In a little over 8 months, I will be eighteen years old; I will no longer be a teenager. It is a bittersweet thing to think about; I’m excited for the new adventures and opportunities that lie ahead, yet my teen years seem to have come and gone so quickly.
A while ago, we asked our followers on Instagram for topics they wanted to see blog posts about. One person asked for advice on getting through the teenage years; as soon as i had read the message, my mind began to swirl with ideas. This is a subject that is very close to my heart. While I still am a teen myself, God has recently given me a great desire to encourage other teenagers in their walk with the Lord.
For me, the past 5 years have been a time of constant growing and learning, both academically and spiritually. Since I was saved at the age of twelve, my entire Christian life has been lived in my teens. God has taught me so many important lessons, and today, I want to share a few with you.
1) Spend time with Jesus every day; it will change your life.
Oh, how I wish i would have learned this earlier in my teens. I cannot begin to tell you what a difference it makes in day to day life when you purpose to spend time with Jesus. Personally, I love to do my devotions and prayer time first thing in the morning. It sets the tone for a good day, and it helps my mind to focus on serving Jesus in every moment. When you spend time with Jesus every day, you not only get closer to Him, but your days will seem brighter, and your burdens will feel lighter. Even on the most mundane days, you’ll have a joy that can only be found in Him. Being a teenager isn’t always easy; it helps to have a Friend you know you can depend on.
2) Learn to be a servant to everyone around you.
Okay, this one can be difficult sometimes. Naturally, we tend to focus on ourselves, and our culture promotes that mindset very well. But friend, there is SO MUCH JOY that comes from serving others. There’s something so sweet and refreshing about being a blessing. You’ll be around other people all of your life, so the earlier you learn to be a servant, the better. In serving others, you are serving Jesus too! I have learned and grown so much in my relationship since i began to do my best to serve others. Now it isn’t always easy; some people are hard to serve. But the Lord promises to bless us for our service. And to me, knowing that it pleases him makes it more than worth it.
3) Find your worth in Jesus, not in what other people think.
As a young teen, I was very quiet and reserved. I preferred listening over talking. I didn’t like to be in front of people. Sometimes I felt like there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t loud and outgoing. But once i learned to place my worth in what Jesus thinks about me, my perspective changed completely.
I feel like so many teenagers today struggle with their worth. Everyone is desperately trying to “fit in” so people will like them, and yet they destroy themselves in the process. But hey, guess what? Other people’s opinions don’t define who you are. It doesn’t matter what they think; God made you exactly how he wanted you to be. You don’t have to fit in. Actually, as Christians we SHOULD’NT fit in. We should act different, because we are different. So it’s okay if you don’t like what everyone else likes. And you don’t have to be friends with everyone in order to be happy. You don’t need the approval of others. Some people won’t like your personality; they’ll say you are too shy, or too loud, or you laugh to much. That’s okay; God designed your personality the way it is for a purpose. Don’t live your life desperately trying to please others; just try your best to please God.
I hope and pray that whether you’re a teen or adult, this post is a blessing to you.
>>Much love, Abby
Brilliantly Loved 