How to Share Your Faith Using "My Life Stinks!"
Almost everyone, at some time or other, has had an angry, distraught or depressed friend come to them and say, "My life stinks!" (or some other set of words that express that same sentiment.) Have you ever wondered what you should REALLY say in response??
Problems, hurts, and rough times are part of life. Many teens struggle with the tough stuff and sometimes they do need an adult to step in and help them pull through; but often it's their friends they turn to for support and advice. How can you help? Here are some ideas on how to share about God when a friend complains "My life stinks!"
Sometimes life stinks because you're in need of an attitude adjustment. If your friend is distraught because a) it's raining and they just washed their car yesterday, b) they broke their nail, or c) their teacher assigned 30 minutes of homework, they're a good candidate for the attitude adjustment conversation. There's a lot to the glass is half empty/the glass is half full perspective. Some things just aren't worth whining about. The Apostle Paul says in Phil 4:12-13, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." This is a chance for you to describe what it's like to walk through life with God by your side. In John 10:10 Jesus declares, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." God's provided everything you really need to live in joy, if you just have the eyes to see that truth!
Sometimes life stinks because you're in need of a behavior adjustment. If your friend is upset because a) they failed a test, b) they broke up with their boy/girl friend, or c) their parents grounded them for getting in some sort of trouble, they may be a good candidate for the behavior adjustment conversation. God set up the way the world works to allow us "free will" - that means we are not robots, but have the freedom to make our own choices and then live with the consequences of those choices. When the consequences hurt, He's not trying to be mean - He's trying to discipline us like a loving parent tries to train a child not to run into the street. The Bible tells us,
So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline, but don't be crushed by it either. It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God. (Heb 12:5-11).
And he doesn't leave us out there all alone, stumbling around, guessing about what are good choices and bad choices. He gives us His word and His Holy Spirit to guide us and give us direction. Here's your chance to invite your friend to come to youth group with you and learn more about His word and His guidance for their lives.
But sometimes life stinks and it's just plain undeserved. This is the time for a perspective adjustment. The reality is that we live in a fallen (sinful) world and because of that, pain and suffering, brokenness and heartache, disease and death are a part of being human. So if your friend is distraught because a) their best friend is moving away, b) someone they know has a serious illness or is dying, or c) their parents are splitting up and getting a divorce, they need your care and compassion as they struggle to survive through the tough stuff. Come alongside them and explain God's promise, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Heb. 13:5b) And share with your friend about your relationship with Jesus. Jesus experienced pain and suffering and rejection while He lived on this earth, so He understands and cares. Always remember, if you ever have a friend who is seriously depressed and dealing with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, ALWAYS seek out adult help from a parent, youth leader, or other trusted adult.
Next time you hear a friend moan, "My life stinks!" don't just think of it as whine time. Give it some prayer, give it some thought, and share from your heart, letting God speak into an angry, distraught or depressed world by using YOU!
