A lot of young people go through their 20s struggling with their relationships and making a lot of mistakes they regret later on in life. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Join us for this week's episode where Josh Birch shares his story of struggling with relationships in his 20s to having an encounter with the Holy Spirit to finding his happily ever after!
Here’s a summary of this week’s story:
- Josh grew up in a Christian household and attended church, but he fell away from God during his teenage years. He didn't have a relationship with God because he never realized the significance of what it meant for him on a day-to-day basis.
- Josh talks about how he broke up with his girlfriend and travelled to Southeast Asia where one night when he was in a state of anger, hate, and pain, he decided to pray. As soon as he did, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace come over him. He attributes this experience to the beginning of his personal relationship with God.
- While working as a physiotherapist at Alder Hey, he started attending church regularly. He faced challenges when he tried to balance his old life with his new faith, but ultimately decided to be honest with his friends and continue living in the real world as a salt and light. He was voted captain of his cricket team and used this position to change the culture of the team for the better.
- Josh met Alice when she moved in with the Birch family as a lodger, and they quickly became friends. Over the course of four years, they remained close friends while dating other people; however, at the end of those four years, Josh realized that Alice met every single criterion on his list for what he was looking for in a wife. After returning from a trip to France, he asked her to marry him.
- Josh and Alice have been married nearly 7 years and have two kids. Their younger daughter, Ada, was born with a congenital heart defect and down's syndrome. He talks about how their relationship with God and the love and support of the church community helped them through their hard times.
- Josh says that it is important to focus on what you know to be true and not try to do things by yourself. It is crucial to be in community and to speak out in difficult times and seek help.
ABOUT JOSH:
Josh is a husband, and father to two beautiful kids and works as a physiotherapist at Alder Hey hospital. He is an avid cricketer and a big fan of the Liverpool Football Club.
