People ask if spirituality is the same thing as faith.

“What is spirituality?” Eckles, 10, said. “Spirituality is someone who is faithful without having religious faith.”

Eckles explained that spirituality involves being religious but not necessarily following every religious practice all the time. Attending church and reading the Bible aren’t things they do every day, but they still feel connected to their faith in a meaningful way.

Matthew believes spirituality and faith are always intertwined. Without faith, spirituality would be just guessing — there would be

no foundation or deeper understanding. 

“[Spirituality] doesn’t exist without faith because you won’t be able to learn more about God and get closer to Him,” they said.

Eckle’s experience of faith through spirituality was deeply strengthened during a difficult time when their mom was in a car accident. That moment made them realize “anything is possible with God.” It inspired them to start reading the Bible more and praying, which brought comfort and hope.

Eckles also talked about spiritual practices like prayer, saying that praying before meals and writing quotes on their mirror helps them stay thankful and ask for forgiveness. These small rituals influence their faith by keeping them connected to God every day.

They acknowledge the challenges in developing faith through spirituality, one of which is making sure you’re genuinely connected and not just going through the motions or trying to impress others.

When it comes to how faith through spirituality impacts their daily life, Eckles believes that faith helps them cope with fear and uncertainty by providing support and bringing people into their life who help lift them up.

“Being closer to God can make you more happy,” they said.

Ultimately, Eckles sees faith and spirituality as a personal journey where being open and consistent helps deepen the connection with God over time.