I think being a teen is crazy. It’s like a roller coaster and we’re standing on the loop-de-loop. (Or something like that. I’ve never been great with analogies.) Anyway, I wanted to talk about five things that make the teen years crazy, and what we can do about them.
1) Stress
Life is stressful… there’s no denying it. School, pressure from everywhere, more freedom and more responsibility, tragedies…you name it, we feel it.
Not to mention, life is hard. Bad stuff happens. The older you get, the more you understand and are told about. And it’s hard to deal with.
One of my many comfort verses is Psalm 4:8, which says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
God is our peace. We can rest in Him. We can have peace in the crazy.
2) Relationships
Boys, girls, hormones! There’s all this pressure coming from the world, saying, “Being single is bad. You need someone to satisfy your every need. How can you get it? Start dating! Give your heart away. Quick! And your body too.”
But… all these new longings are confusing. I mean, who doesn’t want someone to love them for them? Hold them and comfort them? Save them? We all want that, but it can’t be satisfied by a human relationship. It comes from a relationship with God… and if we don’t realize this, we are gonna be lost.
3) School
Yup. School. I don’t like it any more than you… but we gotta do it. Sometimes I get so frustrated and freaked out over it. But it’s so small in the grand scheme of life, so here’s a verse that helps me through.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7
We will make it. Really. (I’m going to save this post to my favorites so I can read it every day and be reminded of this.)
4) Everything Changing
Everything is changing. It’s not really fair. Lives change, friends move away, life. is. insane. The one thing that I have to hold onto is this — Jesus never changes. Ever.
Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He never changes, even when everything else does. I can stay secure in that!
5) Pressure — From EVERYWHERE.
Social pressure. Emotional pressure. Physical pressure. Family pressure. Everything says “GO HERE! DO THIS! DON’T SO THAT!” And it’s hard. Need I say it again? IT IS HARD! Who do I please when I’m being torn in fifty bazillion directions? Well, here’s who.
“But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:4
We need to live to please God, not man. That takes a lot of pressure off, doesn’t it?
Life is crazy. But not impossible.
Being a teen is hard. But we have the Creator of the Universe on our side!
We don’t need to worry. God’s got this.
It will be okay. We will survive our teen years… and by following God, we will THRIVE.
What are your biggest challenges as a teenager?
Share Your Thoughts in the Comment Section!
There are currently 8 Comment(s)
There are currently 8 Comment(s)
Hi Amanda!! Great post, thanks for sharing. I guess the biggest struggle of being a teen is just being in that in between stage of childhood and adulthood, especially when people are treating you like a kid. Growing up is exciting and frightening at he same time. Exciting because you’re not a little kid anymore and you get to do more things, but frightening because you are delegated more responsibility and you aren’t totally replying on your parents for every little thing. I hate when I ask my mom what do you think about such and such (things like this shirt or this earring), and she says it doesn’t matter, or just choose. Also, dealing with your raging hormones and emotions are tough too. Stress is really hard to deal with sometimes too. At this time in our lives,being at home with family is a good place to learn how to deal or cope with stress before getting out in the work force and college. School, especially high school, gives a lot of practice on how to deal with stress for sure!!
Through it all, yes, God is with us and He’s in control!!
Thanks again for posting!!
In Christ’s Love,
Gabrielle
I’ve never been the first person to comment. Interesting!! 🙂
It’s a rare occasion that only happens every once in a while =)
True. 🙂
Thank you, Gabrielle! And I agree. Life is tough, but God is here. 🙂 it’s a great thing that He didn’t put me in control! 😀
Amen sister!! It’s comforting to know that He’s always in control no matter what we see, hear, or go through.
Definitely.
I like your view on how school gives us a lot of practice on how to deal with stress. Even though stress isn’t ever really a good thing, at least we are learning how to work with it now so that we can manage stress a little better when we’re older. 🙂
Hmm… this post looks familiar. Did you post it on your blog as well? 🙂 ;)I love it! So true!
My biggest challenge as a teen is the pressure from everywhere about everything.
You’ve gotta know what career to pursue as a freshman of high school!” “You’ve gotta have a boyfriend and an Instagram and a fantastic wardrobe!” You name it, the world is throwing it at us. It’s soooo stressful, and I’ve had to rely on God through it all. 🙂 That 1 Thessalonians verse is so true and applicable!
Haha…yep, I did. 🙂 I’m so glad that we have the God of the universe on our side!
Haha I didn’t even realize that I said “we have the God of the Universe on our side”. I practically said the same thing in the article. XD
Nice post Amanda! I see a lot of wisdom here. 🙂 I really needed to hear number 3 with the verse in Philippians was exactly what I needed to hear tonight. I have ACT testing tomorrow morning and I am pretty nervous about it. That little encouragement that we’ll make it through and the section in the verse that says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding…” is what made me feel a lot better. I’m praying that I can remember the information that I have learned during this year and that God gives me peace during my test. Thank you for writing these encouraging words as we all go through crazy times as teenagers!
Praying for your ACT to go well!
Thank you! I think it went pretty well. 🙂
Praying for your successful ACT test this morning…
Thank you for your prayers!
That’s awesome, Olivia! I’ll be praying for your ACT!
Thank you! 🙂
Great post! It’s great encouragement!
Thanks Amanda! Great thoughts! It is very encouraging to read about things that we go through in every day life that others are struggling with as well. By the way, when I was reading your About the Author, it was cool t see that we are interested in many of the same things.
Thanks really cool, Christina. 🙂 What kinds of things are you interested in?
It is so great to remember when we are stressed out that God is in control of everything. And He is looking out for us! God wants us to do our best at everything, but He doesn’t want us to be stressing about every little thing! He doesn’t care if we make an A in Chemistry, He cares that we do our absolute best at everything. So if getting a C is your best, then don’t worry about it! God still has a plan for you and can use you in amazing ways!
Thank you, Rebecca! (I’ve struggled with perfectionism for so long especially about school…haha…so sometimes I need to read my own blog posts and take my own advice about stress…) haha 🙂
Your welcome!! Sometimes we need to take our own advice 🙂
This is really good, Amanda! I love that it’s full of Biblical truth about things we all have struggles with. I guess my biggest challenge in “teenagerdom” is to stop listening to the lies that are around me and inside me, and trust in God’s unfailing, unchanging truth. Thanks for sharing this with us, Amanda!
Thank you Haylie! I agree 🙂 The hardest thing about lies is that they are meant to sound so close to the truth that we believe them, and that’s why it’s so important to spend time listening to God!
Good post, and true! I read down it going, “Yep, that’s true… Oh, yeah, that too… ah, she got that one… oh, and that… and of course that one!” You nailed it. Sometimes it’s hard to act mature when you’re expected to be immature, and sometimes it’s hard to resist those immature leanings that I have in my own heart! Thanks for this!
Thank you, Taylor.
Wow! I just realized how similar your writing style is to Rachel Schaus.
Wow! This is so true. We need to remember where to go when the world pushes and pulls!
Thank you, Amanda.
That’s so funny! We were actually just talking about that a few months ago. Haha.
Thank you Trent! I’m glad it spoke to you.
Love how you mentioned will we not only survive but THRIVE! 🙂 Awesome post!
Thank you!
Before more comments flood in, and life gets crazy, a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to @amandabeguerie:disqus for this beautiful piece. (I think we should all have Philippians 4 memorized; so much encouragement from that chapter!)
Thank you, Caleb! It’s my pleasure. (I agree wholeheartedly!)
This was great, Amanda! Thanks for this! 😀 It was very inspirational!
You’re welcome Skylar!
Thank you for sharing, @amandabeguerie:disqus!
Am I the only one that connects the most with raging hormones? 😛
HARD… can we make this any bolder? 😀
God is defiantly our… well He should be the person we go to for everything, really.
Great post! Thanks again!
you’re not alone. me too. everyone does.
Incredible article, Amanda!! Very encouraging. 🙂
(p.s. I just wanted to point out to Brett, under header 5) it says: “Go here! Do this! Don’t so that!” instead of “Don’t *do* that”.)
Thank you @Kittenese:disqus! (Haha…that’s probably my fault. Oops.)
Lol, it’s fine. I just wanted to point it out to Brett since I figure he has editing capabilities (can you edit your own article if it’s on the Reb?). It happens (way too often in my case XD).
But, again, great article! I just followed your blog. 🙂 It looks really good!
Right. Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to edit.
Thank you! I followed yours too. 😉
Thanks! 🙂 So how long have you been blogging?
Only since mid-February. How about you?
I’m coming up on my five year anniversary! Your blog is AMAZINGLY good for being a couple months old. It took me years (quite literally) to figure out a bunch of the stuff you’re already doing!
Wow! Thanks, that means a lot. 🙂 I need to go binge-read all your articles. XD How often do you post?
Haha 🙂 Not as much as I’d like to. 2015 has been a crazy year for me. I don’t post regularly at the moment (my last one was on Easter), but I’m working towards getting one post a week done. Hopefully after I graduate I’ll have more time! I noticed you’ve committed to two posts a week, that’s great! My motivation and inspiration comes in bursts, so I’m not too good with a schedule. 😉
So what made you choose WordPress?
Ah, gotcha.
Well, I’d heard good things about it. Do you know of Leah Good, who wrote Counted Worthy? (I’m actually meeting her for the first time tomorrow!) I discovered her blog after reading her book. We started chatting (a lot) and she really helped me get started with blogging. She recommended WP to me and I find it professional yet user-friendly. Hbu?
I have heard of her (through the Reb), that’s really cool!! How are you meeting her? I just stumbled across WP by pure luck, and I love it now. 🙂
Well, we live in somewhat close proximity & there’s an event going on that we both will happen to be at. 🙂
Mm, yeah, WP is great. I just added a new feature to my blog…but I have no idea if it’s even possible to do what I want with it and show multiple posts under a menu. Whatever.
Ok, that’s neat! I hope you have fun!!
I just checked, you mean the book Thursday thing? It’s a good idea! 🙂 It’s always fun to fiddle around and add new stuff. (I probably fiddle too much, lol!)
Thanks!! Yeah, fiddling is fun. 🙂
Lol, I had trouble remembering what we were talking about. (Fiddling? I don’t fid–oooooh…haha;)
Haha 🙂
I really enjoyed this post.
It was encouraging to recognize the stresses and pressures that come with the teen years bit realize God is bigger!! When we weigh it all out, He always tips the scales…the things of this world that struggle to capture our attention fade away to nothing in His majestic, marvelous light we are called to walk in as Christians.
The verses you shared we comforting, Amanda. Thank you for being open and giving words of hope and strength to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thank you, Moriah. 🙂
Sure thing! *smiles*
Me: Ooo, this looks good! Let’s see who wrote it… (I’ve been tripped up one time too many by not realising who wrote a post… @trent_blake:disqus @thewriterchick:disqus) Oo, @amandabeguerie:disqus wrote it! *reads post* Wow, Amanda, this is awesome!! Thanks for the encouragement!
Lol! Hey @trent_blake:disqus and @amandabeguerie:disqus, maybe we should write a colab post and really mess people up. 🙂
No no no!!! Don’t confuse us further!! 😛
Totally 😀
Yes! That has my vote! 🙂
Haha thank you!
This post is so encouraging!!! Psalm 4:8 has always been the verse my Mum (Mom, if you prefer!!!) has comforted me with when I am worried or anxious about something. It gives me peace. 🙂
P.S. Another Bible verse I really like is this:
Also my favourite passage is Psalm 23. Does anyone else have a fave Bible passage/verse/chapter to share?
This is so amazing, Amanda!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, Rach. :))
Love continue the posts pls!
so if I pass a guy from my class in the hallway, should I say hi or will that look like I’m flirty? I want some guy friends to prepare for marriage someday, but I don’t want to date now. I’m 16.
There pretty much always is the chance of misinterpretation. I’d say test the waters, being very casual and friendly, and if it starts to get weird, back off a little.
Hey Amanda, did a question you asked just end up in a Jordan Taylor video? I thought I saw your name. Was that you? 🙂
Oh my dude I saw that too! Lol