A few months ago I wrote a blog called In Case You Didn’t Know. Go check it out if you haven’t. If you have, I am going to tell the story about what motivated me to write the blog and why it is written the way it is.
While in Malaysia my team and I got the opportunity to volunteer at a church camp for teenagers. We were called counselors and pretty much just helped out the team leaders with encouraging the kids in our groups. Each night of camp a speaker would come give a sermon to the teenagers about anything from their faith to self image.
One night a speaker camp in and spoke specifically about self worth and what it is like to grow up in today’s society. He mentioned that social media has a great impact on teenagers self image. Whether it be that they should look a certain way, act a certain way, or even get certain grades. The kids mentioned that Asian culture naturally puts more pressure on their kids to maintain a high status. For example, some kids get disciplined when they don’t get a perfect score on a test. This just adds to the stress that kids their age around the world put on themselves.
Along with that, parents rarely tell their children that they are proud of them, that they are pretty/handsome, or that they are smart. I’m not trying to put anyone down; I am simply explaining what these teenagers are dealing with in their home lives. Now, imagine that but also think about the fact that most of these people have never heard of God or the fact that He loves each and every person.
These kids grow up without encouragement. Without a role model or anyone telling them that they are important. They think they are useless and ugly. They feel completely alone. Now, here they are- at a camp, learning about God and how much He loves them.
At the end of this sermon the speaker asked the people in the crowd to walk to the front of the room if they had ever thought about taking their own life. Within 10 minutes the alter was completely full of kids who had walked to the front. There they were, standing in front of everyone, in their most vulnerable state, waiting for prayer. All of us prayed some big and mighty prayers that night. We held crying teenagers, we laid hands on them, and spoke words of encouragement for the rest of the night.
That night those kids learned that their hope comes from the Lord. They can rely on him for strength and comfort. They can go to him in times of despair but also in times of happiness. They found their hope rooted in the Lord and you can experience that same hope. All you have to do is call on the Name of the Lord and He will provide you with all the peace, hope, and love you need.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 9:9-10
