Day 6 – Issue 16

Be Still Know

Jeremiah 1:6-8 NLT

‘O Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!’ The Lord replied, ‘Don’t say, “I’m too young,” for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!’

In talking with my daughter who is in her mid-20s, I learned about the level of anxiety and stress she lives under. She grew up in a stable and loving home, has navigated school and university and is slowly making her way in the world of entertainment, not the greatest job security! Her tales of anxiety are not isolated. Every year the Prince’s Trust publish a ‘Youth Index’. This reveals that over the last six years young people have grown less happy and confident as they face up to life in Britain.

The media regularly report on NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training), a negative description of young people who often struggle with a range of issues. Unemployment is a major cause of anxiety and stress, not helped by the media description of unemployment being a metaphor for the lazy and those with an entitlement mentality.

One barrier to employment is a lack of experience. Providing opportunities within church-based activities and persuading Christian business people to offer such working experience, would help demonstrate commitment to God’s trust in youth. Church is a community that exists for the benefit of its non-members, including young people.

Local government has drastically cut back in financial support of the Youth Service over the past decade. Now British churches employ more salaried youth workers than local authorities.

QUESTION: How do you perceive young people? Whatever they are, will you bring them to God and ask him to enable you to be a source of encouragement to young people, within your family circle and in the wider community?

NOVENA PRAYER: Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I pray for young people struggling with stress and anxiety. I ask that you would meet them and enable them to rise above the stigma of negative labels. May your Church offer support and encouragement to young people everywhere, enabling them to flourish and fly rather than assume they will fail.