It’s a new stage of your life, and the academic jump is hardly the biggest change you’ll notice. It’s also far from the hardest thing you’ll have to deal with, and I think it’s important that you know the real challenges of this new school and, as clichéd as it is, “chapter of your life”.
Beware: thirteen and fourteen have been the messiest years of my life thus far. I made some terrible decisions, said some terrible things, and did some terrible stuff. Looking back, I wish I had had the humility to come and ask somebody for help. There were a lot of things I could have avoided.
So here is a very quick list of things you should bear in mind for the year(s) ahead.
1. Fads do not last.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.” - Matthew 6:19
If it seems cool right now, it probably won’t be next year. So don’t worry about the kids who think you’re wearing the wrong kind of shoes, or tying your hair the wrong way, or listening to the wrong kind of music. Be unique. Don’t get caught up in the small stuff. Get on with your life, and live by God’s code instead.
2. The only relationships you should be getting into are friendships.
“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.” - Song of Solomon 8:4
Trust me when I say that relationships at this age do not and will not last. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Romance might seem cute and grown-up, but right now, boys are disappointing, dating is dangerous, and romance is inconclusive. Waiting a few years won’t just save you a lot of heartache, it’ll also give you space to grow in your relationships with friends, God, family, and yourself. So lay off the chick flicks and start falling in love with Jesus instead.
3. How happy you are can’t depend on your situation.
“Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” - 1 John 4:4
Stop letting the world/friends/hormones/overthinking depict your emotions. You have a God who is greater than all of your sadness. Depression is a decision. Surrender your sorrow to God, and enjoy your life the way God intended you to.
4. Doing what’s right is more important than being nice.
“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
Thirteen is a totally volatile age, and you’re making new friends. I get it. But you have got to hold Jesus in greater reverence than the friends you want to make. Putting your friends before God will get you in heaps of trouble. And you don’t even have to be mixing with the “bad crowd”. Good friends can prove to be distractions and obstacles too.
5. You can do nothing by yourself.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2
You may be strong, independent, mature and a whole slough of other adjectives, but you’ll crumble faster than a pastry if you try to get through your tween/teen years alone. So get out there, find like-minded teens who you can pray with, chat with your parents, and start opening up to your siblings.
6. You are not ugly.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” - Proverbs 31:30
You sing plenty of worship songs that thank God for the way He’s made you, and you’ve got to mean it. God didn’t make us pretty, He made us valuable. You are beautiful. You are acceptable. And you do not have to beat yourself up about not looking like the girls in fashion advertisements.
7. God loves you.
“We love Him, because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19
You will, at times, feel alone, worthless, useless, stupid, regretful, guilty… You might feel like you don’t belong at church precisely because of this. You might feel like you don’t amount to anything in the sight of anybody. And this is why it is so essential that you cling to God’s love at all times. Hide scripture in your heart. Be prayerful. It may sound tedious, but believe me, God is the only reason you will get through the big obstacles in your life. God loves you regardless of your sin. He sees you, and He wants to help. Do not - I repeat - do not shut Him out because you’re busy wallowing in self-pity. Give yourself a break and let Him help you.
All the best with this year. It will not be easy. It will not be simple. It may be a complete train wreck. But whatever you do, I hope you remember one thing at the very least: God is with you, and He loves you endlessly.
God bless.
No comments:
Post a Comment