Hey friends! Today we will be wrapping up our back to school series. As I have said in this series a couple of times, if your child(ren) does not have a strong foundation that you set, they will have difficulty standing firm in their beliefs. I’m a grown woman and I have trouble! Can you imagine a 10 year old?! So let’s get to talking.
I am all over social media. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X to just name a few. And truth be told, I have a love/hate relationship with it. We have talked about it on several occasions in these motivations. I like that I can stay connected and I like the opinions of others. But, social media can skew perceptions of people, places and even words. Social media can make or break businesses all over one person’s bad experience. I am SO GLAD social media wasn’t around when I was learning to drive! I would have been on my city’s page with a picture of my car and tag!
One of the buzzwords of today’s culture is courage. There are a lot of messages geared toward kids especially of what it means to be courageous. To take risks and follow their dreams. To pursue self-actualization. To have the courage to be themselves, accept themselves and love themselves. But that definition is a lie. You are basing that courageous behavior on the “I am enough” culture. But you aren’t and neither are your kids. You see faith begins at the core of we are NOT enough. We are all sinners and deserve God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3) but instead, we receive mercy by providing for us and the salvation in Christ. Christ is enough, not you.
By telling your child they are not enough, give them courage…the right courage.
People, in general, want to be liked and accepted. Perception is key. For instance, you see a friend on social media driving a fancy car, living in a fancy house, travelling all the time and has met the “love of their life”. But a year later, their life is crumbling. All the smiles, money and love was just a farce. They did that to “keep up with the Joneses” as momma would say. I just gave you a scenario as an adult, children are no different. Peer pressure hits every age.
Biblical courage is not the absence of fear. In fact, they fear the right thing. (Proverbs 1:7). We need to teach our kids to live before God. They don’t need to worry about being condemned by their peers because God is the only one with that power (Romans 8:33-34). But we don’t want to motivate them out of fear…that’s not the point. We, as parents and loved ones, need to instill courage by pointing out the reality that Jesus already paid the price for our sins. They don’t have to fear their peers because the Lord has already declared there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1).
Biblical courage comes out of confidence that we are God’s children. We don’t need to prove ourselves to others because we should live to please Him. Not the other way around. And as adults, it’s so easy for us to say, “Don’t worry about what little Josh is saying. He’s just trying to hurt you!” But your child is watching you. They see you fall to peer pressure. Their peer pressure may seem silly to you because “it’s kid stuff”. But, it is the exact same thing you are succumbing to but on a bigger, financial level. Right?
So, at the end of the day, no. You are not enough. And that’s exactly where you need to be. That’s exactly where your kids need to be. It’s not a bad place. It’s a place of knowing and needing the Lord. You can face all of life’s circumstances with courage.
Love you all and see you next week,
Jennifer
