If I’m Not By Your Side: Legacy of Faith and Wisdom for the Next Generation

By Nathan Carter

If I'm Not By Your Side: Legacy of Faith and Wisdom for the Next Generation is a heartfelt collection of personal stories, reflections, and life lessons, highlighting the unshakable faith and wisdom gained by walking with God. Written by Nathan Carter, this book serves as both a testimony and an invitation to walk boldly with Christ through every season of life.

Within these pages lies a powerful testimony to God’s love, direction, and faithfulness. Carter shares the challenges that tested his faith alongside moments of joy, growth, and spiritual revelation that deepened his relationship with Christ.

More than a memoir, this book offers practical wisdom, spiritual encouragement, and a vision for living a life of purpose. Whether you’re on the mountaintop or in the valley, these pages affirm that God’s love and grace are present in every step of your journey.

This book is for anyone longing to grow in faith, face life’s challenges with wisdom, and leave a legacy grounded in God’s truth. Through powerful storytelling and spiritual insight, Carter inspires readers to pursue God’s calling—unashamed and confident—reminding them that they are never alone and are fully empowered to become who He created them to be

To continue following Nathan on his journey, connect with him on Instagram: @_nathancarter5.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 17, 2025
• ISBN: 9798385050604

Nathan Carter

Nathan Carter is a husband, a former collegiate football player, and a proud Michigan State graduate. Most importantly, he is a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. His life has been shaped by faith, athletics, and a deep commitment to God’s calling. Drawing from personal experience, Carter encourages others to grow in a real, personal relationship with Christ. With a background in high-level athletics and steadfast faith, he inspires people to live unashamed of the gospel, trusting God's hand to guide their path.

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Copyright © 2025 Nathan Carter.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-5061-1 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-5062-8 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-5060-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2025909879

WestBow Press rev. date: 5/15/2025

Contents

Introduction

Before You Begin

Growing into Manhood

Faith as Your Foundation

Bonds That Last Forever

Finding and Keeping Love

Facing Life’s Challenges

Understanding Your Identity

Answering the Call

Stay Hungry, Stay Humble

Stepping into the Unknown

Epilogue: The Story Continues

Endnotes

To my wife, Madison, you are the greatest gift I have ever received on this earth. Thank you for saying yes to me on May 18, 2024, and for loving, encouraging, praying for, and standing by me every day since. Our future children will be truly blessed to have a mother as strong, loving, and incredible as you.

To my future children, kings and queens destined to make a difference in this world by using your God-given gifts to serve His kingdom and others. Bearing the name Carter is both a privilege and a responsibility, one tied to a legacy of God-fearing men and women who have devoted their lives to the Lord. May you walk boldly in their footsteps and create a legacy of your own.

To every reader, may this book inspire and encourage you to grow in wisdom and faith through the stories I share. My prayer is that these words will guide you to seek the example of our heavenly Father, who loves and leads us all through Christ Jesus. May His love and wisdom be the foundation of a legacy that lives on, shaping the next generation in His grace.

Introduction

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

—1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Would you still be you without your story?

That question stopped me in my tracks. Our stories shape us: how we see the world, how we connect with others, and how we discover our purpose. Even Jesus understood the power of stories. He often taught using parables—short and simple yet full of meaning. Stories are powerful. They can inspire, heal, and transform not just us but also the people we share them with.

Each one of us has a story. Some are loud and bold, others quiet and simple. But every story matters. I’ve always loved listening to people’s stories. It’s one of the best ways to learn about others and see the world from their perspective. But just as much as I love listening, I’ve also felt called to share my own story, not because it’s perfect but because it’s real.

This book is my story—not a finished product or a flawless journey but a testament to God’s faithfulness in my life. It’s a reflection of how God has guided me, helping me gain wisdom as I’ve grown into adulthood. My hope is that through these pages, you’ll discover how faith and passion can light your path, no matter where you are or what challenges you face.

I’m twenty-two years old, newly married, a college graduate, and a former Division I athlete. I’m chasing the goal of playing professional football. From the outside, it might look like I have it all figured out, but that’s far from the truth. Like everyone, I’ve wrestled with questions about who I am, what I should be doing, and what really matters in life.

As a kid, my dreams were all about achievement and recognition. But as I’ve grown, God has reshaped my perspective. The things I once thought were so important don’t hold the same weight anymore. My greatest desire now is to live a life rooted in love—loving God, loving others, and embracing the purpose He’s set for me.

I believe my generation has the power to change the world, and I’m convinced it will be those on fire for Jesus who will lead the way. The world will try to define who you are and tell you what you should be chasing. But your identity and purpose don’t come from the world—they come from God.

You’re never too young—or too old—for Him to use you.

Through my story, I want to show you that God can use anyone, at any stage of life, to do incredible things. I’ve had my share of ups and downs, but one thing has stayed constant: God’s faithfulness. Some might think I’m too young or inexperienced to write this book, and maybe they’re right. But I believe the perspective I’ve gained can encourage you in ways I never imagined.

Even though I’m writing this with my future children in mind, this book is for anyone who’s searching for clarity, purpose, or direction. My hope is that as you read, you’ll be inspired to embrace your own story and see how God is working in it, even when you don’t realize it.

This isn’t a story about a perfect life. It’s about how God uses imperfect people for His perfect plans. It’s about His faithfulness in my life—and how He’s working in yours too.

Let’s begin.

Before You Begin

What I Wish I Knew at Your Age

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, for they will be a garland of favor on your head and pendants[a] around your neck.

—Proverbs 1:8–9 (CSB)

February 10, 2013

I was eleven years old, sitting in the back of church one Sunday, managing the sound system. It was like any other Sunday: arriving with my parents, setting up the microphones, ensuring the CD recorder was on, and, most importantly, trying not to fall asleep. Everything seemed routine, yet this Sunday turned out to be unlike any other.

Growing up as a preacher’s kid, I had heard countless sermons about the Gospel and learned countless stories in Sunday school. If I’m being honest, I was the best Sunday school student. I always did my homework and grasped the lessons well. I knew a lot about what God had done. Despite all that knowledge, I couldn’t honestly say I knew God personally. I thought that simply being a pastor’s kid was enough—that I could rely on my parents’ faith and be set for life. At eleven years old, I didn’t fully understand what it meant to have my own relationship with Jesus. Building that relationship wasn’t at the top of my to-do list.

Then came this one life-changing Sunday.

I once heard someone say, There are moments in life where the decisions we make change the trajectory of our entire lives. Looking back on February 10, 2013, I understand that quote fully now.

It was Youth Sunday, and my mother was delivering the message. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much of her sermon. I can’t recall the scriptures she used or the application points she made. But what I do remember vividly is what happened toward the end of that message.

Growing up in church, we often did altar calls, where the speaker invited people to come forward to make spiritual decisions, such as accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Most of the time, I was either dozing off or barely paying attention. I never understood why anyone would want to step in front of everyone to do that. The idea of walking up to the altar seemed terrifying—the pressure, the fear of judgment. It made no sense to me.

But on this particular Sunday, my mother extended an altar call for the youth. She spoke about how making the decision to follow Jesus would change our lives. She asked us to consider if we were confident we’d be in heaven if we died that day. I had heard similar questions before, but this time, something stirred deep within me. It felt like my soul was urging me to go up there—to take a bold step of faith. A voice in my head kept saying, It’s going to be OK. You have nothing to fear.

But I was afraid. Terrified, actually. What would people think if I walked up there? What if I was the only one? Everyone would stare at me, and I didn’t want that. But then, another thought crept in: I didn’t want to go to hell either. That was even more terrifying. Maybe I could wait until later in life to make this decision. But what if I didn’t have all my life?

The internal battle raged for what felt like an eternity. One part of me wanted to stay seated and avoid eye contact with my mother. The other part urged me to be bold and take that step of faith. After about ten minutes, I made my decision. Shaking in my shoes, sweat dripping down my face, I stood up. With every step toward the front, my nervousness and fear grew stronger—until, suddenly, they vanished, replaced by overwhelming peace. It was an unexplainable, all-consuming peace.

When I reached the altar, I closed my eyes. I didn’t fully understand why I had taken that step, but I knew it was the right thing to do. The burning desire to come forward had outweighed my fear. With my eyes still closed, I stood there, feeling as though I was alone, the entire world watching me. Tears streamed down my face—not tears of fear or regret but tears of unexplainable joy and peace.

My mother asked one final time, Is there anyone else? I hoped someone would join me, thinking I was the only one up there. But when I opened my eyes and turned around, I was speechless. All the youth in that building stood behind me. I wasn’t alone. Others had made the same decision I did. Later, my father told me that after I stepped forward, everyone else followed, and the altar call continued to grow.

That one moment—that one decision—changed the trajectory of my life. And not just mine but others’ lives as well. Sometimes, it takes one person’s step of boldness and faith to inspire others to say, Hey, I can do that too. I’m not saying I led others to follow Jesus that day, but I believe God stirred something inside me that wasn’t just for me but for those watching as well.

Now, when I see altar calls in church, I often tear up. I cheer for those taking that same step of boldness and faith because I’ve been there. I know how they feel. It brings joy to my heart and to heaven, knowing that someone has dedicated their life to Jesus.

Since that day, I can confidently say that choosing to follow Jesus was the best decision I ever made and will make. That decision on a random Sunday morning forever changed my