Since I am the oldest of two, I was the first to walk, speak, ride a bike and drive a car. All the "firsts" in my life have never belonged exclusively to me; they belonged to my entire family. So when it came time to look at colleges, it was, of course a family endeavor.

My parents always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and they believed that God had a specific call on my life. They never put limitations on what that call might be. Whether I felt called to a small Christian college or to a giant public university, they absolutely believed that God would provide for us financially.

I'm sure they were less than thrilled when I chose the more expensive route, but they didn't show it. Imagine me saying to my parents: "Mom, Dad, if it's OK with you, I want to go to school to learn how to be in the music business. Maybe I'll play in a rock band or something. It's going to cost about $20,000 a year. What do you think?"

My phrasing was perhaps more tactful, but you get the gist. I can't imagine what went through their minds. A college degree isn't necessary for playing in a rock band. But at the same time, I genuinely felt drawn to this decision. So Mom and Dad took a deep breath and said, "OK, Son. We'll give it a shot."

I should also note that my family was not well-off financially. We were average Americans, and we cut coupons and drove beat-up Chevrolets. For any family in this tax bracket, the price tag on a college education can render quite a shock. We had no idea where the money was going to come from.

College is expensive, and it's important to realize the scope of the cost. But it's more important to not let it dictate the situation. God is bigger than money.

I moved to Canton, Ohio, where I began my freshman year at Malone College. By the second year, we were already struggling with payments. I still believed I was in the right place, but I was forced to consider other options.

One verse became very significant to me during this time: "For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have" (2 Corinthians 8:12, NIV). I was willing to try any door that God led me to, even if it meant leaving Malone.

I ended up applying for student loans to cover the cost—somewhat of a blessing for my parents and somewhat of a curse for me. But I am grateful for student loans, and they kept me in school. However, I now have a debt to pay off for the next 10 to 20 years—an important reality to consider.

Soon after I applied for loans, I met former dcTalk guitarist, Mark Lee Townsend—my music business professor and the producer for bands like Relient K and The Supertones. Mark wanted to start a band, and he asked me to play bass. I, of course, accepted.

Finally, my family and I understood why I was supposed to be at Malone instead of anywhere else. It was a huge comfort to know that we were following God's plan all along. This definitely was not the only reason that God called me to Malone, but I do believe that it was the most important reason. Had I not gone to Malone and had Mark not given me a chance, I would be living a completely different life today.

By my third year in college, the cost was completely monopolizing my ability to stay. Even the loans weren't enough, and I was prepared to drop out. But I visited Malone's office of student retention—it's sole purpose being to help students pay for and finish college—and I found loans, grants and scholarships for just my predicament. They even helped me find tutoring jobs. We found a way that I could stay in college long enough to graduate—which I eventually did.

The whole experience was a lesson of faith for my family, with difficult trials and glorious rewards. I am overwhelmed by God's faithfulness when I look back now at the chain of events that led me from high school to college—and ultimately into the world of music.

In the end, I realized an important truth about God's provision: A willing, trusting heart is all He ever needs in the first place.