Navigating Teenage RebellionSample

Day 2: The Voices and the Choices

We live in a battlefield of good versus evil. I call it “the voices and the choices” or “the battle of the four WILLS.” These four wills are:

1.The will of God the Father. God designed each of us ON purpose, WITH purpose, and FOR a purpose. He is the Knitter and the Knower. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed that we walk in harmony with His plan.

2.The will of the enemy. We have an enemy—a thief, who comes to rob, kill, and destroy us. He seeks death over life and has purposed to destroy all that is good and right. The battle is on!

3.Our own self will. Then we have to deal with our own self-will, our own selfish nature, and our own pride that wants our own way. Hormones in adolescence shows a rising up of this self-will. This is normal as we develop our own identity. The Lord wants us to mature into adulthood and into greater usefulness. However, the enemy fights to bring confusion during this transition.

4.The will of the other. This could be parents, a teacher, boss, or pastor. There are often many voices in our lives telling us what to do. Most of these voices mean well, but they are still other voices to contend with during formative teen years.

After watching this battle in my life for over half a century, I have come to realize that I don’t even want my will, my way or the consequences that are attached. In the same spirit of Jesus we say, “Not my will, but Thine, be done.” We know that His plan is greater than what we could hope or imagine. God’s will in God’s way.

Be aware of the battlefield and lean in to hear His voice over the voices of all others.