5 Verses to Help You Survive the Teenage Years

This morning, during our 12-mile ride to school, my son shared with me some disturbing behavior that he witnessed at school. I let my son talk freely. One of my favorite times of the day is when we are in the car going to and from school. We have had the best conversations during those times, discussing situations and circumstances that we face. I treasure that time together; it’s a safe place to share and be an active listener.

As a parent, it is sometimes hard to just listen. During that time, I strive to allow him to speak and share what he is wrestling with and things that are going on in his life and his friends’ lives. It’s been a place of freedom for him to speak whatever is on his mind. We pray over the things as we are driving.

After I pull up to the school and drop him off, as soon as the door closes, I start praying over the things he shared. Today though, I didn’t know how to respond. But I trust that the Lord does.

When It Comes to Our Teens, Are We Focusing On the Wrong Things?

Being a teenager is hard. It was hard when I was a teen and it’s hard now, maybe more so with the introduction of social media. The pressures that are placed on our children are unbelievable. We start grooming them at a young age to be Harvard applicants and NFL stars and berate them when they fall short of the high expectations we place on them. But it seems we worry less about the things that we should worry about.

Shouldn’t we be more concerned with their heart and their salvation? Shouldn’t we be more concerned with their physical, mental, and emotional well-being than with their social media likes? When did we start caring more about status than we care about people?

I couldn’t do anything about the situation that my son shared other than pray for his heart, and those involved in the situation, and that the Lord would intervene and grant wisdom on how to proceed. I don’t always get the parenting thing right. I fail at it a lot, but I’ve found that these five scriptures are my go-to when I am facing parenting situations.

5 Verses to Encourage You During the Teenage Years

1. “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:36-39 NLT)

Our kids mimic what they see. If they see me loving God with my entire being, loving myself, and loving my neighbor, what a great example to pass along to them. If they see me not helping others out or doing things out of selfish ambition, they will learn to do the same.

2. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19 NLT)

This verse has helped me through some of the teenage stuff. Instead of automatically jumping to respond, I’ve learned (and thank you Lord for the grace You provide) to listen. Sometimes my son just needs a sounding board, not a mom that wants to lecture. I’ve found out that the more I listen, the more my son talks to me.

3. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

This verse has helped through some of the most difficult situations when parenting. At times, our human heart deceives us but when we lay it all down at Jesus’ feet, He provides the path and wisdom.

4. “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT)

This is a prayer for myself and my family. No matter what we are doing, may we do it all for the One who deserves all the glory. If I’m cooking a meal, instead of grumbling about cooking again, I do it as if I was cooking for the Lord. Laundry is a never-ending cycle at my house. Instead of complaining about it, I spend the time folding laundry praying over my family, and thanking God for His provisions (We have clothes on our backs and an abundance of them, according to the amount of laundry I complete each week.)

5. “And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 NLT)

As a parent, our patience wears thin at times. But I know that God, the ultimate parent, gives me an abundance of grace each day, so I should give that same grace to others. When my kid yells at me or says something snarky, instead of going back at him, I offer grace.

We all have moments when we say things we shouldn’t, and we shouldn’t expect that our children won’t slip occasionally. Rejoicing for me is saying daily, “Today is going to be a great day.” My son and I started this in elementary school. We said it to everyone, every morning. It became our little thing, each day was a new start and a clean slate. Every time we said it to each other we smiled. As a parent, we are constantly in prayer for our kids and our family. Giving thanks for them is essential even when things are hard or don’t turn out the way we think they should.

The Kids Are Alright

We need to listen when our kids speak and trust that the Lord knows what is right for them. Seek His wisdom, not our own (because we can’t do it on our own!). Love people, do good for them, and be an example of the kind of person you want your children to be. We need to do more loving than judging, and more praying than gossiping. So instead of tying weights around your children’s necks with unachievable expectations, let’s join together and encourage our kids, support them in growing their faith, and pray for them to be men and women after God’s own heart.

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of children. Thank you for blessing me with them. Lord, I face challenges with parenting them, I seek Your will for their life. I trust Lord that You know best and I praise You. May my son/daughter grow in their faith and be a man/woman after Your own heart. Grant me wisdom in knowing how to help support and encourage them in achieving this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Parenting can take stress and burnout to another level. Here’s how to manage it: How Do I Overcome Destructive Anger and Burnout in Motherhood? with Natalie Hixson – 201