Rooted While Growing: Navigating Faith Through Life's First Big Transitions

Change is often the very catalyst we need to grow in our faith.

The truth is, transitions deeply impact our spiritual lives. The demands and responsibilities that come with new stages—college, career, adulting—can leave us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and disconnected. Spiritual routines like prayer, attending church, or reading Scripture often fall by the wayside. And sometimes,

the pressure to succeed or impress others can quietly begin to replace our desire to grow closer to God.

The problem is that neglecting our faith in these moments doesn’t just cause spiritual distance—it can also lead to emotional struggles like isolation, doubt, anxiety, or even depression. When we stop tending to our spiritual life, everything else eventually feels off-balance too.

But here’s the good news: these transitional seasons can actually become launchpads for your faith—if you approach them intentionally. Here are a few practical ways to stay spiritually grounded as you navigate big life changes:

1. Find a Faith Community

We’re created for connection, and one of the greatest gifts of the Christian life is that we don’t have to walk it alone. As Catholics, we also have the unique blessing of a global Church—you’re never far from a parish, a campus ministry, or a young adult group. Whether it's a FOCUS group on your campus or a small Bible study nearby, getting plugged into a faith community gives you the encouragement and accountability you need to stay spiritually strong. These are the people who will walk with you, pray with you, and remind you of who you are when life feels uncertain.

2. Create a Spiritual Rhythm

Your faith life, like anything else worth building,

takes effort. Just like your body doesn’t grow stronger without regular workouts, your soul doesn’t grow without consistent spiritual habits. But consistency doesn’t have to mean complexity. Start small: dedicate the first 10 minutes of your day to prayer, pray a rosary during your lunch break, or visit an adoration chapel once a week. The key isn’t how much you do—it’s how intentional you are. You have the authority to decide how you spend your time. Spend it in ways that feed your soul.

And whatever you do, don't neglect the Mass.

3. Stay Connected to Spiritual Mentors

Just because you’ve moved into a new season doesn’t mean the people who helped shape your faith are gone. Parents, youth ministers, teachers, priests—they’re still in your corner. You didn’t get here by walking alone, and you won’t thrive in what’s next by walking alone either. Reach out. Share what’s going on. Even if they can’t physically walk alongside you right now, they can pray for you—and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need most.

4. Ask Honest Questions

Let’s be honest—transition often stirs up questions. That’s not a sign of weak faith; it’s a sign of growing faith. As you experience more of life, your understanding of God, truth, and the Church will be challenged—and that’s okay. You don’t need to ignore your doubts or silence your questions. Express them. Bring them to prayer. Dive into Scripture. Ask trusted

mentors. Wrestle with the hard stuff, and trust that God is big enough to handle your uncertainty. Press into the tension, and you'll find deeper truth on the other side.

5. Look for God in the New

God is always doing something new—and He wants you to see it. In Isaiah 43:19, He says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Every new job, city, friendship, or opportunity can be a way God is revealing more of Himself to you. Ask, “Where is God in this?” or “What might He be trying to teach me?” Even when life feels unfamiliar, He’s not far off. He’s in the middle of it, gently guiding you forward.

Final Encouragement

Embracing change with faith doesn’t mean having all the answers or never feeling lost—it means choosing, every day, to trust that God is present in the midst of it.

Transition can feel disorienting, but it can also be a sacred space where deeper trust, dependence, and transformation take root. When we make the choice to seek God intentionally in new seasons, we often find Him more clearly than we did in the familiar ones.

So if you’re walking through a big life change—whether it's starting school, moving away, landing your first job, or simply growing into a new version of yourself—remember this: God is not surprised by where you are, and He’s not waiting for things to settle down to meet you. He is here, right now, inviting you to grow with Him through it.

Let this be more than just a season of transition. Let it be a season of transformation.

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