The Road Less Traveled - a Lent Journey for TeensSample

Too Afraid to Feel

Have you ever been afraid to bring bad news to someone? Now, I’m not talking about being afraid of the report card your parents still need to sign. I’m talking about bad news you know will hurt them a lot. We fear the bad news will always cause great pain and damage. This fear causes us not to want to get in touch with our feelings; we can handle physical pain, but emotions we want to stay far away from. Being caught in this emotional prison causes us to fear love. We then fear relationships because we might get hurt.

Have you ever held back in a relationship because you didn’t want to get hurt? This is the same as moving into a brand new mansion, only to live out of your suitcase. Relationships come with both pain and pleasure. Just because you experience pain doesn’t mean the relationship has failed or is no longer worth it.

Jesus went through both pain and pleasure in his relationships, and He still chooses to walk alongside us to this very day.

Exercise:

When you experience deep joy or pain, pause and fully experience all of your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to be with you as you stay with these sensations.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I ask for the grace of tears to weep over my losses.