Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide: 42 Days to Navigate Life

by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda

For many young people, the transition to adulthood is a bumpy one, fraught with opportunities to make mistakes and bad choices. The clear expectations they had at home or in school are gone, and they may feel unprepared to face what comes next. But it doesn't have to be so complicated!

Now the author of the bestselling Welcome to Adulting and former leader of one of the country's largest young adult ministries offers this 42-day guide to help readers with the struggles of adulthood, including navigating relationships, achieving career goals, and overcoming worry through daily pondering, practice, and prayer. If you loved Welcome to Adulting and you want to know just how to apply its insights to your life, this guide is for you.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christianity, Faith, Audiobook, Self Help

208 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2019

About the author

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of a 145 year old Baptist church in Waco, TX, Harris Creek. Prior to moving to Waco in 2019, he was previously the leader of the largest weekly young adult gathering in the country. Although JP was raised in church, he didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties. This ignited a desire in him to inspire the next generation to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. He spends a lot of time helping older generations understand and disciple younger generations.

JP is the author of several best-selling books, including Welcome to Adulting, Outdated, and his most recent release Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?, a book written to help readers of all ages replace deadly vices with life-changing virtues.

JP and Monica, his partner in ministry, have been married since 2004. Together they have the joy and privilege of discipling their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.

Reviews

[Dawid Dethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book:
I’d suggest if anyone were to read it to read it like a devotional instead of going all the way. It has short chapters that talk about daily struggles of a young adult and he adds a Christian perspective throughout every chapter.

I would have liked to read it day by day and meditate and pray about it one by one instead.

[Scott Kedersha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually a fan of devotionals/daily guides, but I loved this book by JP. In the same way he keeps everything focused on Christ, practical, and honest in Welcome to Adulting, JP does it again in a survival guide for young adults. I'm not a young adult, but I still found this guide engaging and helpful. He starts each day with Scripture, and through authentic, real stories helps the reader grow in their love for the Lord and understanding of true wisdom.

The daily reading is short, but each day JP provides prompts for action and prayer. I benefitted greatly from the book and can't wait for my sons to read it as well.

[Gabriela Hanusch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty sure Cody lent this to me which makes me laugh bc the title kinda hits the nail on the head 😅

Loved this devotional! Clearly took me more than 50 days (oops) but JP is so talented at articulating the struggles that everyone deals with and then turning to the scriptures to tackle them with truth. Each day I felt encouraged and even convicted to change some things in order to fully be reliant on God, both through his personal stories and the Bible passage that was being focused on.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

"Real Help For Navigating the Real World."

That's the tagline given in Jonathan Pokluda's latest book, a companion (but separate) book similarly named "Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future," which was released last year. While they are similar in themes and in target audience, the Survival Guide is actually a completely different tool that young adults can apply to their life.

The book is broken down into short devotionals that a person can digest for a few minutes each day before heading out for the day (or to wrap up a day, depending on their choice of time). The devotional is broken up into individual days; every week of those days will focus on a theme, such as anger, anxiety, fasting, and other topics that most people encounter in their daily spiritual walk.

Each day/chapter opens with a Bible verse that is used in context for the topic that will be discussed. An anecdote is given by JP, and broken down to get to the meat of what he wants to share with his reader. He ends each chapter by asking the reader to:

- 'Ponder' (to reflect on what they have just read)
- 'Practice' (an activity that helps you actually live out the theme of the chapter and apply it to their life)
- 'Pray' (speaking to God, asking Him to help them in this area of their life).

Every seven days, one day/chapter will serve as a day of rest - a break from reading anything in-depth. JP encourages this day to be spent with God, as a way to continue to grow spiritually.

I really enjoyed the simplicity of reading through these 42 days - I thought the topics were practical, the anecdotes were not only entertaining but actually applicable, and there was something to chew on long after closing the book for the day.

I think this book would make a valuable gift for any young adult - it can be reused and studied again and again, even after the 42 days have finished. I'm looking forward to reading this again from the beginning, and seeing how else God has in store for this book in my own life.

[Prairie Sky Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you read Jonathan “JP” Pokluda’s book “Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendships, Finances, and the Future”? If so, you will be excited to discover his new book from Revell entitled “Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide: 42 Days to Navigate Life”! It is an excellent addition to his full-length nonfiction book that really helps young adults remember and apply the practices that are so imperative as we enter our grown-up lives.

This survival guide is packaged in a handy little volume that is divided into 42 short, quick-read chapters. Each chapter contains a daily reading about a specific topic (listed in the table of contents) followed by three application steps: Ponder (a question or statement as food for further thought); Practice (a commitment step to make that day); and Pray (a short prayer-starter relating to the topic). Every seventh day we receive a ‘day of rest’ from reading a chapter, and instead are given a Bible verse to reflect on and a suggested, God-centered action for the day.

I really appreciated the bite-sized chapters of this little book that remind me of the themes from the original “Welcome to Adulting” book. The survival guide is quick and easy to read, but packs a punch in terms of applying the topics to our lives. If you haven’t read the original book I do recommend getting a copy of that along with this book, so you can dive deeper into any topics that especially resonate with you. Overall I think the idea of a “survival guide” that makes the all-encompassing topic of ‘adulting’ more accessible for daily application is a great one, and I applaud Mr. Pokluda for his wisdom in writing this second book. If you are a young adult I definitely recommend reading both “Welcome to Adulting” and “Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide”. The first is great for deeper study, and the second brings thought-provoking and actionable steps to our fingertips for daily application!

I am grateful to have received a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers, free of charge, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Welcome to Adulting first arrived, I honestly assumed it was one of the many tongue-in-cheek life manuals that you find lining bookstore shelves these days. I was pleasantly surprised, even as someone who has been doing this “adulting” thing for way longer than seems possible, that this was not a list of instructions for how to do your laundry or keep your car maintained.

While there are a few practical life tid-bits sprinkled throughout the guide, like why compound interest makes it important to begin investing early and dressing for a job interview, those are only included as illustrations of much broader life lessons, and primarily lessons for developing a life lived for Christ.

Every day you make little decisions, and those little decisions are mounting up. What you do every day is turning you into the person you will become and leading you into the life you will live.

Welcome to Adulting, Compounding Interest
The book itself is a quick and easy read, but it is broken up into 42 days so the reader can truly focus on each day’s topic and respond to the “Ponder,” “Practice,” and “Pray” prompts that are provided.

Ponder – Who is the most humble person you know? What makes that person special?

Practice – Write down the goals you have for yourself – career, fitness, relationships, finances, all of it – and for each, ask yourself: Is the reason I want that for myself, or for God or others? What does your list tell you about you?

Pray – God, I want to follow Jesus’s example and live a humble life. It’s not easy. I have a selfishness that is hard to overcome. Please help me. Help me to give up my life – in serving you and others – so I can find the life you have for me.

Welcome to Adulthood, Revolutionary Humility
This is definitely a book I would recommend as a high school or college graduation gift, but older adults shouldn’t let the title keep them from reading and applying the truths that are contained inside.

[Tanya Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Reflections:
If you read my post on the first book by this authour you will remember how much I admired Jonathan Pokluda for his ability to speak truth into a very pivotal point in life, young adulthood. So much is happening at this time that it is no wonder that so many church raised young people fall away from their faith and get lost in the world.
Pokluda simplifies things down in this book with easy to read devotionals and thought-provoking topics, even I who is well into Adulting found the readings enlightening and engaging! In this devotional, the reading starts with a topic then scripture and then a passage sprinkled with stories and step by step ways on how to navigate the issue.
A few of the topics include A Day Of Rest, The Warning Signal For Anger, The Antidote for Anxiety, Too Fast or Not to Fast?, Live For Eternity to name just a few of my favourites.
If you have a young adult it may be wise to leave this somewhere they may pick it up, or depending on your family you could do this together as a mom and son devotional? I'm pretty sure my son won't pick this up on his own, so I'm going to read a few here and there with him to start some great dialogue.
Since these daily devotionals are short and sweet these will be a breeze to fit into any busy schedule. That being said they pack a punch and keep you pondering well after you have read your daily assignment. Pick up book one "Welcome To Adulting" but remember to get this companion guide, these two books are very different and you wouldn't want just one or the other. Thanks, Jonathan Pokluda, this is precisely what I was looking for in a Young Adult Devotional!
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
https://citygirlmovestothecountry-tan...

[Karl Dumas · Rating 4 out of 5]

About a year ago I read Jonathan “JP” Pokluda’s book Welcoming to Adulting. Recently, he’s come out with a follow-up: Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide: 42 Days to Navigate life. (Baker Books, 2019).
This easy to read book is a 6 week devotional, a few minutes a day to read a short passage, and then some things to think about, an action step, and a short prayer. And since this is Christian in nature, day 7 of each week is considered a day of rest.
JP covers any number of things that young adults (actually adults of any age) have to deal with—sometimes occasionally, sometimes on a regular basis. The transition from teen to young adult is often a turbulent time, and this books help navigate discovering and embracing your identity, learning about God's will for your life, recovery, pornography, freedom in Christ, Sabbath, relationships, forgiveness, and several other things that most people deal with, some more successfully than others.
This is written for young adults, and while ‘young’ often refers to a chronological age, many more seasoned people never learned these valuable lessons at the appropriate time in their life. Bottom line, it’s never too late—at least it shouldn’t be—to learn how to be an adult. Even if you think you’re ‘too old’ for this book, you might want to reconsider---but it for your young adult, but read it yourself. You’ll be glad you did.
As a member of the publishers bloggers program, I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
4/5

[Oak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan "JP" Pokluda’s Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide: 42 Days to Navigate Life is a 42-day Biblical devotional tailored to young adults. Each daily devotion includes a real-life story that relates to that devotion; not only do the stories illustrate important points, but they help the reader better engage with and understand that day’s devotion. The book is 5.2 x 0.6 x 7 inches in size and weighs about 5.3 ounces, making it easy to carry around when you’re on-the-go.

Pokluda writes insightful, thought-provoking lessons. The end of most devotions includes a reflection question, a brief prayer, and a short assignment to complete. (For example, the assignment for one of the devotions is, “Write down as many things as you can that you are thankful for. How long can you make that list?”) The book covers so many different relevant topics for young adults, such as embracing your true identity, committing to the Lord, and clothing yourself with humility. One of my favorite chapters is called “Our Mission,” and I especially liked the section that discussed seeing things like Jesus saw them, and doing things like Jesus did them.

I received this book for review.

[Ben Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years ago, right around the time I started my first job out of college. At the time, I was using it as part of my morning reading routine, and it was a helpful and encouraging way to start the day.

The book is structured around 42 short devotionals—but practically, it’s more like 35, since every seventh day is dedicated to reflecting on the previous six. Each entry follows a simple “Ponder → Practice → Pray” format, offering gospel-centered principles with clear next steps for navigating adult life.

Pokluda covers a wide range of relevant topics like work, relationships, conflict, purpose, anxiety, and more. He brings a pastoral, down-to-earth tone that’s easy to read and grounded in both Scripture and practical wisdom. While I don’t remember all the specifics now, I hope I’ve grown in living out the heart behind them—and doing so to the glory of God.

It’s not a deep theological book, but it’s a solid, encouraging guide for young adults trying to figure out life with Jesus at the center. I’d recommend it to anyone just entering adulthood and looking for biblical direction in the day-to-day.

#adulting #imOld #BigCityBoy

[Nancy Larimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide" by Jonathan Pokluda is a practical and helpful book. This book is an excellent resource for young adults navigating the challenges of our world. It addresses many topics like money, goals, planning , guidance with Christian principles and decisions. When young adults venture into our world they are faced with lots of questions and challenges. This book will give them the direction and guidance they need. I commend the authors for writing such a helpful and practical book. It is so needed in our world today. Thank you to the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review this book. Thank you also to netgalley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions of this book are my own .

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide

42 Days to Navigate Life

by Jonathan Pokluda

Baker Books

Christian


Pub Date 03 Sep 2019


I am reviewing a copy of Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide through Baker Books and Netgalley:


For a lot of young people they find the transition to adulthood a difficult one, with plenty of opportunity to make mistakes as well as bad choices. The once clear expectations of hope and school are gone, and they likely fear what comes next but it doesn’t have to be so complicated.


If you have a teen transitioning to adulthood, then Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide would be a great book to give them. I found the advice in this book to be helpful for those transitioning to adulthood!


I give Welcome to Adulting Survival Guide four out of five stars!

[Caitlin McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not recommend this book more highly for individuals navigating "young adulthood". This season of life is messy and this book is an excellent resource to anyone in their 20s and 30s. JP speaks with transparency, clarity and honesty. The chapters are practical and insightful. This is a perfect book to go through individually or with a group of friends! 10/10 recommend!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible devotional for young adults. Perfect for any stage of your walk with Christ. The language is simple enough for even the newest believer to understand and it's FULL of practical wisdom. JP has a way of speaking to young adults that others don't. I'll definitely be going through this again.

[Autumn Littles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good devotional (especially for my first real one)! I loved how you provided your own experiences to connect with the readers. It really helped me remember that I'm not the only one struggling through different things. I also loved the prayers at the end and I really helped me to begin to pray on my own in the mornings.

[Evie Mae J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting to learn how to fold fitted sheets in this book, but i was wrong! It’s pretty much a devotional, with lessons about trusting God, and our overall mission of life. There are prayers, challenges, and questions at the end of the chapters, which are only a couple pages. An easy, uplifting read for everyday, perfect for new adults, or teens.

[Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t finished this book quite yet, but it’s already been so so helpful! This book has a super quick reading each day that is really relevant and applicable for all young adults. aid you are new in your faith or don’t love reading, this is the book for you!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this devotional. It's definitely geared towards young 20s, with some very basic advice, and in some cases very good advice for all ages. Im a big fan of JP in general and I'm glad I've read some of his work.

[Emily Ziegler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good devotional for late teens-early twenties! Very similar to the messages from the porch but condensed with practical applications and prayer examples after each chapter. The practical applications will stick with me, Lord-willing!

[Alondra Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m about to read it again, and go through it with others. This is a very strong devotional.

[Hayley Meijndert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little devotional! Is super easy to read and connects scripture with real life examples. Would be good for teenagers about to graduate!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous little book. Easy to read each morning alongside my one-year Bible reading. Applicable to all, not just young adults. Start this on a Monday if your day of Sabbath rest is a Sunday!

[Brennen Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was better than the actual book. The short daily devos JP puts forward here are good reminders and challenges. Read it quickly for work, but will return to it personally too.

[Jodi Uplinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good. I thought there would be more specific things, but still very much focused on God and living for Him (audio book)

[sae sae · Rating 4 out of 5]

super short chapters with biblical practicals (with life experience) on how to navigate life!! really good would recommend to anyone ;)

[Matthew Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I embarked on the adventure that is the survival guide I was amazed with the depth of discovery for myself and others as I discussed with them. This is a great book to do with others. The content in the book I did not always agree with, but it started a conversation with others, so it was beneficial.

Pick up the book and dive in with friends. you will not be disappointed!

[jaymee ☁️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

because i’ve grown up a Christian, i feel like i knew about everything he wrote about & i didn’t learn much. this would be a great book to give a new Christian or maybe someone who grew up in the church but recently made their faith their own.
it’s good stuff, but i didn’t get much out of it.