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YOUR LIFE?

When preachers, youth ministers, and newspapers talk about the "struggles that face America's youth," we talk about drugs, sex, and rock & roll as if these are the only issues students face every day. But we all know life is more complicated than that. Being a teenager is a puzzle to be put together. So many feelings, temptations, and ideas keep life spinning.

According to the teenagers surveyed from this web page, THESE are the top struggles students say make their lives a challenge . . .

  1. PARENTS/FAMILY
  2. SCHOOL/GRADES
  3. PRESSURE TO FIT IN
  4. PERFORMANCE (laziness, procrastination, keeping a schedule, being perfect, keeping appointments)
    LANGUAGE
  5. LUST/SEX
    SPIRITUAL ISSUES (keeping a Godly attitude, Bible reading, quiet time)
    DATING RELATIONSHIPS
  6. THE FUTURE (life after college, what I should do with my life)
    IMAGE (what other people think of me, eating disorders)
    MEDIA (music, movies, telivision)
  7. GOSSIP
  8. LONLINESS/DEPRESSION
  9. TEMPER
  10. LIES
  11. JUDGING PEOPLE
"The most significant trouble I face is having to do well on all the tests at school. In order to graduate, get credit for AP classes, get scholarships, and get into college, you have to pass certain tests with a specific score. It affects the way I feel about myself because the tests make you stress out because you know that you need to pass them, and when I don't do well on some of them, it's hard to accept and makes me feel that maybe I shouldn't have taken the class, or maybe I'm not smart enough to understand the material." JENNY, 16

"If you need something, ask GOD, if not thank GOD. . ." VICTOR, 31

"No matter how bad your hard times can be, give them to God. Let God guide you through, keep praying, and don't ever lose faith. When it feels like there's no way out and all is falling apart, Christ is there holding you. He'll always be with you no matter what. Nothing is impossible with God. " MADELINE, 16

My life has it's ups and downs. However for the past two years I've been struggling with an eating disorder. I've been a Christian since Centrifuge 2000, and I'm very serious about Christ. I suppose that at the time of my being a "baby Christian" I was vulnerable in the area of my body. It's been very hard for me to deal with. It took me a year to admit I had a problem to myself and another year to tell someone I wanted help. I told my Bible Study leader, at Centrifuge 2002, and now I'm in the process of recovery. I've been through so many depressions, but my friends stick with me and hold me accountable. I don't know where I'd be without them. They are a totally and complete blessing from God! I know I'll get better, for my Jesus is carrying me through these hard times. I've given this whole thing to Him, and I know He will heal me.
For anyone who has an eating disorder, get help fast please! Ask your friends to hold you accountable. They will help you! First, though, give this whole thing to God! Let go of yourself and trust in the Lord to heal and guide you. It's not an easy road, but it is definitely worth it! Whenever you get depressed or stressed just read 1 Peter 5:7! God loves you and He wants you to come to Him. ANNONOMOUS, 16

"There are many things that teenagers go through such as the obvious temptations that everyone has heard about. Some other things that are struggles for me are things such as trying to find ways to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around me. At my work there is only one other Christian besides me. It is very hard to have to stay in one building for 4-8 hours a day and have to listen to people curse and put other people down and talk about what they did with their boyfriend the night before. I pray and I pray that God will use me to share His love with these people. I know that this is my spiritual battlefield and that I have to stay strong. I am a strong believer that God is not going to put me through any situation that I can't get out of, with His help. As long as I trust in Him and have faith, He will bring me through any storm that comes my way." ADRIENNE, 19

"I try so hard to keep on walking the right path, the one God wants me to, but I slip up a lot, and I get these freaky mood swings where I'm so depressed nobody can get thru to me, and I don't want to project that image to others as the way all Christians are." JANET, 17

"The Lord is my Light and my salvation, Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid…Psalm 27:1" ALAN (Tater), 17

"I think the one thing that's hardest for me in everyday life is wanting to be able to go out with my friends and to go to parties, and be involved in things like that. But then I think about whether going and doing the things they do would be a Christian example to others and whether I'm living the faith I profess to live." BETSY, 17

"I struggle to show compassion and love to all those I come in contact with. It makes me feel that I am hypocritical when I say that I love everyone. It makes me feel that I am a Christian copout and disappoint to God. But it motivates me to constantly evaluate my life to see where I need to share more love with other. " ANDY, 22

"Just live!" MORGAN, 16

"Never underestimate Jesus. He will stand by you through anything and love you even when you mess things up. Nothing is too difficult for Him. He's the best friend you'll ever have. Even if you run a million miles away from him, he's always just one step away." JESSICA, 15

"That which does not kill you will make you stronger." JOSH, 17


Bc



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