Have you ever asked a teenager to do something and received this response?
“Why?"
"Why do I have to get up before 1pm? Why do I have to clean my room? Why do I have to shower?
They question most things, but especially the hard things. Boring things. “Dumb" things, as they like to say.
This is normal. Annoying, yes — but expected.
Young people are the first to go along when things are easy or enjoyable.
But when it's not, the “But, WHY?!” questions start flowing from their mouth.
Teen’s challenge the rationale behind anything they don't fully comprehend, especially when it relates to their future and what to do.
If they don't know WHY it matters, they question everything.
It is why, in recent years, we have seen the endemic rise of a relatively new problem -- The Quarter-Life Crisis.
Haven’t heard of this?
Here is one definition:
"A crisis of a person in their twenties involving anxiety over the direction, quality, and meaning of one's life."
It's a complex problem without a one-size-fits-all solution. But how did we get here??
The problem partly exists because adults need to equip their teens better to know how their future connects to a greater purpose.
As followers of Christ, our purpose should reflect a desire to make our life about loving God and serving others.
Christian adults have not entirely overlooked this knowledge with teens, but they have failed to help teens understand HOW to accomplish it.
Adults have to help teens answer:
”HOW do I make my everyday life matter for God?"
Without a clear understanding of how their future — their work — and their relationships can participate in a purpose greater than themselves, they will consistently question why any of those matter. When things in their life become difficult, teens start to question them even more.
Maybe it’s not at a “Quarter-Life CRISIS” level, but an alarming level are experiencing a Quarter-Life STRUGGLE.
We must begin helping young people identify HOW they can connect their lives to God's purposes. Until they are equipped with the knowledge and the practical tools to do so, the STRUGGLES will likely continue.
Are you ready to equip teens with a God-driven purpose?
“Why?"
"Why do I have to get up before 1pm? Why do I have to clean my room? Why do I have to shower?
They question most things, but especially the hard things. Boring things. “Dumb" things, as they like to say.
This is normal. Annoying, yes — but expected.
Young people are the first to go along when things are easy or enjoyable.
But when it's not, the “But, WHY?!” questions start flowing from their mouth.
Teen’s challenge the rationale behind anything they don't fully comprehend, especially when it relates to their future and what to do.
If they don't know WHY it matters, they question everything.
It is why, in recent years, we have seen the endemic rise of a relatively new problem -- The Quarter-Life Crisis.
Haven’t heard of this?
Here is one definition:
"A crisis of a person in their twenties involving anxiety over the direction, quality, and meaning of one's life."
It's a complex problem without a one-size-fits-all solution. But how did we get here??
The problem partly exists because adults need to equip their teens better to know how their future connects to a greater purpose.
As followers of Christ, our purpose should reflect a desire to make our life about loving God and serving others.
Christian adults have not entirely overlooked this knowledge with teens, but they have failed to help teens understand HOW to accomplish it.
Adults have to help teens answer:
”HOW do I make my everyday life matter for God?"
Without a clear understanding of how their future — their work — and their relationships can participate in a purpose greater than themselves, they will consistently question why any of those matter. When things in their life become difficult, teens start to question them even more.
Maybe it’s not at a “Quarter-Life CRISIS” level, but an alarming level are experiencing a Quarter-Life STRUGGLE.
We must begin helping young people identify HOW they can connect their lives to God's purposes. Until they are equipped with the knowledge and the practical tools to do so, the STRUGGLES will likely continue.
Are you ready to equip teens with a God-driven purpose?