May 13, 2026
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self? Our Readers Share Their Wisdom
What Would You Tell Your Younger Self? Our Readers Share Their Wisdom
What advice would you give your younger self about your walk with God? It’s a simple question, but when we posed it to our Reader Reward members, the responses were anything but simple. What poured in were deeply personal, hard-won reflections from people who have walked with God through decades of life: through marriages and losses, doubt and renewal, dry seasons and mountaintop moments. Here is some of what they shared.
God Is Always There — Even When You Can’t Feel It
Perhaps the most repeated theme across all responses was this: God’s presence is constant, even when it doesn’t feel that way. One member wrote beautifully:
“God is always there. Through the storms, through the deserts, through the mountain top experiences. Stay faithful, keep trusting. Before long you will be able to look back and see His hand in each season you traveled and you will stand in awe before Him.”
Another echoed this with striking simplicity:
“You won’t always feel like you love God, so make sure you always know that He loves you.”
Your Walk Is Yours — Don’t Compare
Several members cautioned against measuring your faith against someone else’s. One reader wrote:
“Don’t compare your walk with God to other people’s. It isn’t a race and God would much prefer you take your time to build the relationship than to give up or fake it to impress those around you.”
This same spirit ran through another response:
“Don’t treat your walk with God like something you have to get perfect. It’s a relationship, not a performance. There will be seasons where you feel close and others where you don’t — don’t assume God has left you in the quiet moments.”
Stay in the Word — Especially When Life Gets Busy
Practical advice about Scripture and prayer came up again and again. One reader urged:
“Really dig into the Bible and develop a habit of spending time with God each day. Once you get married and have a family to either provide for or take care of, you have less time to do these things. Make use of your time wisely while you have less adult responsibilities.”
And for those seasons when reading feels fruitless, another member offered this encouragement:
“Keep going with your Bible reading, even in dry or difficult seasons. Even if it feels like it’s not ‘doing anything’ or having an impact. His Word never returns void.”
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
For readers anxious about the future, our members had a reassuring word. One person wrote:
“God’s will is not necessarily one set path, so don’t be afraid of making the wrong choice. If you are growing spiritually, then you are in His will.”
Another put it this way:
“Do not fret over the future. God will reveal the next step in His perfect timing. The Bible proves God’s faithfulness over and over again, so do not doubt it now. No time is wasted when it is spent following in Christ’s footsteps.”
Your Worth Is Not the World’s to Define
Some of the most powerful responses were also the most personal. One member wrote simply:
“Your worth is defined by Him. He created you perfectly. No matter what the world is telling you.”
And for anyone who has wandered and wondered if it’s too late to return, one reader offered this:
“The advice I would give to myself would simply be to follow Christ. The years I spent away from Him were not only wasted but left a lot of wounds. Nothing this world has to offer can compare with His mercy and love.”
Be Present, Not Perfect
Woven through so many of these responses was a gentle grace — a reminder that faith is not about flawless performance. One member reflected:
“I would tell my younger self that a walk with God is less about being perfect and more about being present. You don’t have to earn His love by performing, fixing yourself first, or always having strong faith.”
Another added:
“Do not rush your relationship with God. Simply be present and be open. You might not feel it right away, but as long as you keep your door open, the Spirit will enter through it.”
We are so grateful to every Reader Reward member who took the time to respond to this question. Your words are a gift — not just to us, but to anyone who reads them and finds their own faith reflected back. Whether you are just beginning your walk or looking back over a lifetime of it, we hope these voices encourage you today.
