Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young . . . . Continue to do what I’ve told you. If you do this, you will save yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 4:12, 16
Many young believers have “spiritual parents”—those who aren’t your flesh and blood but who have raised you in your faith and taught you what you need to know in order to lead others into the same kind of faith. These spiritual moms and dads are really important and often can give us as much wisdom and hope as our earthly parents give us, if not more. The spiritual family is a valuable part of the life of a believer, as it has been for centuries. The apostle Paul could be considered the spiritual father of Timothy, whom he loved like a son (see 1 Tim. 1:2). And the books of 1 and 2 Timothy are Paul’s final lessons and inspiration meant to encourage and teach Timothy to carry on the torch of Paul’s ministry.
Paul knew that Timothy’s faith was strong but that he was prone to being sick a lot and was a bit shy. He wanted to encourage Timothy and teach him how to be the pastor of his own church in Ephesus and prepare him to continue his ministry after Paul was dead. Though Timothy was young, he had been very helpful in serving with Paul for years. Paul had learned to trust him and to love him. Now Paul would soon die at the hands of his persecutors, so he wanted to prepare his friend and leave him with the information he would need to keep the faith alive.
As a God Girl you are not alone in this world. Others who are older and wiser have gone before you and are now leaving you direction and guidance as Paul did. You should learn from the wise, seek their counsel, and learn from their experiences in the faith. Like Timothy, you may have a challenge ahead, but keep the faith, knowing others have gone before you who can help. Seek them out, learn from them, and know that you are not alone.