It ain't easy being a teen... and Jackie O. understands that well. Take her sound, faith-filled advice as we walk with God together.
Throughout the day the enemy of your soul shoots fiery darts laced with the poison of discouragement to wound you. Discouragement may come with a sharp word from someone at school, a coach, teacher, parent, or even a friend who has a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
If you’re not clothed in the strong garment of hope, pessimism can get in and become a disheartening sickness. Hopelessness and despair are toxic to your soul. They ensnare your heart and make it hard to continue on with the things that are important to you.
Discouragement sounds like this:
• I’ll never be good enough.
• I’m not as smart or popular as that person.
• I’ll never be truly successful.
• My grades will never turn around.
• I may live my whole life disappointed and bound.
2 Corinthians 12:9 encourages, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (NIV).
The prophet Jeremiah shows us how to put on hope. He arises with confident anticipation for God’s breakthrough and says:
“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him., The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him,” Lamentations 3:21-26.
When your spirit is hopeful in God, despite discouragement, He brings freedom to help you accomplish good things. The key is to be like Jeremiah who put on hope by reminding himself that God will come through.
You can be confident in anticipation of God’s touch in your life. The Psalms say, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (31:24).
No matter what discouraging things you might be experiencing in your family, at school, or with your friends—God is able to perfect His will in your life and accomplish all that concerns you today.
If you’re facing a difficult time and you’d like to request ministry you can submit a prayer request or call to talk to a prayer counselor. The 700 Club Prayer Counselors are available 24 hours a day at (800) 759-0700.