The Key to a Happy Youth
Your youth is an especially important time where many life-changing decisions are made.
By Stefan Hofmeister, Switzerland
“How can a young man cleanse his way?” Ps. 119:9. The answer is given immediately: “By taking heed according to your word.” In our youth, we need a safe and secure foundation that we can build on. We find this foundation in God’s word.
“With my whole heart I have sought You; O, let me not wander from Your commandments. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Ps. 119:10-11. When we seek God with all our hearts in our youth, we find happiness.
It is rewarding to pray from a God-fearing heart and read and meditate a lot in God’s word when we are young. Godly-fear can preserve us from a lot of suffering caused by sin.
When we get a living hope in our hearts, our youth can be a glorious time. We develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and learn of Him. He was once a person on this earth who partook of flesh and blood just like His children. (Heb. 2:14). He opened a new and living way for us and knows exactly how much a person has to suffer in order not to sin. We must stay close to Him, seek Him, pray to Him, and listen to Him so that we learn to discern between the good and the evil, the holy and the unholy, the pure and the impure. We don’t learn this instinctively.
Young people who have no roots and who just let themselves be led around by their feelings, thoughts, and fleshly lusts, often experience disappointment in life.
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Tim. 2:22. We can get God’s power during our youth so that we can overcome these youthful lusts! True joy isn’t just found in “fleeing;” to a great degree it is found in pursuing after righteousness, faith, and love, etc.
May God bless each individual with strength, Godly-fear, and true humility in our glorious fight of faith so that our hearts can be preserved through grace.
November 2008