Next Step for Young People With Convictionናሙና

With the Flow 

Jessica loved the outdoors. She was always hiking, camping, and just enjoying the beautiful world God had created. Today was a special day for Jessica. Not only was it a beautiful day but it was also her first time canoeing down the Arth River. She had never explored the Arth River or the surrounding area before, and every minute Jessica drifted down the river she was amazed by all the sights and sounds.

However, Jessica began to grow concerned as she heard a sound that was familiar to her as a seasoned outdoors girl. At first it was soft and hardly distinguishable, but slowly the sound grew more recognizable. As the canoe rounded the corner, Jessica looked down the river and noticed how it seemed to drop away, leaving only the open sky and distant trees in view. It was a waterfall. 

Immediately, Jessica grabbed the paddle and started paddling the opposite direction from the waterfall only to find that the river had sped up and was moving faster than she was paddling. Not willing to give up, Jessica paddled harder. And harder. And harder. And just as Jessica felt like she had no strength left, the canoe slid up onto the stony shore. Jessica had made it. 

Going against the current that was trying to pull her over the edge was not easy. The river that Jessica faced was just like the challenge of peer pressure that we all face. In life it is easy to go with the flow. It is easy to follow others and not be different. That's why so many teenagers start smoking and doing drugs, just because of peer pressure. 

Don't let others direct your life toward something bad. Let your life direct others toward God. Set an example for them.  

Discussion: 

What is your story of being under peer pressure? How did you deal with the pressure to do things you knew weren’t good for you? If you are still dealing with peer pressure, what do you need to change in order to not feel that pressure anymore?