In part 1 of this series, we discussed three profitable places on which to help your teen focus his or her attention during times of disappointment and disillusionment with Christian leaders. Perhaps the leader who’s faltering is you as a parent or another family member. Regardless of the sin or struggle, the situation that threatens to “rock your son or daughter’s world” can be a faith-building experience instead. God can use anything for His glory, and this potentially devastating situation is no exception to that rule.
Expect Failure and Disappointment
When we realize that even those upheld as positive examples in Scripture were quite imperfect, we should not be surprised. We’re all sinners, made from dirt, needing Christ’s blood to wash away our sins. Once we repent and acknowledge our need for salvation, we still sin. And we will continue to do so until the day we die.
One of the results of that sin is that we all disappoint others. We all suffer as a result of not only Adam’s sin (also called “Original Sin” by theologians) and our own sin, but other humans’ sin, as well. That is our lot in life, as humans, and if we know our Bibles, it should come as no surprise (Romans 3:23).
Value Repentance over Perfection
Instead of expecting perfection, God allows us to be close to Him when we repent and humble ourselves before Him (Psalm 34:18). In fact, that’s precisely what separates a man like David from other sinners — many of whom stopped short of committing the “big sins” that he did (Psalm 51).
It’s not our lack of sin, but our response to our own sin, that determines our usefulness to the Lord. When others sin against us or disappoint us by their sin, we do well to adopt God’s values and forgive easily, offering the kind of grace that God lovingly offers us.
Resolve To Become a Worthy Leader
Instead of getting frustrated with others, whom we cannot control, we can commit to honoring God with our own lives. Of course, we will all make mistakes, so part of that commitment is to own up to our sins regularly.
The song “Where Is a Gideon” by Mac Lynch embraces the journey which God desires for disappointed teens to make as they channel their frustration into resolve to live for God:
This is a day when idols are worshiped; Even God’s people are trapped in their snares. Good men have fallen; Standards have shaken. Where is the answer? Who even cares?
Where is the man who gives up ambitions? Worldy desires are all set aside. Where is a man, though lonely be service, satisfied only in Him to abide?
Where is a Gideon? Where is a man? Who’ll be a leader and follow God’s plan? Where is God’s champion? Who’ll be the one to stand like Gideon? I’ll be that man.
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