January 19, 2022

by Lisa Collins, Family Ministry Youth Coordinator

When I asked our students what topics they wanted to talk about at Galilee youth group, one answer that came across loud and clear was “mental health.” Fear, anxiety, depression, and emotional well-being are huge issues for today’s teens.

They also said, “but we don’t want to talk about it the same way we do in school.”

At school, it seems, young people are coached in how to be better performers. How to manage their time effectively so they needn’t stress out so much. That’s helpful, it’s a component of mental health, but it’s not the full story of how life is. Stress and anxiety are inevitable, so what are our kids to do when life brings its storms? Do they know that they are not alone? Are they able to call upon the strength of their religious faith?

Some messages about anxiety from Galilee’s Youth Group Instagram feed

So last fall, we approached the topic of anxiety in a very Biblical manner through a series produced by the Fuller Youth Institute called Faith in an Anxious World. (There’s a an adult podcast component of the series available here). Over four weeks, we learned that anxiety is normal, but does not have to control us. In fact, it can even be helpful: anxiety can be trying to tell us something about our health, our schedule, or our relationships. And there are healthy ways to deal with anxiety.

In Scripture, we read in Mark chapters four and six how Jesus helps those he loves who are anxious. After all, Christ was in the tempest-tossed boat with the disciples. He didn’t leave them alone in their anxiety. He joined them and was with them. We talked about how we are designed to be connected with others and how having trusted adults and a circle of care around us is important. Jesus made a circle of his friends, too! 

Importantly, we talked about how sometimes our anxiety can be more than we can handle on our own. We read in Luke 8 how a woman who had been sick for twelve years reached out to Jesus and because of her faith she was healed.  She was alone and desperate, but she reached out and Jesus was there. We can reach out too.

We wrapped up our discussions by talking about how we can provide encouragement and hope to others. By learning what helps us handle our own anxiety, including a faith grounded in the love of God, we can share some light and peace with others.

I’m sharing this message with you because teens aren’t the only ones who suffer fear, anxiety, or depression. It’s important for you to know that God’s love touches you, too! I’d summarize our lessons about anxiety with four things to remember:

• Jesus is in the rocking boat with me.
• Jesus does not expect me to be perfect – just to trust him.
• When things get hard, I can ask for help from my circle of care.
• I can encourage others.

If you ever find yourself in an extreme situation where you feel like hurting yourself, reach out for help. Sometimes we need someone to remind us that the anxiety or sadness is not permanent.  

The National Suicide Hotline is now 988, an easy number to remember.