How a Childhood Quote Shapes My Approach to Challenges
Why one verse on study, mastery, and proving yourself has been my guide through life’s challenges.
Do you have a quote that you live by? For me, it’s one I learned in 5th grade that’s stuck with me ever since.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
When asked for a quote that inspires me, I’m always drawn back to one of the first Bible verses I memorized and really understood. This verse from 2 Timothy, written by Paul to his young friend, carries a message that resonates beyond any specific belief.
Regardless of whether you believe in God or the Bible, the main takeaway from this verse is powerful: study so that you may show and prove yourself. This message has been a guiding light throughout my life, ever since I first learned it back in elementary school.
Where Did It Come From?
In 5th grade, I attended a private Christian school, and every Wednesday, we had a program called AWANA. It was through AWANA that I first learned this verse. Interestingly, AWANA is an acronym based on this very verse: Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed.
AWANA’s purpose is to teach young people about the Bible, rewarding them for memorizing scripture—kind of like Bible Study meets Boy Scouts. To earn your first prize, you had to memorize 2 Timothy 2:15, the program’s founding verse. Little did I know that understanding this simple verse would impact my life in ways I’d only come to appreciate much later.
Application
This verse continues to surface in my mind every time I face a new challenge. It reminds me that I need to study, to truly understand: How does it work? What can I learn? What can I contribute?
But this is where many people get stuck—they stay on the "knowledge hamster wheel," constantly learning without ever stepping off to apply that knowledge. That’s where the next part comes in: Show yourself approved. It’s not enough to just know about something; to truly master it, you need to demonstrate what you know.
Think of it like a math class: it’s not enough to write the answer; you have to show your work. My favorite way to “show my work” is through teaching. When I can teach what I’ve studied to someone else, it proves I’ve learned it—and I help someone else learn, too.
Finally, the verse encourages us to become a “workman who is not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” While this can connect to spirituality, outside of that context, it’s about mastery. When you truly master something, you can sort out the truth from the noise, and you’re confident in your expertise. You know that even if someone tries to disrupt or discredit your work, you’re grounded in your understanding.
Reflection
Every time I face a new challenge, I think back to this verse and its message. If you’re dealing with something difficult, I encourage you to ground yourself with these three steps: study, show, prove.
What quote or thought inspires you each day?
Share it below—I’d love to hear what keeps you going!