Teenage is a most vulnerable time in life. It's a time when many young people are attempting to find out who they are and what their future holds. The challenges that many teenagers are experiencing today are different, e.g. bad friendship, social media pressure, immorality, depression and disobedience. For these reasons, it is best to live well in these teenage years by fearing God, keeping His commandments, having good friends and practicing discipline. I am convinced that in giving God control over a teen's life, it becomes more peaceful and meaningful.
The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 1:7 that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” This is the first truth to remember: All good life starts with God. I have discovered as a teen that when I pray, study God's word and fellowship, I am stronger in my soul. The word of God is a strong support to me in times of temptation. A young man's way shall be cleansed: by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalm 119:9) Obviously, this scripture tells us that the word of God can lead the teenager to a righteous and clean life.
Friendship is another aspect of a good teenage life that is crucial. Our behaviour and our choices are greatly influenced by our friends. Bad friends can cause someone to smoke, drink, steal or commit other sins. I have witnessed a lot of teens ruin their lives due to bad company. In the Bible it is written that in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” Our good friends may inspire us to do good and to progress in our spiritual and moral development.
I also think that self-control and discipline are quite important to teens. Today, there are a lot of distractions, particularly on social media. Some teens waste too much time watching things that aren't beneficial to their lives. A disciplined teenager will work on his/her education, learning skills, assisting at home, and creating a better future. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth—12:1. That is, our young age is the optimum time to serve God and make a contribution to a life of value.
I had a personal experience that deeply impacted me. I wanted to be accepted into a group once, and followed some of my friends on the wrong path. In my heart, I felt it was not right. I recalled an MCGI topic review lesson on living a holy life and pleasing God – not people – that night. I prayed in earnest and chose to come out of that crowd. I didn't find it easy at first and I felt lonely at first, but then I realized that I wouldn't have made the same mistake if I didn't have to make the decision. Since then, I am more careful when it comes to moving around with people and the decisions I make.
To sum up, the key to a good teenage life is to put God first, take God's Word seriously, select good friends and live within God's discipline. A teenager can have many difficulties during the teenage years, but with God's guidance, a teenager can have a peaceful life and become a responsible adult. I pray that every teen will learn the importance of living for God while still young, for such a life never goes to waste.