QUESTIONS

"Mom, what will I be when I grow up?"... "Will I find a job; will I get married and have a home?"... "Do you think I'll have children?"

"What if I can't get through school?"
"What if no one hires me?"
"What if I don't find someone to love and marry?"
"What if I don't have a place to live?"

Fortunately, most children have a buoyant confidence in themselves and in their ability to achieve life goals. Most are too busy enjoying the present to have serious worries about the future. Many early learn to pray and trust in Jesus.

However, as adolescence approaches, latent worries, fears, and anxieties may just begin to surface. Young people frequently go through a series of job choices until they settle on what they believe is the one right choice. Problems with dating in contemporary times begin to develop, and confident children begin to sense responsibilities and limits. Alternative lifestyles may tempt them; moral ambiguities may make relationships difficult. High costs of living may seem to present almost insurmountable obstacles.

Many will need to develop a resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and strength of character to match the challenges they will face. Many will have to realize that they will need to train and re-train a number of times to compete in today's job market. Many will have to make sacrifices to achieve a marriage and a home. Flexibility and faith will go hand in hand.

Through all the challenges young people face to achieve adulthood, independence, and confident maturity, the loving Lord Jesus will walk with them if they have been brought up in the Christian faith. God loves and cares for each child, each person.

The Bible promises His guidance and love. Nothing can separate them from Him. In times of darkest doubt, He is there making a way. The power of prayer sustains and blesses. The Bible is a constant source of strength.

One Bible verse always stands out for me as I recall my own struggles toward adulthood and watch my son do the same:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Certainly the Israelites in exile had their share of problems and needed God's help and hope. Every time and generation has its share of trials. Another passage from the New Testament comes to mind:

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us." Romans 5: 1-5 NIV


May we remember to be strong in faith and to pray fervently for the young people we know.

.....Eternal Ink (eternal_ink@associate.com) Mary-Ellen Grisham (meginrose@gmail.comby way of "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net