In our world, the lines between right and wrong have become faint. The spirit of the age is often: anything goes.

 

Teenagers encounter this, especially when faced with peer pressure. When they move outside the safety of their homes, the values instilled there are often challenged. For a young adult, this can become a crisis because the fear of being excluded – and feeling lonely – is real. Their fear of being labelled “different” dictates their actions when they must make decisions.

 

Parents and teachers play a vital role in preparing teenagers to face these choices with confidence from an early age. If they know beforehand what may come their way, it becomes much easier to say “no” when necessary.

 

The need for acceptance and belonging to a social circle can stretch far beyond teenage years. Adults also desire to fit in, even though they may not admit it. Some adults who never experienced a feeling of belonging in their youth, see an opportunity later in life within a workplace or friend group to be “cool” at an older age. When this happens, it becomes difficult to let the last chance at a forgotten youth slip away, and suddenly it becomes easy to “bend” the values they’ve had for years.

 

The Word of God calls us to do what is right. But this does not mean we must constantly point fingers at the world and highlight everything that’s wrong.

 

We do have a responsibility to stand up for what is right and just. We must not remain silent when we see injustice, but sometimes it is enough simply to live as an example of what is right.

 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me today to clearly discern what is right and what is wrong. Be with me as I make choices and decisions. Make me a worthy example for others to follow. Amen