Finding Christ as a 21st Century Teenager

Someone suggested this article be renamed, “An Interesting Journey with the Creator.” But I must admit my expedition with God has been quite bumpy, one moment- fire Chisom. The next moment- G-eazy’s “fuck with me and get some money.”  

Well, at teenagerhood, we start to experience peer pressure to sin in some way (e.g., drinking alcohol, drugs, premarital sex, etc.). I’m guilty, but somehow, I’m happy that God let me experience some of it. The other part of me feels sorrow for not being well prepared to deal with life.

It is of supreme importance to assert that early childhood experiences shape adult life. We are what we repeatedly do. It’s like having indiscriminate sex and saying, “Oh, I’ll change when I get married.” Like recurring decimal, once a habit develops, it becomes ever more difficult to change.

As Youth Leaders, the most powerful tool we can attain now is- the presence of God. Longing nearness to God without shame. Because, God is love. God created us to know him, to love him, to serve him and be with him in this world and forever in the next.

It’s amazing how we rush around trying to do things in our own strength. Forgetting the role that God plays in our lives. He says in John 5:15, that he is the vine and we are the branches, what happens to people that cut away from him? The Gospel on Sunday talked about Peter and how he had stayed all night fishing and frustrated without any luck, until Jesus came and he sunk his net deep, once again.

 I know some situations may prove really difficult- getting admitted into school, abusive partners, family crises, trying to keep up with grades or a difficult lecturer, like the ones in Physical Science. Peer pressure (Fear of missing out- FOMO). Financial and Fertility issues are the most prominent in typical chauvinistic Nigerian homes. God lets us carry crosses not because he hates us or loves someone else more than he loves us, but as part of our vocation as followers of Jesus Christ. These crosses can become opportunities for us to grow closer to Him.

As Igbo people say, “chi bu chi.” Meaning, God is always God. He says that his wish for us is of good and not of evil. For his ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts.

It doesn’t matter what has happened, it doesn’t matter what you’re going through. All you need to do is maintain a living connection with him. He says in James 4:8, “Draw nigh unto me and I will draw nigh unto you.”

It’s totally okay to make mistakes. If you don’t sin, how would you know he is a forgiving God? If you’re not afflicted, how would you realize that he is the comforter? If you don’t hurt, how would you know he’s the one that heals? If plan A and B don’t work, how’d you know he’s the master planner?  You remember when Jon Bellion said, “I guess if I never failed, I guess I wouldn’t need grace”.

When you call on God, you will never be answered by a “voice mail.” You’ll never hear a recording, as you do often when you make calls. You’ll never hear him say, “Hello, this is God. I’m away from the throne right now. Please leave a message and I’ll return your call as soon as I can”. No, He is always there for you.

Things of the world may be earthly gratifying but real life is built on consistent prayers, humility, sacrifices, patience and unconditional forgiveness.

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