The phrase “Back to School” has been both celebrated and disparaged by parents and children, respectively. Some students are excited to return to the world of education and interaction while others dread the cliques and drama that come with adolescence. Now add to this the pressures of the delta variant of the coronavirus and the political and social issues that come with it.
No matter what our youth face, growing up in any time presents all manner of challenges that can catch any Christian student off guard. Today, we’re going to prepare you with four truths that fly in the face of every lie the enemy has ever told you about yourself. If we reaffirm ourselves with the truth in love and not in spite, we can encourage ourselves in the midst of a tough year. Here is an ultimate guide for students everywhere:
First Truth: You are fearfully and wonderfully made!
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV, emphasis ours).
One of the biggest lies the enemy will try to throw your way is that you are not “worthy”; whether that’s with your grades, your extracurriculars, or yourself. He may make you feel like you aren’t good enough because you haven’t reached a certain caliber compared to your classmates. That is false! You are worthy for the fact that the Lord knit you together in your mother’s womb to create you. He didn’t make you haphazardly, nor did He make any mistakes — He made you, “fearfully and wonderfully.”
Take some time to look in the mirror each morning and say to yourself that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” If you say it once, say it again and again until it becomes your personal mantra that carries you throughout the day. Say it when your classmates call you names. Say it when you didn’t think you did well on a test. Say it when you’re stressing about how you dress. Say it, and watch as God matches your beautiful inside with your wonderful outside.
Second Truth: You are not a bad person when you make mistakes.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2, NIV, emphasis ours).
We all make mistakes in life, and those mistakes can be costly. In school, we can make mistakes in how we treat friends, how we approach our classes, and whether we didn’t study for a test that we know we could have aced. These mistakes can make us feel guilty toward others and ourselves. But Paul writes that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus — none, whatsoever. That means God still loves you even if you failed that passable test or whether you felt guilty for leaving behind a friend. “No condemnation” means that your spirit is absolved of guilt and free from sin and death.
Students: Whatever guilt you’re carrying from last school year to this one, let it go. God won’t condemn you for it, so why would you condemn yourself? Walk with the purpose that you are loved, you are cherished, and you are valued by God who sees your mistakes as opportunities to grow. He died for our sins so that we may be free!
Third Truth: You are a friend of God who inspires others around you.
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, NIV, emphasis ours).
We are friends of God, chosen from the start to be His people, His creation, and His workmanship. Students: If you’re going to conquer this school year, you’ve got to remember who you are in Christ – His friend. Since you are a friend of God, He wants the best for you and brings you around whoever is best for you. In that vein, you’ve got to be mindful of who has your best interest at heart. It might not be the popular kids, or your boyfriend/girlfriend, or the wrong kinds of people. Friends of God trust God’s judgment for themselves and seek what He wants, not what we want.
As a friend of God, it’s also important that you pour into others. This school year, challenge yourself with a goal to share the Word of God with someone at least once. If you think that’s too small, remember that our friend in God is the same one who sought out the “one” over the “99.” Start there, and watch how God uses you to inspire others – you might be surprised by what you find.
Fourth and Final Truth: You can do anything you put your mind to!
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NIV, emphasis ours).
Students: All things are possible for you this school year. That means it IS possible to go to college. It IS possible to get straight A’s. It IS possible to make the team. It IS possible to be the very best you can be because you know who gives you strength. If you believe it will happen, then it WILL happen.
These truths are a fact, not just a possibility. Your purpose isn’t left up to chance; it’s carefully organized and orchestrated by God to propel you into your future. How you view that future is up to you. If you embrace these truths and let God order your steps and walk you into your destiny, you’ll not only survive this school year – you’ll thrive! Let the full fervor of His Holy Spirit be a light unto the world, and use this blog as an ultimate survival guide to having a great school year!