Recently, I received an email from a 7th grader telling me how awful
and dark her year had been. She explained to me how she felt alone,
that she even felt like God wanted nothing to do with her, “…if He’s
really real?” This child went on and told me that every time she went
to youth group she felt like maybe it would help to respond to the
altar call at the end of the service. “But I remember that I gave my
life to Jesus when I was little. Mr. Bob, what should I do?”
Here is my response to her and her response back to me:
"If it's any consolation, most 6th & 7th graders go through this to
some degree. Your world has begun to radically change as has your body
and the way you think. When I was in 6th grade I felt like God didn't
love me anymore. (Actually, like He couldn't stand me.) I would go to
church and feel horrible. My mom and dad let me sit with my friends or
by myself. I would feel so guilty because I'd had thoughts I shouldn't
about a girl, or mouthed off to my mom, that I would sneak out of the
service and sit on the steps outside until the end of church. One
night a friend of my dad's named Luis Hart came outside and asked me
why I wasn't in church. I told him I didn't know if I was saved. He
asked me why I thought that. I told him about the thought and mouthing
at mom. He said, "Bobby, I was there when you were baptized and I have
watched you foryears now. Bobby, everybody wonders if this Christian
thing is real."After that I never wondered again, I knew that I was
saved.
"God's love for you has never changed. He is nuts about you!! My advice
about standing up is maybe you're like I was. I didn't know it at the
time, but I just needed to have a "point" of reference that I could
hold on to. The enemy plans to make you feel distant from God. If he
isolates you he can defeat you. So, do what the Apostle Paul said to,
"press toward the mark of the call that God has for your life...." If
you do that you can't lose. In other words you can’t hurt anything by
standing.--Mr. Bob"
And now her response:
"Now I really do feel I have a greater understanding of what I should
do!!! So Wednesday night I am going to be sitting front row, head held
high, and I am going to have to highest hand in the room!!!! Now every
time I am feeling sad or left out I am going to remember that no matter
how crazy and messed up life can be that God will be there loving me
every moment of my life!!!! Thanks"
I adapted this story to protect my young friend’s identity and used the
story as a message in the schools the last couple weeks. God used
it to reaffirm the decision that many children in our clubs made when
they were younger. One girl wrote a song while I was teaching
this message. She called it: “Secure.”
Too many adults freak out when a child questions their faith. I
believe that through questioning the child becomes solid in their
faith. So, when your child, or one you minister to appears to be
questioning the validity of God and a relationship with Him, why don’t
you think back, be honest, because chances are you have questioned too
and you came out okay. Help them; if they share with you it’s
because they trust you. --Bob
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