Consider the Wildflowers

Last week, myself, my husband, and my son went to a church youth camp for middle and high school students. It was an amazing experience and the Holy Spirit touched me multiple times throughout the week. One night in particular, the pastor preached a sermon on lies that teens believe and too often, get caught up in. A lot of his discussion was about sexual purity but it also encompassed so much more. As a teacher who works in the high schools, a parent in a house of 3 teenagers, and my experiences over the years working with youth, I have seen first hand the lies, the manipulation, and the pressures teenagers have to deal with on a daily basis. As a teenager, I wrestled with many of them myself, minus social media (Thank God!). If I could go back to my 16 year old self, I would have changed so much. Maybe this is why I feel compelled to write this piece. Maybe a teenager will read this and see that there is more to life than all these negative choices being thrown at them.

To the teen who feels like they don’t belong in any normal crowd, who wonders what these pronouns are that promise to confirm their identity

To the teenager that has to hide their phone screen every time a parent comes to their room

To the teen girl who just got a DM from the star QB at 3 am to send a pic, not knowing that the entire team will have viewed it by the start of school the next morning.

To the teen boy who is too embarrassed to buy condoms before his date because someone might see him.

To the girl who is having to drive to another town with her girlfriends to buy a pregnancy test; minutes later, she sits over a + sign in a dirty gas station bathroom.

To the teenage party-goers: The boy who chugged that funnel like a champ, the girl who woke up next to a stranger this morning, , the ones hovering over toilets, and the group of 3 that just barely missed that tree when they ran off the side of the road early this morning.

To the teenager that struggles with telling the truth. Who feels the stress upon them because they can’t keep the lies straight anymore.

To the girl who is pulling out that razor again after reading yet another horrible comment someone has made on her IG account. The physical pain is easier to bear at this point.

To the teenager who thinks they have the meanest parents in the world because they got caught and are grounded from any resemblance of “fun” for the next weeks.

Dear Teenager, what if I could tell you that your life could be so much more than heartache, guilt, and sadness. What if I could tell you that there are teenagers out there just like you, but have decided to choose a different path for their lives. There is not a fear of getting pregnant because they choose abstinence. There is not a fear of getting caught with drugs or alcohol, because they choose sobriety. They don’t have the urge to hurt themselves because they have someone they can turn to in their darkest moments. They are confident in who they are because they know Who created them. Now, don’t get my wrong, these teens will go through trials just like everyone else but, it is how they face their problems that makes the difference. These teenagers are the ones who have given themselves to Jesus and are truly living their life as a Christian. I am not talking about the ones who have a Bible on the top of their bookshelf or the one who goes to church at Easter and Christmas (although those things are good). I am talking about the ones who give time to God on a daily basis: praying, studying, and worshiping Him. While many want to say they are Christians, they don’t want to have to give up all the things that they think are “fun”. Let me tell you something- you can’t have the Kingdom without the King. If you want to be a Christian, it’s a package deal.

One observation I made at church camp was how powerful an impact the older teens had on the younger ones. Watching these kids lead prayers, worship, and Bible studies was humbling. Not only were these teens truly devoting theirselves to God they were also able to have the time of their lives everyday. While there was lots of serious, soul- searching time during small group and worship services, there was plenty of downtime when these teens were able to act as silly as they wanted. In fact, they were completely wild at times! However, as wild and as loud as they were, they were doing it all without any alcohol, cussing, or risky behaviors. They literally were just enjoying life. And nobody was judging.

So Teenager, don’t think for a minute that Christians can’t have fun. That is a lie that the Devil himself has put in your head. Don’t fall into the trap that Christians are weird or boring. When you decide to follow Jesus, I promise you will be transformed! You have someone who will listen to every concern, every heartbreak, and every joy you have. You can literally give it all to Him. If you have a question about anything in life, the answers are all in the Bible. There is seriously nothing that He has left out. If you are worried you have failed too many times or are too far gone for Jesus, you are wrong. It is never too late to make Him part of your life. I promise you, dear teenager, that living for Jesus instead of the world will be the BEST decision you will ever make.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is -his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11