Has anyone ever told you how hard it is to be a Christian?
There are school dances that you don't go to even though you really want to because you are afraid they will be inappropriate.
There are super-popular movies that you don't see because they are rated R.
There's the struggle to find dresses that are long enough to wear without pants.
You find that your friends don't understand some of your beliefs no matter how often you explain. You are looked down upon, called old-fashioned.
You lose friends because of your faith.
You may lose family as well.
And then there are all of the inward battles as you struggle to overcome sin and grow in your personal faith.
All of this, in addition to the normal everyday struggles that every teenager goes through.
So is it worth it?
The answer is absolutely!
Because as big as some of those problems may seem right now, they are all earthly things. And as we read in 1 John 2:17, "The world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
If you follow the crowd and do things of the world just so you can be happy here, in this life, it will make you happy in the moment. But it will not last.
On the other hand, if you faithfully follow God's will in your life and live in a way that makes him proud, you will receive eternal life in heaven. And that will be a happiness that will last forever.
So all of the ridicule, embarrassment, and inconvenience you go through because you are a Christian is only temporary, and totally worth it.
Because in the end, all of those things will pass away, and the only thing that will remain will be God's kingdom. Wouldn't you rather be on God's side when that happens?
So don't give up! Rest in the truth that everything you go through now will end and you will receive eternal life in Heaven. Being a Christian in today's culture is hard, but totally worth it!
What do you think? Have you gone through hardships for Christ in the past? Do you find these truths encouraging?
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