In this moving episode of the Plain Values Podcast, Marlin sits down with Josh Troyer to share his remarkable journey of faith, resilience, and finding true identity in Christ.

Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency, Josh was missing his right femur bone. At just two years old, he underwent rotationplasty, a radical surgery in which doctors amputated his leg at the hip, rotated it 180 degrees, and reattached it so his foot could function as a knee joint. At four, he endured another painful surgery with an Ilizarov device to lengthen his bones, a process that involved metal pins through his bones and months of discomfort.

As a child and teen, Josh wrestled deeply with his identity. He hated being known as “the cripple boy,” struggled with self-pity, and tried to hide his prosthesis. Through it all, his parents sought wisdom and trusted God’s plan. Josh shares how God spoke to him, reminding him that his true identity is not in his leg or his abilities, but in Christ. He began renewing his mind with Scripture, especially Psalm 139 and Ephesians 1, replacing lies like “I am unlovable” and “I am a victim” with God’s truth.

Today, Josh is a pilot, a pastor, and a father of three energetic boys. He credits his challenges with shaping his compassion and gratitude. He reminds listeners that God is the author of our stories, using every hardship to make them beautiful if we respond with trust.

This episode is honest, inspiring, and full of hope for anyone wrestling with their own limitations or identity. Josh’s story beautifully illustrates that our greatest challenges often become the very things God uses for His glory.

Learn more about Josh Troyer at https://www.youtube.com/@gospelhavenchurch

Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com