Guided by Faith: Daily Christian Devotions and Advice for Teens and Young Adults

In this powerful start to Romans 8:31–39, Jay reminds teens and young adults of a life-changing truth: If God is for us, who can be against us? Before unpacking the rest of the passage, this episode revisits the incredible promises already laid out in Romans 8—no condemnation in Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, adoption as sons and daughters of God, future glorification, God working all things for good, and being conformed to the image of Jesus. When Monday feels heavy or life feels overwhelming, this devotional calls listeners to remember “these things”—the active, ongoing blessings God has secured for believers. If you’ve been discouraged, doubting, or distracted by opposition, this episode will help you refocus on the truth that God is fully for you, walking with you, strengthening you, and finishing the good work He began.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In the final episode of this series on the five core needs, Jay tackles competency—the question of “What am I good at?” He encourages teens and young adults to recognize that God has uniquely gifted each of us with natural talents, spiritual gifts, and the capacity to grow through effort and practice. Drawing from Scripture, Romans 8, and insights from books like Grit by Angela Duckworth, Jay emphasizes that skill and achievement come from combining God-given ability with persistent practice, all empowered by the Holy Spirit. Listeners are reminded that growing in competency builds confidence, equips them to bless others, and strengthens their ability to live out God’s purpose—showing that everyone, with effort and God’s help, truly has what it takes to thrive.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay takes on one of life’s biggest questions for teens and young adults: Why am I alive? Continuing the framework of security, identity, and belonging from Romans 8, Jay explains why purpose can’t be found in pleasure, achievement, popularity, or productivity—no matter how appealing those paths seem. Instead, when our trust, identity, and belonging are rooted in God, purpose becomes clear and freeing: to love God, enjoy life with Him and others, and share Jesus with the world. This episode encourages listeners to stop letting work, success, or attention define their worth and to discover deep joy in living out God’s purpose wherever they are, in whatever season of life they’re in.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay addresses one of the most painful and relatable questions for teens and young adults: Who wants me? Continuing the journey through Romans 8 and the five core needs, Jay speaks honestly about loneliness, seasons of feeling overlooked, and the deep human desire to belong. He explains how insecurity and misplaced identity can drive us to compromise who we are just to feel accepted—and why that always falls short. Scripture offers a better answer: Jesus wants you, proved by His love on the cross and His invitation into the family of God. This episode encourages listeners to anchor their sense of belonging in God’s unchanging love, giving them freedom to walk patiently through lonely seasons, pursue healthy relationships, and discover true community rooted in Christ.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues the Romans 8 conversation by tackling one of the most defining questions for teens and young adults today: Who am I? Building on the foundation of trust, Jay explains why identity can’t be safely rooted in things that change—like looks, talents, achievements, or feelings—and why doing so often leads to confusion and insecurity. Instead, Scripture offers a far stronger answer: we are image bearers of God, and for those in Christ, beloved, adopted children of God who can never be separated from His love. This episode challenges listeners to examine what they’ve been using to define themselves and invites them to anchor their identity in what God says is true, creating a stable foundation for confidence, purpose, and a life that blesses others.

Listen and Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay kicks off a crucial week by asking a foundational question that shapes every part of our lives: Who do you trust? Drawing from Romans 8 and insights from Dr. Kathy Koch's Five to Thrive, this devotional explores the core human need for security and how it affects identity, belonging, purpose, and confidence—especially for teens and young adults. Jay unpacks why placing our trust in people, talents, looks, or success will always lead to insecurity, and why Scripture calls us instead to trust in the Lord, who has already proven Himself faithful through Jesus. If you’ve ever struggled with broken trust, shaky confidence, or wondering what your life is built on, this episode invites you to examine where your security really comes from and challenges you to build your life on the solid foundation of trusting God.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this finale episode of the week on Guided by Faith, Jay explores the awe-inspiring promise of glorification from Romans 8:28–30. Teens and young adults will discover what it means that those God justifies, He also glorifies, and why Paul uses past tense to describe it—showing God’s eternal certainty and perspective. Jay paints a vivid picture of glorified bodies like Jesus’, perfected and radiant, free from pain, flaws, and sin, yet still connected to our earthly selves. This episode encourages listeners to trust God’s ongoing work in their lives, from calling and justification to the ultimate glorification, and inspires hope for an eternal, joyful existence with Christ in the new heavens and new earth.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this episode of Guided by Faith, Jay breaks down one of the most important—and often misunderstood—words in Christian theology: justification. Walking through Romans 8:28–30, Jay explains how God’s justice, holiness, and love meet at the cross of Jesus, where our sin debt was paid in full. Using clear illustrations and relatable examples, he shows teens and young adults what it means to be justified “just as if I had never sinned” and why believers stand righteous before God—not because of their behavior, but because of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. This episode offers powerful reassurance for anyone weighed down by guilt, reminding listeners of the freedom, gratitude, and confidence that come from being fully forgiven and made right with God.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this midweek episode of Guided by Faith, Jay walks teens and young adults through the powerful theology of Romans 8:28–30, focusing on God’s purpose in predestining believers to be conformed to the image of Jesus. Jay explains why theology matters for everyday faith, clears up common confusion about predestination, and shows how God uses both joyful and painful experiences to shape Christians into Christlike people. Rather than promising an easy life, this episode reveals that the greatest “good” God is working toward is making you more like Jesus—holy, compassionate, and hopeful for eternity. If you’ve ever wondered why God allows hardship, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a bigger-picture view of God’s loving plan for your life.

Listen and Subscribe:

[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify]

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this encouraging episode of Guided by Faith, Jay continues unpacking Romans 8:28 by answering a hard but honest question many Christian teens and young adults ask: How can God actually use bad things for good? Jay explains God’s active role in working all things together without being the cause of evil, sharing powerful illustrations—from near-miss personal experiences to the chemistry of salt—to show how God combines hardship with truth, people, and grace to bring healing and growth. With an eternal perspective rooted in Jesus, this episode reminds listeners that pain is never the end of the story and that God is faithfully at work, even in seasons that don’t make sense yet.

Listen and Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Connect with Us:

• Website: www.guidedbyfaith.net

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuidedbyFaithPodcast

• Instagram: @guidedbyfaith_podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with friends who might benefit from this message.

***Pick up a copy of Jay’s new Journal: Renewed: The 365-Day Christian Gratitude Journal https://amzn.to/3MLWavl

Guided By Faith is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network.

For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org