Things can be very challenging when your relationships involve teenagers, whether they be spiritual, natural or even business.
Right now, I have all three. Kimberly at RockPile. Jack is 17 and Laura.
Laura presents a unique challenge. She thinks that I want to fix her. My newfound relationship with Rich Harris is awesome. He has been through stuff that we are experiencing. And, we have cracks in our relationship and a continued, albeit shrinking, unequal yoking. I have learned that it is very hard for two people to be on spiritually different levels.
The devil has at it, and what does John write to young men in 1 John? That they have overcome the evil one. I think that in all of the cases that I am working through, there is plenty of demonic activity. We have to learn to overcome, and that takes maturity and time.
They do not see the need to change. The teenager commonly has an independent spirit and thinks that their way is the only way. They refuse counsel. I see a lot of pride in teenagers. Laura thinks I am trying to fix her. Yes, I am. I am trying to fix us both. We need to grow up.
At the same time, we need to learn to work through this process. Some of the stuff that teenagers learn is through the school of hard knocks. It is unfornate that this is the case. For me personally, I am learning not to control. That is witchcraft. The lesson started with Jordan and continues today. I have to be ok letting a teenager experience that hard lessons, as much as you dont want it to happen.
With Laura, the result is distance in our relationship and a lack of unity. She doesnt get to participate in much of my own journey. I need to learn how to walk along side folks like this. That is where the LORD is growing me up.
You cant fix people. And, some, you cannot even communicate with. You have to come down to their level and build trust. Hard thing.
I ask the LORD for wisdom in working with teenagers. This season is no fun. I know that He is teaching me how to lead. This happens to be the group. I have learned and dealt with poor Christian leadership, and that chapter ended with BRidgeway.
Now, I am learning how to lead a stage of maturity that is defined by rebellion and independence. Whoa. But, it doesnt have to be like that.
So, teach me Jesus.