The teenage years are filled with real pressure from academics, friendships, sports, expectations, and the desire to fit in. One of the most encouraging truths in the Bible is that Jesus Himself faced those same pressures. Day Five from 50 Days to Embracing (and Enjoying) Who God Says You Are, a devotional Eden and I wrote together, is designed to help teenagers know they are not alone.
The devotional I wrote with Eden is officially releasing today! You can get more info on the devo here.
This High Priest of ours [Jesus] understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
From Eric:
Being a teenager has always been challenging. Lots of books have been written about the struggles of teenage life. Your body changes, your mind develops, and you have to make choices about your future. You face struggles with friends or fitting in, and you have to stay on top of schoolwork and other activities too.
Teenagers sometimes forget a very encouraging truth: Jesus was a teenager once. When He walked this earth, Jesus was fully God and fully human. He lived in a teenage body and faced all the teenage pressures you face. We have only a few verses in the Bible about Jesus as a teenager, but we know that He “was obedient to [his parents] . . . [and] grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (Luke 2:51-52). Jesus went through puberty and grew physically. Jesus learned in school and grew mentally. Jesus made friends in His neighborhood and grew in relationships with people.
Whatever age you are right now, Jesus has already lived that very age. Struggling with people disappointing you? Jesus knows what that is like. Feeling overwhelmed with everything? Jesus was overwhelmed too. Whatever pressure you are facing, Jesus understands.
From Eden:
Transitioning from a kid to an adult is what we call adolescence, and it can be pretty weird and awkward. Now that I’m a junior in high school, I look so different from how I looked as a freshman. Things change a lot, and they change fast.
It’s a bit weird at first to think of the Jesus I worship and follow being a teenager. However, when I do, it’s actually really comforting. I’ve heard adults say they wish they could have skipped the horrible teenage years. That has always bothered me because, come on, teenage years can’t be all bad, right? Jesus could have easily chosen to skip the teenage years Himself, but He didn’t. Being fully God and fully man, He chose to experience all the teenage emotions. He had moments of sadness, He experienced emotional hurt, and I bet He even had friendship issues. Knowing that He went through these years so He could relate to me makes me remember how much He loves me.
Do you ever feel like no one understands you? Jesus does! Not only does He understand us, but He knows our innermost thoughts and feelings. The ones that no one else knows. The ones that hurt too much to say aloud. He knows them, understands them, and has great compassion on us. When I’m going through tough times, I do my best to remember that He understands because He experienced pain too. He experienced the worst kind of pain—the weight of all of my sin on the cross. He was thinking about us in that moment too!
Knowing that Jesus understands what it’s like to be a teenager is really inspiring too. Even though we are not perfect, we can still serve and impact others as Jesus did. We are not too young to be used by Him! I am currently seeing this to be true in my life. Along with a team of others, I help lead a Friday night Bible study for juniors and seniors who want to go deeper in their faith. It’s amazing to see what God is doing in our lives as we lead, but also in the lives of the teenagers who come every week. I am truly in awe that He is using me because I am so far from having it all together—but I am so thankful.
