The sad truth is, the world has a pretty negative view of the American teenager. The world sees you as lazy, self-indulgent, and irresponsible. Unfortunately, this is a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy. Because they expect so little out of you, they never bother to challenge you to be better. And because they never challenge you, you live down to their expectations.
I see you differently. I've told you before that I see huge potential in each of you. I've told you that each of you has been given talents and spiritual gifts that make you uniquely suited to have an enormous impact on the world.
The Myth of Adolescence
The first time the term "teenager" was used was in 1941. Before that, there was no concept of these "in-between" years separating childhood from adulthood. A mere 100 years ago, women got married at 15, and men went into the army at 15 or 16. In fact, the average age for leaving school was raised to 14 years old! I'm not suggesting that you go get married or go to war. I am suggesting that the idea that you can't make a huge difference in the world simply because "you're not an adult" is flat out wrong.
Like Chained Elephants
Elephants are powerful animals. They are incredibly strong, used in parts of the world to haul logs and pull massive tree stumps out of the ground. Hannibal, arguably the greatest military conqueror in history, used them a beast of war. Animal handlers in Asia know that there's no way a man can hold back an elephant. So they devised a trick to make it possible. The elephant is held in place by tying a small rope around their back leg and staking it to the ground. Even though the elephant could easily pull free, it doesn't.
This is only possible because when it's still young, an elephant is tied not to a stake with a rope, but to a tree with a chain. For days it pulls against the tree, unable to free itself, until it finally submits. Then, when it's older, it only takes a little resistance and the elephant gives up.
You are like chained elephants. You have been lied to about what's holding you back. Teens have been told that they're all lazy, apathetic, and self-indulgent, and so it's no wonder that they don't bother to try. The chains aren't around your ankles; they're in your mind. You have most of the desires and abilities of adults, but are relegated to an extended childhood.
Breaking Free of Invisible Chains
1 Timothy 4:12 says, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." That's a pretty high standard. And yet, a firmly believe that the Bible doesn't command us to do anything that's impossible. Compare yourself to an infant. An infant is expected to do great things: learn to sit up, crawl, stand, walk, and speak. And the expectation is 100% success. If a child never learned to communicate, no one would ever say, "Well, he's only an child, what do you expect?" But when a teenager fails to learn how to express himself, the standard belief is "He's a teen, what do you expect?" Seemingly insurmountable tasks are overcome by toddlers, but no one is surprised when a teen caves in.
It's not right. You are powerful, gifted children of God. Don't believe the lies that you cannot overcome. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:11, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." Notice he didn't say "When I was a teen, I felt like an adult, but acted like a child." You have the potential to have a huge impact on the world. Don't allow yourself to be held back by stereotypes. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)
