Helping Our Children Find Peace
ICS Daily Devotions
Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression, and eating disorders are common among adolescents these days. The pandemic was a particularly traumatic experience for their age group. Besides having to deal with their emotional, hormonal, and physical changes and social isolation, gender fluidity advocacy has brought confusion. For example, they might be unsure whether a close friendship with the same sex is considered homosexuality which is widely advocated in schools and social media. The need for acceptance and peer pressure may cause them to conform to something contrary to their beliefs. As parents, we need to make sure that they can speak freely to us about issues they face in school. We must not shut them up, be too busy for them, or only focus on their academic performances.
Third-culture kids (TCK) who are living outside of their parents’ culture and move every few years have the additional challenges of rootlessness and lack of social stability. It can be challenging whether it is relocating to a new country or repatriating. Generally, adjustments get harder as they grow older and become more aware of themselves and the environment. Many of these adolescents and young adults may be high achievers academically, but deep down, they struggle emotionally against feelings of isolation, rejection, and a lack of belonging. They may have an identity crisis.
These youths and adolescents battle against insecurity and rejection, which if not properly managed, may spiral into depression and possible self-harm. So how can we help them maintain peace in their hearts and their minds? We need to make sure that they have a firm and secure identity by being grounded in the “new creation” realities and having a good understanding of who they are in Christ. If they know they are not defined by what other people say or the standards set by the world, it will not affect them, and the same applies to us. Therefore, they need to set their standard on what God says about them and how He sees them, rather than fallen human’s comments and actions.
As parents, we also need to apply different management strokes to every child, according to their different personalities. We need to love them based on how they function and carry out the needful communication. We must create a safe and stable environment for them as much as possible. Most importantly, we need to help them secure their identity in Christ based on the Word of God, because that is the key to maintaining peace in their hearts and minds.
Sermon Series: Up! Cell Group Campaign
