No matter how much time you spend prepping in front of the mirror, you still feel ugly. You know the answer to your teacher’s question, but you don’t raise your hand. You’d like to be friends with the girl who sits next to you in social studies, but you worry she’ll think you’re weird. You’re willing to be Jesus’ witness, but you always freeze up when someone challenges your beliefs. You want to try something new, but you’re afraid of looking foolish.
Ahh, the high school years. You’ve got a changing body, new desires, greater responsibilities, and an itch for independence—and you’re surrounded by people who are also facing these new horizons. Some of them seem to have it figured out, but you?
By your own calculations, you’re only average.
You have average looks, average intelligence, average talents, and you come from an average background. So how do you stand in the face of a new school year and be sure it won’t grind you up and spit you out with the trash overflowing from the dumpsters behind the school building?
Start the school year with confidence following Solomon’s advice in the first six verses of Proverbs 3. You’ve heard them before, maybe even memorized some of them for Sunday school or catechism class, but now I’m challenging you to take them to heart and apply them to your life. Because for the Christian teen, true confidence isn’t manufactured but grown—through seeds planted by the Word of God.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
Proverbs 3:1 – Remember Who You Are
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart…
Whether you go to a public school or have the privilege of attending a Christian institution, you will eventually face ideas contrary to what you believe—and some might even seem logical to human reasoning. You might start to wonder if tolerance is a biblical teaching, or what’s so bad about using your Christian freedom to have a little fun. And what exactly does love look like?
Whatever you’re facing, you have a choice: 1) follow the widely accepted ideal, or 2) stand firm on the Word of God. It sounds simple, but it’s not always straightforward, and choosing to follow biblical principles often creates more stress, not less.
When that happens, remember this:
You are a co-heir with Christ to the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit lives, not next to you, but within you. You’ve been set free from sin and death and now have an obligation to live as a child of God. And one day, you will share in his glory.
(This is all from Romans 8.)
Make it your mission to stand firm in your faith. Continue gathering with other Christians through church and student Bible studies. Bolster your beliefs through daily Bible reading. Commit God’s Word to your heart, and you won’t be led astray.
Related: Why Young Christians Absolutely Need to Go to Church
Proverbs 3:2 – Remember Where You’re Going
…for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
You might look at Proverbs 3:2 and be tempted to believe following God’s commands comes with an earthly payoff, like lots of money in your pocket and a cushy lifestyle. While that can happen, we all know it isn’t a given. Sometimes it’s the bad guy who’s enjoying the good stuff.
But Solomon says following God’s word will make you live longer and bring peace and prosperity. Was he lying?
No, he’s looking beyond the human tendency to dream too small. We set goals like achieving physical security and scoring a job that makes big bucks, but God wants you to dream bigger.
He wants you to strive for inner peace that goes soul-deep and can’t be shaken by earthly turmoil (including poverty). He wants you to seek prosperity, not in money or business success, but in relationships with others and with Him. And he wants your life, no matter how long or short it is in numerical years, to be well spent and lived to the max.
When you achieve that, numbers don’t matter. Keep his commands in your heart, and you can be confident God will bless you wherever you go, even at school.
Related: Does God Want You to Dream Big?
Proverbs 3:3 – Remember What You Have
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
What do you do with something you don’t want to lose, like your keys or wallet? You attach it to yourself. That’s why tourists like those money belts that can be worn under your clothing, against the body. You can’t lose something that’s bound to you.
And when you want to remember something? You write it down on a sticky note or your wrist, or you type it into a reminder into your phone.
Solomon didn’t have money belts, sticky notes, or a smartphone, but he knew how to keep track of important things. Love and faithfulness are fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), along with joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. But when you’re in a frustrating situation at school, it’s easy to forget that you have them, or even to lose them completely.
That’s why he tells you in verse 3 to “bind them around your neck” and “write them on the tablet of your heart.” These aren’t chains to be worn in submission but a beautiful necklace for others to admire.
In every situation, act in love and faithfulness.
Related: 7 Ways to Let Your Light Shine in a Dark World
Proverbs 3:4 – Remember What’s At Stake
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Not everyone will like you for being a Christian. Some might even hate you, but that’s okay, right?
It is okay, because your goal isn’t to win a popularity contest but to point others to Jesus. You do this as much through respectful language and honorable conduct as through the actual preaching of God’s Word (though all three are needed). When your classmates know you’re a Christian and that you treat others with respect, they are more likely to respect you and be interested in knowing more.
Everything you do should offer a glimpse of God’s glory and make others want what you have.
Related: Let Your Life Be a Glimpse of God’s Glory
Proverbs 3:5 – Remember Who Knows It All
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Nobody likes a know-it-all. That’s because there’s no such thing, at least here on Earth. There’s no human who knows it all.
But God does. He knows your thoughts, your heart, and the thoughts and hearts of the people around you. He knows your past, and he knows the future. Remember that when you’re struggling with confidence. You don’t have to make sense of everything. When you’ve done everything right and it still falls apart, it’s not on you to fix it. Trust that God will lead you where he wants to go, even if it doesn’t make sense.
Related: Why You Can Trust God Instead of Freaking Out
Proverbs 3:6 – Remember Who’s in Control
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Commit this school year and all your plans—academic, extracurricular, and/or job-related—to the Lord, and watch him remove obstacles. Don’t let fear or anxiety hold you back from maxing out your potential and boldly proclaiming Christ in everything you do!
More Back-To-School Encouragement For Christian Teens
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.