James Chapter 1 - Guest Blog by Lauren Lindsey

Being a teenager is not an easy thing in today's society.

There are so many influences, good and bad, that teenagers experience daily.

Social Media... Music... Friends... School...

It is very easy to get off track with our Faith and forget what God has planned for us.

 

Everyone experiences trials in their life.

Even teens.

But how do we know how to handle these trials?

Why do we have to go through them?

Some kid at school keeps making fun of you for carrying your Bible around school.

Why would God allow this?

Could this be a trial?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Isn't that easier said then done.

But it is important that we rejoice during trials. Trials make our faith stronger, even if it sucks to go through them sometimes. But you have an Almighty God who isn't going to let you fall.

“Blessed is the one who preservers under trial... that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

 

“When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God can not be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone...”

Isn't it hard sometimes not to blame God for the situations going on in life?

Why is God continuing to allow this?

God does not tempt us.

Evil does.

Do you remember the story of Satan tempting Jesus trying to get him to do the wrong thing?

Jesus never faltered with his ways and he did not let Satan tempt him into doing anything wrong.

That is what our faith is suppose to be like.

Strong enough to resist the evil temptations of the world.

Will we slip up sometimes? Possibly.

But God will always help us back up again.

 

“My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteous ways that God desires.”

That’s all pretty plain and simple now isn’t it.

Of course, easier said than done, but most things are like that.

 

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceives themselves, and their religion is worthless.”

That can be difficult in society today, trying to keep up with the lingo of all the teens today.

It can be easy to just follow what your friends do or say because you want to fit in.

But here we are warned against that when it comes to the things we say.

We can not just simply claim to be religious, and not let our words prove it.

 

It is easy to get caught up in the world today, but it is important that we continue to follow the plan that God has for us, even if it isn’t what our friends and classmates do.

And remember to share the word.

Spread it and get it out there to those teens who maybe don’t know God yet.

Its always amazing when new people come to God.