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Training Tips for Parents of Teenagers Facing Big Issues
Parenting teens these days can feel like trying to swim against the current. Between social media, peer pressure, anxiety, and all the messages flying at them from culture, it’s a lot. If you feel like you’re barely keeping up, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be present and willing to keep learning. Here are a few tips to help:
1. Show Up, Even in the Small Stuff
Your teen may not always act like they want you around, but your presence matters more than you know. Eat meals together, sit in the bleachers, stay up late to talk, or just be nearby. Consistency builds trust.
Bible Verses:
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 – “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
2. Keep Pointing to Truth
The world’s messages change every five minutes, but God’s Word stays steady. Pick a verse each week and talk about it together—something about identity, peace, or courage. It doesn’t have to be complicated; just keep weaving truth into everyday life.
Bible Verses:
John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
3. Let Them See Your Struggles Too
Your teen doesn’t need a flawless parent—they need a real one. Share how you deal with stress, how you choose faith when life feels hard, and how you pray when you don’t have answers. That kind of honesty goes a long way.
Bible Verses:
2 Corinthians 12:9 – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Philippians 3:17 – “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
4. Make Space for the Hard Questions
Don’t panic if your teen asks something big—whether it’s about faith, sexuality, anxiety, or the future. Listen first. Let them know it’s safe to ask. Then walk with them toward God’s wisdom together.
Bible Verses:
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
5. Pray Like Crazy
Even when you don’t know what else to do, pray. Pray over them at night, in the car, or while they’re at school. Pray for their friendships, choices, and heart. And when you can, pray with them—those moments stick.
Bible Verses:
Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
The Bottom Line
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Just keep showing up, pointing your teen toward Jesus, and trusting that God is working behind the scenes. He loves your teenager even more than you do, and He’s got them.
Big Issues Teenagers Are Facing—and How We Can Help Them with God’s Word
1. Identity and Self-Worth
The Issue:
Teens are asking: Who am I? Do I matter? Where do I fit? Social media, body image struggles, and questions about gender/sexuality often leave them confused.
How to Help:
Remind them of their worth and identity in Christ.
Encourage healthy, real-life relationships.
Create safe spaces for honest conversations.
Scripture:
Psalm 139:13–14 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
2. Mental Health (Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness)
The Issue:
Teens face huge amounts of stress and often silently battle anxiety, depression, or loneliness.
How to Help:
Normalize talking about emotions and struggles.
Be a non-judgmental listener.
Encourage prayer, Scripture, and professional help when needed.
Teach rhythms of rest.
Scripture:
Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
3. Peer Pressure and Substance Use
The Issue:
The desire to fit in can push teens into risky behaviors like drugs, drinking, and sexual compromise.
How to Help:
Talk openly about consequences and choices.
Teach them to set boundaries and say no.
Encourage positive peer groups.
Model wise choices yourself.
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’”
Proverbs 1:10 – “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.”
4. Technology and Social Media Overload
The Issue:
Constant scrolling fuels comparison, distraction, and isolation. Teens often measure their value by likes and views.
How to Help:
Set healthy boundaries for phone and screen time.
Teach them to follow positive, Christ-centered voices.
Replace screen time with shared experiences.
Remind them their value comes from God, not approval online.
Scripture:
Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God.”
Psalm 101:3 – “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”
5. Faith and Doubt
The Issue:
Teens are surrounded by competing worldviews and often wonder if faith is real or relevant.
How to Help:
Welcome their questions without fear.
Show faith as a lived relationship with Jesus.
Share your own journey with God.
Encourage serving others to strengthen belief.
Scripture:
Jude 1:22 – “And have mercy on those who doubt.”
Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
6. Future Pressure (School, College, Career)
The Issue:
Teens often feel crushed by the pressure to succeed and plan out their entire future.
How to Help:
Remind them their value is not tied to performance.
Help them discover God-given gifts and passions.
Encourage them to trust God’s direction, one step at a time.
Scripture:
Proverbs 3:5–6 – “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 straight your paths.”
Jeremiah 29:11 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’”
The Bottom Line
Teenagers are carrying heavy loads, but with love, presence, and God’s Word, we can help them walk through these struggles with courage and faith. You don’t need all the answers—you just need to keep pointing them to Jesus, who promises to never leave or forsake them (Hebrews 13:5).
Three Ways to Encourage Your Teen Today
Scripture
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Reflection
Parenting a teenager isn’t easy. They’re growing, stretching, and often pushing boundaries—all while being hit with pressures from school, social media, and peers. It’s easy to feel like nothing we say or do makes a difference. But here’s the truth: your words, presence, and prayers carry more weight than you realize.
Even small moments—an affirming word, eye contact during a story, or a whispered prayer—can strengthen your teenager in ways you may never see right away. God has placed you in their life on purpose, and He equips you to guide and encourage them.
Three Things You Can Do Today
Speak Life
Tell your teen something specific you appreciate about them—how they helped a sibling, the way they worked hard on homework, or how their smile brightens the room. Words of life plant seeds of confidence and identity.
📖 Proverbs 18:21Be Present
Pause what you’re doing and give them your full attention, even for ten minutes. Look them in the eye and listen without rushing to fix things. Presence is powerful—it says, You matter to me.
📖 James 1:19Pray With and For Them
Take a moment to pray with your teen. It doesn’t need to be long or fancy. Ask God to give them peace, courage, and wisdom. Remind them that they are not walking alone—you and God are with them.
📖 Philippians 1:6
Take It Deeper
When was the last time you spoke life over your teen out loud?
What distractions often keep you from being fully present with them?
How could you build prayer into your daily rhythm with your teen?
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of my teenager. Help me to speak words that build them up, to be fully present when they need me, and to pray faithfully for their heart, mind, and future. Remind me daily that You love them even more than I do and that You are working in their life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.