Friday 19 September 2014

Sept. 19, 2014: BACK TO SCHOOL BLUES Part 1

Teens have just headed back to school and have traded a summer of relative ease and relaxation for a school year full of reports, projects and deadlines. It can certainly be a stressful time, especially when exams are sometimes worth a whopping 30% of their final grade.

This week, I shared about some of my own experiences with stress and what the Bible says about our stress-filled lives:

"Don't be stressed out or worried about anything, but talk to God in every situation and ask him to help you. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with a peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel."
-Philippians 4:6-7

God wants us to talk to him about what stresses us out, and on top of that, he can actually give us a SUPERNATURAL peace in the midst of stomach-turning stress. That doesn't mean that all of our stressful situations will miraculously disappear, but it does mean that God will help us and be with us when we actually talk to him about what we're going through.

WEEKLY DISCUSSION IDEAS:

1. ASK: Is there anything that has you stressed out or worried this week?
While your teen might not be going through a huge crisis, I can guarantee that EVERYONE is worried about something. Perhaps they're worried about school, or perhaps they're worried about a friend? You can encourage your teen to share the specifics with you, but if they don't, there's no need to twist their arm.

2. Encourage your teen to talk to God about the tough stuff they're going through.
Prayer is simply "talking to God". It's not meant to be spooky and God doesn't want us to talk to him in Old English, he simply wants to hear from us just like you want to hear from a friend. Remind your teen of what that verse has to say.

3. Offer to pray with your teen, tell them that you'll pray for them during the week, and follow through!
Take the time to pray with your teen about what has them worried or stressed out. Ask God to give them peace and to help them through whatever situation they're facing.


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