How to Overcome Challenges as a Christian Youth

Challenges are inevitable and as a youth you are faced with several challenges which include: who to trust, how to pick your friends and who to accept as friends, building your potential and abilities, forming your character and handling responsibilities.

When faced by challenges which you are exposed to on a daily basis, the challenges of alcohol, adultery, drug abuse, sexual abuse, lack of funds to sponsor education, sickness, troubled home, divorced parents among other numerous challenges you must first acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your life; you must invite Jesus into your life as a personal Lord and saviour. When you do this you have handed your life over to the Lordship of Jesus who alone can deliver you.

Then it is very important that you review the friends you have, keep friendship of people that are prayerful and can encourage you to pray. Do not chose friends prone to alcohol abuse and promiscuity, sexual abusers, thieves and pick pockets. They will only draw you away from your relationship with Jesus.

Read Ecclesiates 12 verse 1 to 2, which says," remember thy creator in the day of thy youth while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh, when thous shall say I have no pleasure in them. While the sun or the light or the moon or the stars be not darkened nor the clouds return after the rain"

This verse encourages you to seek your creator now that you are young and strong and not when you are old and probably unable to do things for yourself.

Practical Tips on Living Life as a Christian

Develop a positive thinking pattern; do not always see things from the negative angle. Confess positive words over your life and endeavours, do not condemn your actions or activities even before you set out for them. The Bible says that as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. And from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Love others around you, do not run them down. Being secure in yourself and God's love for you will help you to accept others as they are. Be confident in who God has made you and always trust that he made you perfect. When you are sure you have been made perfect you are happy with yourself and who you are and you will not copy anybody or envy others

Be an avid reader of the Bible and books written by Christians. Listen to recorded messages and sermons as this will keep your heart and mind focused on God and on godly life. Find a Bible believing Church to join, attend a Bible study and fellowship, stand up for Jesus.

You must never throw in the towel, you can achieve anything you set out to achieve. See yourself as an eagle and not a chicken; eagles have clear vision and aim very high, chickens stay on the ground and struggle for crumbs.

Do you want to be respected? Then you must respect yourself and others around you, you must treat people with civility, you must not vent the frustrations of your challenges on others, rather bear your cross as a strong Christian.

Jesus is There Through Your Hardest Struggles

When the challenges overwhelm you, take them to God in prayers, he alone can lift the burden from you. Are you struggling to quit drug usage? Were you sexually abuse or even still being abused abused by your male relative, an intimate partner or a neighbour? were you recently raped and you feel dirty and used? Do you engage in robbery? Are you a cultist? Are your parents going through a messy divorce that is messing up your mind? What is it you are facing as a challenge? Are you at the brink of giving up? Contemplating suicide? STOP!!!! You can walk away from these challenges, develop the attitude of a winner and stay focused on Jesus, He alone will help bring you out of the mess. Remember He is there to help you face and tackle your challenges.

Written by: Akin Babatunde