A wide body of research indicates that religious beliefs can have positive effects on wellbeing. Recent data demonstrates that British churchgoers report lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-churchgoers, that younger churchgoers have more social connections than their peers, and they are more likely to participate in social activism.^[1]

Those who participated in this project felt that faith had a positive impact on their lives.

Given their commitment to it, it is no surprise that those who participated in this project felt that faith had a positive impact on their lives. A third used words like, “Love, peace, joy, trust, confidence” to describe it. Reported benefits included:

1. A sense of hope and security
2. A sense of identity, personal value, and self-esteem
3. Personal growth
4. An ethical framework
5. Assistance in making sense of suffering
6. A sense of purpose
7. Community and social connection

Hope and security

“Christian faith provides a rootedness when all around is buffeting and uncertain.”

It has been argued that Millennials were once an optimistic generation – encouraged to ‘follow their dreams’. Yet economic, political, climate and cultural crises (plus a global pandemic!) have left them disillusioned – the first to experience an epidemic of mental health collapse.^[2] It is no surprise, then, that hope and security were aspects of Christian faith they were drawn to. “Hope” was the most frequently selected word chosen to describe their faith, a fifth (21%) citing it. In interviews, 60% of women and 75% of men spoke about having hope that God cared for them and, consequently, they were safe. One said, “Christian faith provides a rootedness when all around is buffeting and uncertain.”

For some who had been bereaved, this was eschatological: an eternal hope. But for most, it applied to their immediate future. They believed God had, was, and would guide them. One explained, “God is trustworthy unlike the adults I grew surrounded by. I grew up on a council estate in [X]. I didn’t think I was going to amount to anything, but the world has changed for me. Life is radically different than it would have been. I know that God has a plan for my life.”

Identity, personal value and self-esteem

“Faith places my life in context and gives it a deeper meaning. My worth is bigger than what society would have me believe.”

Male and female participants both discussed the influence of faith on their self-perception. Several individuals from adverse backgrounds spoke about faith providing a sense of being a valued child of God. “I’m a precious daughter” was how Liis – from an abusive family – put it. Some shared that faith improved their self-esteem and helped them manage criticism, rejection, and negative narratives. One commented, “Faith places my life in context and gives it a deeper meaning. My worth is bigger than what society would have me believe.” Participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds mentioned new opportunities linked to their faith. Dan was incredulous, “God’s led me to so many places I would never have ended up!” Marcus, likewise, had been given opportunities to learn and lead, something he never envisaged.

Although a number of women mentioned it, it was striking that twelve of the sixteen male interviewees were explicit that faith had positively impacted their mental health. This ranged from no longer being suicidal, addicted and ashamed, to developing strategies for managing ongoing anxiety and depression. While developing a more secure sense of identity is common with age, confidence that they were loved by God had positively shaped the way these Millennial Christians saw themselves.

Personal growth

Many participants described how faith was changing them as people. Attributes such as resilience, forgiveness, patience, confidence and contentment were cited. Likewise, leadership skills, self-discipline, and altered priorities. The relationship between control and anxiety emerged frequently in interviews. Rob explained, “I tend not to worry now, I approach things with a sense of ‘I’ll do as much as I can do. Beyond that, it’s up to God.’” Another said, “God has freed me from my obsessions. He freed me from my nightmares. He freed me from my worries, I’m at peace now. I’ve never been brave in my life but I WAS brave. God is making me brave.”

Again, although personal growth is not unique to religious adherents, there is a long tradition in both British evangelicalism and Pentecostalism stemming back to the Wesleyan holiness movement that encourages personal transformation. Participants clearly identified faith as important to their ongoing personal development.

An ethical framework

Their faith was not just a moral code or existential belief system, but something that fundamentally shaped their lives and choices.

Participants commonly used the word “perspective” when describing how faith shapes their worldview. One reflected, “My faith means I shouldn’t live for myself or my own happiness. It means that my worth does not depend on my own accomplishments or on what others think of me. It changes what I value, according to what does and doesn’t last into eternity.” Many credited Christian values as providing a moral structure for life. Some discussed conflicts between their beliefs and the expectations both of secular communities and of other Christians. They cited topics such as tolerance and inclusion, conservatism, systemic injustices, sexuality, racism, women’s leadership, and church governance. Respondents described challenges balancing authenticity and deeply held beliefs with pragmatism and external pressures or expectations. They spoke about wrestling with issues of fertility, sexual identity, choice of career, where to live, family conflict and parenting – trying to discern what God would want them to do. It was interesting that 11% of those who said their faith was ‘very important’ also said it only impacted their life ‘somewhat’. Asked to reflect on this, Sarah (an older Millennial) pondered, “I wonder if my faith is so deeply seated now, that I often don’t consciously realise the choices I’m making are Christian. That stuff is just the way I act on a daily basis – like second nature.” Ultimately, for most participants, their faith was not just a moral code or existential belief system, but something that fundamentally shaped their lives and choices.

Help in making sense of suffering

Meaning-making is crucial to human wellbeing, and participants provided different accounts of how faith helped them address suffering. Some found comfort in eschatological beliefs, “Faith helps me to know that I one day will be in heaven worshipping God, and that will fulfil this longing for purpose and meaning.”

Others focused on deriving personal growth or helping others through challenging experiences. Maturity, boundaries, less dependence on approval, and self-awareness were cited as outcomes. Most did not attribute adversity to divine causes but saw God as allowing it or simply being with them in it. In either case, they believed he had or was redeeming or bringing benefits from the experience. For example, “I am now pursuing a career in counselling and strongly believe that everything I’ve been through has been allowed to happen so that God could use my pain and the empathy I’ve gained as a result to help others.”

Some of those interviewed continued to find suffering inexplicable, yet remained committed to their beliefs. Chris said, “I’m a Christian in the core of my being, in my gut – but I still can’t see what possible good has come out of my mum dying.” Anna had stopped trying to make sense of things and yet still said,

“At points I’ve gotten as low as I can get, but there’s still… I can’t get any lower ‘cause I know that there’s something there. There’s like a firmness, a solidity, a rock underneath and it’s in a desert, but it’s still there. It’s hard to see anything past dry bedrock at the minute. I Just keep hoping it’s gonna’ get better, and it doesn’t. I have that certainty, that God has a plan, but I don’t know what it is. Which means I don’t ever really know if I’m doing the right thing or not. So I’m just doing the next thing.”

By their thirties rather than being thrown into existential turmoil by suffering, most of these participants were developing frameworks to meaningfully navigate hardship.

Undoubtedly, some of those who cannot make sense of their suffering reject Christianity. There were individuals in Changing Shape whose church communities seemed as bewildered as they were and unable to help. However, by their thirties rather than being thrown into existential turmoil by suffering, most of these participants were developing frameworks to meaningfully navigate hardship.

Purpose and social connection

Two other frequently reported benefits of faith were a sense of purpose and social connection. These topics are addressed in later sections. The importance of community and relationships for Millennials was confirmed and will be unpacked in Sections 4 and 5. Additionally, many described either general or specific senses of purpose shaped by their faith, which Section 6 explores.

Overall

These Millennial Christians continue with their faith not just because they believe the Christian gospel to be historically or theologically true, but also because it impacts their lives in positive ways.

It is clear that these Millennial Christians continue with their faith not just because they believe the Christian gospel to be historically or theologically true, but also because it impacts their lives in positive ways. It is not always easy, but they largely consider that there are good reasons to buck the secular cultural trend and continue to practise their faith. It helps them to grow as people and provides wisdom with which to navigate a demanding life stage. Most significantly, though, it provides them with existential, emotional, and social sources of comfort – a sense of hope, security, community and even vision for the future in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reflection and discussion

These will not all be appropriate in every context, but are designed to begin helpful conversation after reading Section 2.

• What do you recognise in these findings on how faith helps with life, and what would you want to challenge?
• What might encourage you (and your peers) to be secure and hope-filled followers of Jesus?
• What opportunities to learn and grow would you appreciate?
• How have you processed disappointment or doubt in your faith journey? What might have helped you in that?

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Footnotes

[1] http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/research/quiet-revival/ (accessed 01.10.25)

[2] https://highline.huffingtonpost.com/articles/en/poor-millennials/ (accessed 06.10.25) is one example among many written by Millennial authors.

Photo by Fraser JS on Unsplash