General

Helping Your Young Adult Hear from God

Why Hearing from God Matters More Than Ever

If you’re a parent of a young adult, you already know the tension of this season. You’re watching your child step into their own life—choosing a career, forming relationships, and (for some) finding a church home—all while navigating a culture that is often loud, confusing, and anything but godly.

When we launched Assemblies of God Young Adult Ministries, one question became the heartbeat of our mission: What is God’s heart for young adults? The answer came clearly: He wants them to hear from Him. Not secondhand, not filtered through a podcast or a parent—but clearly, personally, and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We believe every young adult has the potential to live a Spirit-empowered life. That means more than just going to church and avoiding sin—it means walking daily in a relationship with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s the pattern we see in Scripture.

Young people like Samuel, Esther, Mary, and Timothy heard God’s voice clearly and courageously obeyed—not because they were perfect, but because they were obedient.

Hearing from God isn’t just for prophets or preachers. It’s foundational for every believer, especially during the young adult years. This is the season when decisions carry lifelong consequences: who to marry, what to do for work, where to live, how to build a foundation of faith.

A longitudinal study of Assemblies of God youth conducted by Dr. Steve Pulis, Ph.D., found commonalities in young people who remain in their faith after high school graduation. One faith establishing factor exists when young people have an internal sense that God is speaking to them in a personal way. We know this is the internal witness of the Holy Spirit.

When young adults are Spirit-empowered and living with an awareness that God is still speaking, they are more likely to pursue Him, trust His Word, and stay connected to a community of faith.

I remember when I first realized how powerful this could be.

As a student at Evangel University, I was surrounded by classmates from every walk of life. Some, like me, were lifelong Christians. Others were new believers, saved from lives they once thought were too far gone. Their hunger for God reignited my own faith.

One friend—new to faith and on fire for Jesus—challenged my theology with questions about grace, love for others, and God’s sovereignty. That conversation sent me digging into Scripture, praying more fervently, and pressing into the Spirit’s guidance.

That season in my life also deepened my understanding of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. As I experienced a fresh infilling of the Spirit, I began to see how central this power is to hearing God’s voice, discerning His will, and walking in confidence as a young disciple.

Helping Your Child Hear from God

So, how do you help your young adult tune into God’s voice?

Start by having honest conversations. Ask them:

· “What’s God saying to you right now?”

· “What Scripture is speaking to you lately?”

· “Where do you need clarity, and how can I pray with you?”

Be a safe place for questions. Not every theological or cultural issue needs a “correct” answer immediately. Sometimes, what our young adults need most is to wrestle—with you, with Scripture, and with the Holy Spirit.

Here are four practical tips to help encourage your young adult clearly and personally hear from God:

1. Encourage regular engagement with Scripture. The Bible Engagement Project app has excellent reading plans, and devotional content for all ages.

2. Model your own relationship with God. Let your young adult see you praying, studying, and seeking His voice.

3. Talk to them about the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Many young adults have never been invited into this Spirit-filled experience. If you don’t feel confident talking about it, reach out to your pastor or youth/young adult leader. If you have never received Holy Spirit baptism, begin your journey towards seeking more from God.

4. Pray daily.

Pray that….

· your child would recognize God’s voice (John 10:27).

· they would respond in obedience (James 1:22).

· they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit, filled with power, and guided into all truth (Acts 1:8; John 16:13).

You’re not parenting alone. God is still speaking—and your young adult can still hear. Let’s partner with Him to help them listen.

Resources:

· 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard From God on myhealthychurch.com

· youngadults.ag.org

· Bible Engagement Project App

· Barna Research: Faith for Exiles by David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock

· Assemblies of God resource on the baptism in the Holy Spirit: https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Baptism-in-the-Holy-Spirit

About the Author
Josh Wellborn is a seasoned NextGen ministry leader. He has served as a youth and young adult pastor, as well as a district and national youth director with the Assemblies of God. Today, he serves as the AG’s National Director of Young Adult Ministries. Josh and his wife, Jennifer, live in Springfield, Missouri, with their two college-age sons and two teenage daughters. Josh is the author of 30 Under 30: Young Adults in Scripture Who Heard From God, a resource designed to help today’s emerging adults hear God’s voice like the young leaders of the Bible.