Spiritual hunger can come from many places. Serving as a Jews for Jesus missionary for many years, I’ve seen a whole spectrum. Though the people I’ve ministered to have Jewish backgrounds in common and go through similar life stages, it’s their unique lived experiences that spark their spiritual journeys.

But if there’s so much diversity in the paths to Jesus, is there any underlying similarity that unites spiritually hungry seekers? From what I’ve seen, the answer is simple: they do whatever it takes.

Recently, I met with a young Jewish man in his late 20s who shared his testimony with me. He had been part of our Shabbat community with his wife for about a year, but I hadn’t heard his story yet. He told me:

Before meeting Jesus, my life was so riddled with anxiety that my older brother saw it as well worth the risk of angering me by telling me about Jesus. His life had been transformed in the short time since putting his faith in Jesus. He said that Jesus could help with my anxiety too.

Hearing that brought to mind a few other stories of young Jewish people’s journeys to faith that I’ve heard and have even been blessed to be part of.

There was Noa* who found Jesus while exploring Judaism in college; Olivia* who spent her gap year between high school and university searching through competing worldviews before landing on Jesus; and Brandon,* in his 30s, who chased thrills and spirituality until Jesus broke through the darkness.

The journey to faith always grows into a wholehearted determination to know the Lord.

A seeker’s journey might begin with a casual search for meaning, but no one comes to true faith half-heartedly. Those who are drawn by God will invest their time searching, taking chances, and risking personal embarrassment. The journey to faith always grows into a wholehearted determination to know the Lord.

Think of the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus was a hated outsider in his own community. And as a man of short stature, he was unable to see through a crowd. But when Jesus came to his neighborhood, he wouldn’t let that hold him back. Luke 19:4 tells us that Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree. He was willing to risk embarrassment and ridicule in his determination to see Jesus for himself.

Like Zacchaeus, the young people I mentioned above refused to ignore their spiritual hunger. They asked questions, searched for answers, and followed the evidence that eventually led them to Yeshua. One way or another, they were determined to see him for themselves. And like Zacchaeus, Jesus extended his grace, compassion, and presence into their lives.

These four Jewish young adults hadn’t done anything to earn God’s love or favor. Seeing their hunger, Yeshua extended his grace to them even before they’d been obedient. And after meeting Jesus, their lives were fully transformed by his continued grace.

Today, many young people are on similar journeys. Pray that God will stir a hunger in them to do whatever it takes to find Messiah, and that he will meet them with the same grace that transformed these lives.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.

 

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