I didn’t realize how Confirmation changes your spiritual journey until about… ten years after mine happened. Which feels on-brand for me, honestly. I’m the person who understands the plot twist halfway through the end credits.
If you grew up in church, Confirmation might’ve felt like a formal graduation. A handshake. A nice certificate your mom framed and put somewhere slightly crooked in the hallway.
But if you’re wondering whether it actually does anything — same. I asked that too. Quietly. While wearing an itchy robe and pretending to look spiritual.
Let’s talk about it like normal people.
Back When I Thought Confirmation Was Just “Advanced Sunday School”
So here’s a memory for you.
I was 14. Braces. Slightly tragic haircut. Deeply convinced I knew everything about life because I had just read one C.S. Lewis quote.
Confirmation classes started that fall.
I remember thinking, Okay cool, this is like leveling up in a video game. You complete the class, answer some questions, boom — you’re officially a “real” church member.
No lightning bolts.
No sudden halo.
Just… paperwork.
And yet.
Looking back, that season quietly rewired something in me.
What Is Confirmation Anyway?
The meaning of Confirmation gets explained in about 27 different ways depending on what church you grew up in. But at its core, it’s this:
It’s a public affirmation of faith.
If you were baptized as a baby, Confirmation is often your chance to say, “Yeah. That decision made on my behalf? I’m choosing it now.”
If you were baptized later, it’s more about strengthening and sealing your commitment.
Either way, it’s not just ceremonial fluff. It’s a moment of ownership.
Which sounds simple. But ownership changes things.
The Ceremony Itself (Let’s Be Honest)
The Confirmation ceremony can feel… formal.
There’s usually a line.
Some serious faces.
A pastor or bishop laying hands on your head.
Maybe oil. (I was not prepared for the oil.)
When it was my turn, I remember thinking: Please don’t trip. Please don’t trip.
I didn’t. Small victory.
But when hands rested on my head and someone prayed over me — like really prayed — I felt seen in a way I hadn’t before.
It wasn’t dramatic. It was grounding.
Like someone saying, “We believe you can carry this.”
How Confirmation Changes Your Spiritual Journey (For Real Though)
Here’s where it gets interesting.
At 14, I thought Confirmation was the finish line.
Turns out, it was more like someone handing me the keys and saying, “Okay. Now drive.”
That’s terrifying.
But also freeing.
Before Confirmation, faith felt inherited. After? It felt chosen.
And there’s a huge difference between those two.
The Shift From “My Parents’ Faith” to “My Faith”
You ever realize you’ve been agreeing with something just because it’s what you’ve always known?
That was me.
Confirmation forced me to wrestle with questions:
- Do I actually believe this?
- What do I do with doubts?
- Am I following Jesus because it’s comfortable or because it’s true?
Nobody told me I had to wrestle. But the questions came anyway.
And wrestling is healthy. Annoying. But healthy.
A Slightly Awkward Moment of Honesty
During one of our Confirmation classes, the pastor asked, “What doubts do you have?”
Dead silence.
Finally, I blurted out, “What if I mess this up?”
Which, in hindsight, is the most teenager thing ever.
He laughed — kindly — and said, “You will.”
Not what I expected.
But weirdly comforting.
Spiritual growth after Confirmation isn’t about suddenly becoming flawless. It’s about learning to navigate faith with responsibility instead of autopilot.
The Real Change Happens After the Ceremony
This is the part no one puts on the invitation.
After the robes are returned and the cake is eaten (there’s always sheet cake, right?), life just… continues.
School.
Work.
Relationships.
Doubt.
Distraction.
Group chats that won’t stop buzzing at midnight.
So how does Confirmation change your spiritual journey when everything else looks the same?
It changes your posture.
Before, I was being carried.
After, I was walking.
Not alone. But actively.
Confirmation as a Rite of Passage
We don’t talk enough about Christian rites of passage.
In other cultures, there are clear moments when someone transitions into adulthood or responsibility. Confirmation is kind of that in the church world.
It’s not about age as much as readiness.
It says, “You’re not just observing anymore. You’re participating.”
And participation changes how you show up.
I started paying attention differently in church. Not because I had to — but because I wanted to.
Which shocked me, honestly.
The Unexpected Confidence Boost
Here’s something I didn’t expect: Confirmation made me braver.
Not in a loud way.
But in a quiet, steady way.
When someone asked about my faith in college, I didn’t shrink like I might’ve before. I’d already stood in front of my church and declared what I believed.
That moment stuck.
Kind of like muscle memory.
Doubt Didn’t Disappear (Sorry)
If you’re hoping Confirmation wipes out every question and confusion — I hate to break it to you.
It doesn’t.
In fact, mine intensified for a while.
Because once you own your faith, you have to grapple with it.
But here’s the twist: doubt didn’t dismantle my faith. It refined it.
If you want an honest blog that talks about faith and doubt without pretending everything’s tidy, I’ve always appreciated the reflections over at The Rabbit Room. It feels human. Real.
Ownership Is the Real Game-Changer
I keep coming back to that word: ownership.
Before Confirmation:
Faith was something happening around me.
After Confirmation:
Faith was something happening within me.
That internal shift? Subtle. But powerful.
It meant I prayed because I wanted to, not because it was scheduled.
It meant I read Scripture out of curiosity, not obligation.
It meant I showed up to serve because it mattered to me.
The “Now What?” Phase
There’s always a “now what?”
You finish Confirmation and think, Okay. I did it. What’s next?
And the answer is… life.
Real life.
Which is where the spiritual journey actually unfolds.
In:
- Forgiving someone when it’s hard.
- Choosing integrity when nobody’s watching.
- Showing up for community even when you’re tired.
That’s where Confirmation quietly proves it wasn’t just a ceremony.
When Confirmation Doesn’t Feel Life-Changing
Let’s be honest for a second.
Not everyone walks away from Confirmation feeling fireworks.
Some people feel… neutral.
And that’s okay.
Spiritual growth after Confirmation doesn’t always look dramatic. Sometimes it’s like planting a tree. You don’t see growth immediately. But years later, there’s shade where there wasn’t before.
I didn’t notice the change right away.
But when hard seasons came — loss, confusion, big life decisions — I had a foundation.
And that foundation was laid, in part, during Confirmation.
A Conversation That Stuck With Me
A few years after my Confirmation ceremony, I asked my pastor why it mattered so much.
He said, “Because someday, you’ll need to remember that you chose this.”
That hit.
Faith inherited is comforting.
Faith chosen is resilient.
So… Does Confirmation Change Your Spiritual Journey?
Yeah. It does.
Not because of the oil.
Not because of the certificate.
Not because you suddenly become holier-than-thou.
But because you step forward.
You say yes.
And something about saying yes — publicly, intentionally — shifts the trajectory.
It moves faith from background noise to guiding voice.
From assumption to conviction.
From routine to relationship.
If You’re Considering Confirmation
Take it seriously.
But don’t overcomplicate it.
Ask questions.
Be honest.
Bring your doubts.
Bring your curiosity.
Don’t perform spirituality. Just show up as you are.
Because that’s who’s being confirmed. Not some polished version of you. The real one.
Braces, awkward phases, and all.
Letting the Writing Breathe (Because This Matters)
If I could sit across from you at a coffee shop right now — chipped mug, slightly too-loud music in the background — I’d say this:
Confirmation isn’t the end of your spiritual journey.
It’s the moment you realize you’re responsible for it.
And responsibility? It sounds heavy. But it’s also empowering.
You’re not just carried along by tradition anymore.
You’re walking.
Choosing.
Growing.
Sometimes stumbling. Definitely stumbling.
But moving forward.
And honestly? That’s where real faith begins.
