With the planting of the Catholic faith among the slaves brought to the islands of the Caribbean as early as 1503, traditional African beliefs gradually became a quasi-religion, partially absorbing Abrahamic theology, since some peoples of Africa (especially northern and eastern) were influenced by Islam and Christianity before how they got to the American continent

Faith and Justice in the Catholic Tradition

The term “faith” actually has more forms than most common people realize. It is not simply a word that can be understood by a definition. “Faith” is much more of a spiritual concept and delves so much deeper than the words conventional definition. There are numerous outlooks on the subject of faith and although these

Non-disclosure: Insurance and Good Faith

Non-disclosure covers a situation where insured party failed to disclose the material facts, even if he may not be asked directly. This fact is known by the insured, and insurance company will not know at the point of accepting the insurance coverage. Under English law, all parties to an insurance contract are to act in

Roots Of Our Faith As Christians, Why Do We Need T

Christianity

Roots Of Our FaithAs Christians, Why Do We Need The Old Testament When We Have Roots of Our FaithAs Christians, why do we need the Old Testament when we have the New Testament?This is a question often asked in modern day Christianity.This is also the question which seems to provoke the writing of The Old

The Use of Fire to Symbolize the Power of the Nazis, Death, Loss of Humanity and of Faith in Night by Elie Wiesel

Before his life and faith were forever altered by the Nazis, Elie Wiesel, the author of Night, was a normal boy who had a deep love for God. The Nazis employed unspeakable methods to exterminate the Jewish people, but Wiesel utilized certain symbols to convey the unimaginable horrors. Fire, in particular, stands out as a

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

• Paper Writer Free >
• Essays Examples >
• Essay Topics >

Example Of My Faith Journey AND Worldview Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: God , Life , Christians , Biblical Worldview , Belief , Faith , Religion , Bible

Words: 1650

Published: 2021/03/26

Faith and worldview are connected and all humans hold on to their own version of both concepts. Faith forms a basis of everyday living. We learn to trust and be trusted. No human being can be self reliant; rather people always depend on each other. We sleep each night hoping to wake up to a new day. We trust in ourselves, our finances, our friends and family all through our lifetime. Each individual has his/her own faith network with a unique framework to fall back on.  According to Craig Rusbult, “A worldview is a theory of the world, used for living in the world.  A world view is a mental model of reality — a framework of ideas & attitudes about the world, ourselves, and life, a comprehensive system of beliefs — with answers for a wide range of questions” (What is a worldview? – Definition & Introduction, www.asa3.org). This definition shows that faith or belief is part of a worldview. In this paper I propose to record a journey of my faith and the worldview I have come to uphold. Early on in life I learnt to have faith in myself, my abilities and my resources. I also placed a considerable amount of trust in people with whom I was acquainted through the years. Self confident and highly motivated by a desire to succeed, I ventured out to take over the world. I never propagated my worldview and could express a considerable amount of tolerance to others who differed from me, holding on to stricter opinions of how life was to be lived. I believed in my abilities but I did not put out religion from my life. I did agree that God existed but He remained a very distant and unknown being to me. I learnt to cope up with life situations, both good and bad with my secular worldview. After all, I always knew I could find a way out of every predicament. I managed to do fairly well. In spite of this, I always sensed a dark corner in my life, an unknown evil that lurked in my heart, sometimes putting out its ugly head. This beast was loneliness. I could feel its blows in the pinnacle of success, in a crowd and even in laughter. I had goals, dreams and a desire to live to the fullest. However, even the best moments of my life seemed to be laced with emptiness. I turned my attention to pleasure, thinking that I needed more fun times to make up for the gloom inside. I tried entertainment hoping to the squash the beast. I ran from pillar to post seeking fulfilment, only to come home exhausted, broken and lonely. I trusted myself and found little joy. As each year passed, the beast tormenting me began to grow. What was once just a feeling of unease that came upon me once in a while suddenly became a constant dread. I was vibrant on the outside but dead on the inside. Failures and setbacks made things worse. I always believed I would make it through any catastrophe. Self confidence which was my forte was slowly weakening and I could not but notice the outward as well as inward turmoil. I tried therapy and even meditation. But nothing gave me a permanent relief. I began to realize that the worldview I clung to was defective. This made me panic even more. I needed something better and had no clue where I could find a foolproof worldview. In all my struggles, I knew that the need of my heart could be met only by a superior power. I knew I needed the divine to rescue me. Surprisingly, the divine did reach out to me. When I cringed within, feeling lonely and desperate, I heard a soothing voice say, “Fear not for I am with you ” (English Standard Version, Isaiah 41:10). When I was troubled about the permanence of this word, I heard an assurance, “ I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). When I questioned how someone could know the cry of my heart, how anyone could see and feel what was till then my carefully guarded secret, I knew there was a God who created me, read my thoughts, saw my tears and felt my pain. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). I had an encounter with God. I finally knew Him. Roper says, “He waits until we know that nothing will ease our pain, nothing will make life worth living except His presence” (47). I was no longer alone. I was in God’s presence. I rediscovered myself in new light. I adopted a totally new worldview. I was now Christian and my worldview, Biblical. I found by experience that the Christian worldview is far better than any other. The first thing that impressed me about this worldview is that it is the indelible truth. Secondly I have found answers to the pressing questions about both life and death only in the Christian worldview. Last of all, those adhering to the Christian worldview are beyond doubt, some of the finest human beings (Oakes, “Apologetics and the Christian Worldview”, www.evidenceforchristianity.org ). It might sound like boasting but it is the truth and only those who experience God and adopt a Christian worldview can vouch for this.   “A biblical worldview is an overarching view of the world based on God’s revealed truth, the Bible, which directs our life in the world” (Biblical Worldview Definition, www.cascadechristian.org ). The Bible as the above definition aptly points is the foundation for the Christian worldview. So I began to read the Word of God and meditate on scripture. The more I did this; I began to realize my sinfulness and prayed for God’s forgiveness. While sin is universal, finding a way out of the effects and consequences of sin is humanly impossible. Only God can forgive sin and restore us. One of the things that touched me was God’s love for me even though I did not deserve it. God loves us just as we are and not as we expect to be (Roper 90). This was the acceptance that the God of the Bible offered me. My lifestyle changed and even those around me were quick to notice the difference. I began to re order my life and priorities. “Jesus told those in his earthly family more than once his Father had the top slot on his list of priorities” (Geoghegan and Homan 157). I could no longer find enjoyment in many activities I had previously been engaged in. This cost me a few relationships and many hurts. But I never sank in despair like before because He was with me always. I also began attending Christian fellowships and surprisingly God created new relationships for me to engage in meaningfully. I began to emulate Christ in the way I did things and people were quick to notice this as well. The closer I got to God and the more I studied His word, prayed and obeyed, the more of His character rubbed off on me (Roper 94). I cannot say that living by a Christian worldview has been easy. There have been tough times and one of the hardest things to do is to live what I believe in. Especially after my self reliant stance was pushed to the back seat, I have often struggled to keep self behind and let God take full control over my life. Another issue I grapple with is unanswered prayer. I know God sometimes allows His children to wait and at times denies what is asked for in prayer. Yet this knowledge alone does not help. Practicing the Christian lifestyle is wrought with challenges. In a faith journey with God we cannot expect cushions and comforts. God allows jolts in our lives (Roper 106). I strive hard to cling to my Christian worldview and I am strengthened in my daily toil through His word that says, “ we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). My mind is refreshed by reflecting on the promises of God. I have realized the importance of studying and practicing God’s Word for success in my Christian lifestyle. “Take care what you hear because the same measure you measure out is going to be measured back to you. More will be given to the ones who understand. All those who have more will get even more again; and as for people who refuse to learn, even the small portion they have will be taken from them” (Geoghegan and Homan 152). I grow in faith through each trial that comes my way. Each day I see miracles in the way God provides for me and protects me along with the ones I love. When I look back at these cherished moments, I feel reassured that my worldview, unlike my previous belief system is beyond reproach. God has a way with mingling the good and the bad. He certainly knows how to heal and soothe aching hearts and wearied bodies. Another truth that I have found in my faith journey is the completeness of God. He is and will always be all sufficient to meet my every need, be it spiritual or otherwise. The relationship I share with God is very personal and I know He is one I can always count on. People may come and go, situations may get altered, losses and failures may show up, times may change, but God will forever see me through. He is the only one who will never say Good-bye (Roper 109). My life which was once self centred is now God centred. It is amazing for me to see that God helps me cope up with even the worst separation in life, which is death. Just as Christ rose again from the dead, I too will rise when He comes again. “ but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). No other worldview can equip a person so completely to face the ultimate end, which is death. There is no fear in how this may be, again because of the assurance in His Word and the quiet calm that He alone can bestow. On the contrary, life after death is the one that I yearn for as that will be one of constant, uninterrupted communion with God for eternity. There will be no chance or possibility for sin to corrupt my union with my Maker and though unworthy, I too will be given a pure robe and a place with the saints who have been washed with the blood of the Lamb. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, or any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:16,17). This shall be the true joy of having embraced the Christian Worldview. In conclusion, the story of my faith journey is an ongoing one which will end in Heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself coming in glory to gather His precious children. Till that time, I will continue to walk through life’s paths, both good and bad, looking up to God for help and strength. I will also use every opportunity to testify His goodness in my life. I may not be accepted for my belief and often I may find myself ridiculed. Still I choose to cling to the arms of God who has called me and live each day by the promises in His Word.

Works Cited

Rusbult, Craig.  What is a worldview? — Definition & Introduction. http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/views/index.html. Web. 21 Apr 2015. The Holy Bible. English Standard Version. China. Good News Publishers.2007. Print. Roper, David. Psalm 23:The Song of a Passionate Heart. Grand rapids, Michigan. Discovery House Publishers. 1994. Print. Oakes, John. Apologetics and the Christian Worldview. http://evidenceforchristianity.org/essay-apologetics-and-the-christian-world- view/. 4 March 2010. Web. 21 Apr 2015. Biblical Worldview Definition. http://www.cascadechristian.org/about- ccs/biblical_worldview_definition.cfm 2008. Web. 21 Apr 2015. Geoghegan, Jeffrey and Homan, Michael. The Bible for Dummies. Indianapolis, Indiana. Wiley Publishing, Inc. 2003. Print.

Share with friends using:

• Thesis Statement On Four Freedoms Fdr And The Four Freedoms Speech N D
• Streetcar Essays
• Attachment Theory Essays
• Italian Renaissance Essays
• Wartime Essays
• Salinity Essays
• Echolocation Essays
• Vitality Essays
• Disconnection Essays
• Loser Essays
• Ralph Ellison Essays
• Invisible Man Essays
• Richard Wright Essays
• Self Respect Essays
• Andy Warhol Essays
• Tile Essays
• Believe In Myself Essays
• Peregrine Essays
• Congressman Essays
• Adverse Opinion Essays
• Luggage Essays
• Resale Essays
• Induced Abortion Essays
• Calendar Year Essays
• Echinodermata Essays
• Sponge Essays
• Hummer Essays
• Whorl Essays
• Malcolm Gladwell Essays
• African Grey Essays
• Nucleic Acid Essays
• Neurobiology Essays
• Handedness Essays
• Skirt Essays
• Gown Essays
• Serum Albumin Essays
• Military Mission Essays
• Patriarch Essays
• Overspending Essays
• Virginia Woolf Essays
• William Wordsworth Essays
• Coliseum Essays
• Bite Essays
• Indoctrination Essays
• Guantanamo Bay Essays
• James Mcbride Essays

We use cookies to improve your experience with our site. Please accept before continuing or read our cookie policy here .

Wait, have you seen our prices?