READ: Isaiah 12:2-3; 1 Timothy 6:12;

THINK: I'm starting to think that Pastor Ben has my house tapped.  How can he know what we're going through when raising our 14 year old teenager?  Maybe it’s because he has two teenagers of his own.

I feel like we need to create a growth group for parents who are raising teenagers. I don’t know about you but if I hear; “you just don’t get it”, “you don’t know what I am going through”, “this is so unfair” and last but not least, “you guys just think you know it all”, one more time, I might just lose my mind.

In talking with parents and adults who’ve either had kids or been that kid that was so hard to raise. Both say that they will grow out of this and once they do, they realize how awfully they behaved. But until that day--- we continue to struggle.

In listening to Ben speak, the action GRASP JOY really resonated with me. How much JOY can come from my teenagers Facebook replies? How much JOY can come from comparing what other kids have and do? How much JOY can come from looking at what other kids are posting on Tumbler? Not much. Yes, there is some good that can come from social media but most of it leads them down the slippery slope of envy where no one can live up to the sensationalized life of other 14 year teenager.

How do our children GRASP JOY?  Just remember:

1.)    Every teenager is going through this right now and they are not alone. And parents neither are you!

2.)    There are other teenagers out there willing to help in small groups like our Roots Groups (growth groups for junior and high schoolers at Timberlake.)

3.)    If they have lost their JOY, it’s not because it was stolen but that they gave it away.

4.)    We can guide them, direct them and pray for them, but ultimately they are the only ones who can get themselves unstuck and joyful.

5.)    If it is really as bad as they say it is, encourage them to ask Jesus to return JOY back into their life. Sending them to the Source of JOY is the best advice we can give!

DO: I am not a perfect person, which creates an imperfect parent, which delivers imperfect children... But I have access to the Perfect Parent - our Father God! Go to Him with your worry, pray for your kid(s) and seek direction. A great tool to use is the book The Power of a Praying Parent by Stormie Omartain. 

PRAY: Dear Lord, I pray that restore JOY back into my child’s life, you relieve me of the burden of trying to infuse JOY into their life which only YOU can deliver. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.