THE HEARTH
Faith Is Not Inherited
There was a time when I thought my greatest responsibility as a father was to pass something down. Values. Convictions. Beliefs.
And while that is still true in part, I have learned something humbling along the way:
Faith is not inherited.
It is discovered.
You can give your children a language for belief. You can model prayer. You can take them to church. You can answer their questions. You can even read the right books.
But at some point, faith must become personal. Wrestled with. Questioned. Chosen.
It cannot be transferred like heirloom silver.
Each soul must encounter truth for itself.
That realization changes how you parent. It softens control. It increases patience. It requires trust — not only in your children, but in God’s quiet work within them.
I no longer pray that my daughters simply believe what I believe.
I pray that they encounter Christ in a way that is unmistakably their own.
And I have learned that the best gift I can give them is not certainty — but integrity. Not pressure — but presence. Not control — but steadiness.
Faith discovered is stronger than faith imposed.
And when it is discovered, it endures.
About the Author
Gregg A. Stewart is the author of Unreasonable Doubt: When the Call of Duty Becomes a Test of Faith, a reflective courtroom memoir exploring conscience, moral responsibility, and the relationship between doubt and faith. A business executive and longtime student of literature and theology, Stewart writes at the intersection of faith, ethics and lived experience. His work is grounded in the conviction that doubt does not disqualify faith but can refine it. Through personal narrative and thoughtful reflection, he invites readers to wrestle with questions of justice, authority, and trust in God.
Gregg lives in Ohio with his wife and daughters. In addition to his writing, he serves in executive leadership within the construction industry and is committed to mentoring the next generation in both business and faith. He writes for readers who believe, readers who question, and readers who are learning to do both.
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