Abigail Duhon - I’m Not Ashamedಮಾದರಿ

Peer Pressure

Peer pressure is one of the most difficult challenges for teens to stay bold in their Christian faith. Movies, TV shows, social media, music, and life in school introduces different ways to think and act. But peer pressure isn’t anything new. It’s been part of the faith story all through the Bible. Not being ashamed of serving the one and true God in the times of being pressured to walk away or deny Him is what God wants for His children.

Daniel chapter 3 gives us an account of three teen boys (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) who were, in that time, bold about their faith. They were Jewish in faith yet served a king who worshiped idols. As you will read, they were challenged to bow down and worship the false idol whenever a horn blasted.

Instead of giving in and bowing down to the false idol, they refused and were thrown into a burning fiery pit. The account explains that they were not harmed and that the king ended up seeing the power of the one and only God because the three teen boys refused to allow the pressure of their fellow citizens to make them compromise their faith.


In this story, it’s easy to see their boldness to stay committed, but sometimes in our daily life, it’s not so obvious. Sometimes God allows us to be in a situation where it would be easier to just give in and go along with the crowd. It’s those times we need to remember that if we choose to be bold and stand for what we believe as Christians, God will be glorified and some lives may be changed, just like the king. 


Rachel Scott stood up for her faith and since her tragic murder, her story has been shared around the world and over 20 million young people have chosen to be bold in their faith, just like her. 
It isn’t always easy to be firm in your faith. Even after you’ve experienced amazing times with your faith in Jesus.

Maybe you have had an incredible time at church or church camp. Maybe God has healed you of a sickness or helped you through a difficult time that you know He was the one that helped you. Even then you may be faced with standing up for your Christian beliefs. 


Near the end of Luke chapter 22 is an account of Peter, Jesus’ closest friend and someone who actually watched Jesus feed the hungry, heal the sick and speak the very words of God in his presence, who was challenged with peer pressure. Sadly, even after witnessing all the firsthand life of Jesus and claiming to be His disciple the rest of his life, he still chose to deny Him in the midst of peers. The story doesn’t end there though.

After feeling ashamed of Jesus, we read an amazing passage later in the book of John where Jesus restores Peter’s confidence in being bold about telling others, and finally in Acts 2 we see Peter standing before a large crowd and sharing the gospel, completely unashamed. 

Sometimes it’s peer pressure that holds us back, but just know that even if you fail, like Peter, God is always ready to restore you and give you boldness to not be ashamed to tell others.