We are losing them...

What can we do as parents, relatives & friends?

They are depressed, overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, feel inadequate.  
Parents are overworked, financially stretched and absent from home for many reasons. 
This younger generation is left vulnerable to the world unless we step in and reach out. 

From what is presented before their eye's in movies, online & TV, they are pressured into making themselves into this "perfect person" who excels, has beautiful skin, wears the finest clothing and possesses the latest technology.  Seeking to feel desired, they think nothing of being intimate.  But that is NOT what a person should strive for... in doing so, they will never fill the void inside. 

The world we live in will judge them -- the world will tell them what to value.  The world will try to tell them what they are worth.  

I know myself, I was hurt by comments, fought verbally with others,  cried many a night, and felt very much alone in the world without a parent to confide in.  I could not wait to get out of the  house and raise a family of my own.  "I would treat them differently, love them more and spend more time with them"  I said repeatedly to myself.  
​But with every generation, it seems the darkness of the world just waits patiently to move into the heart and minds of our youth. 

When the family unit is compromised, the devil will take advantage of the opportunity to move right in, exposing your child to the degrading thoughts, values & temptations of the world.  

• The lure of the world will try to erode even the best family relationships
• The structure of the family has changed & caused more dysfunction
• This fast paced, stressed life has robbed families of together time 
• There is no time face to face discussion of personal/school issues
• Most importantly, GOD is MISSING.  Yes, missing. 

​
I have heard from many faith-filled women who are crushed in heart after hearing some of these statements:
"I do not believe in this fairy tale stuff any longer. You are expecting me to believe in some great God in the sky?  There is a world in turmoil and there is a God?  My friend has cancer, where is God?  I am an outcast at school.  I cannot find a job...etc, etc. "   
 
We wonder where did we go wrong?
But there often seems to be some personal experience of suffering, peer pressure, even teacher/professor pressure that makes a young person question the existence or relevance of a loving God.  

• We cannot force our belief on anyone.  But they can "see" our faith in action and God working in our lives.   If they do not see His light in us, then we need to first get right with God ourselves. 
• The most important thing we can do for a young person is pray for them.
• After prayer, I believe the second action is to try to build a closer relationship with your teen or college age child.   They may not desire this time with you at first, but ask God to guide & direct, and open their heart & mind to conversation.   
• Take times of togetherness to discussion.  Talk about life, the world, your own lifetime experiences.  Yes, there are trials, tears and tension, but when they come to see that there IS a God who loves and desires to fill & heal the hurt - life can be seen with new glasses.   

They must understand that when God is missing, there is darkness.   

• This world is not a perfect place, heaven is.  This world has sin, sickness and conflict. 
• Schools have banned God & prayer and thus many students are ridiculed
• We live in a nation that has turned away from God & is in need of prayer
• God is a God of  light and when He lives within, we have hope for an eternal future!
• God is real. Looking at how the human body functions, so intricate and complex, yet working in harmony - that alone is proof that a Creator exists! 

What we must teach them: 

• Christ can fill their void inside -  they just need to ask Him into their life.
• Christ can be consulted anytime  in prayer. He will never leave them nor forsake them.
• Life in Christ will enable them to stand strong in the face of trials and pressure of the world.
• Encourage prayer about career, direction and their future spouse (God will direct!)