Jimbo's Jots

Several weeks ago, I mentioned several books that I was reading through. One of those books is The Anxious Teen” Ministry with stressed and fearful students, by Brock Morgan with Hallie Scott, MFT. Having been in youth ministry for many years and also a licensed professional counselor for the past 13 years, it is an interesting read. It provides an opportunity for continued growth and learning.

This past week as I was reading, the author, Morgan, talked about a class he offered through the youth ministry on teens and anxiety. He had a psychologist, Dr, Chris Butler teaching the class which freed him up to listen and learn himself. One of the main points in the class was the difference between stress and anxiety. Now I know that you may be thinking they are one and the same. Me too!! The same for the author, I might add.

As Morgan tells the story, Dr. Butler states stress is as common as waking up. We face stresses every day. Some of those are good. For the teen, stress is getting up and going to school knowing there is a test. But since they studied and prepped for it, they’re confident. It’s still a stressful event. When they are not prepared, it’s an even more stressful day.

Good stresses in a family happen every day as well. A couple making preparations for a wedding have stresses related to the wedding day. Hopefully, once the day is done, they do not have to deal with those again. A couple anticipating the arrival of a new baby deal with the stress of being prepared with the nursery as well as their own parenting skills to take care of the child.

Now some of us might say, “That’s my anxiety!!”

Where Dr. Butler and Morgan differentiate stress and anxiety is stress is an every day series of events. Anxiety, according to Dr. Butler is chronic stress that is more long term can produce anxiety. And according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 32% for adolescents have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder.

So, I know what you may be asking . . . how do we move beyond being anxious about life, especially as we help our children? I’m glad you asked. Here are some just basic thoughts:

• Move past the performance. Let’s begin to praise people for who they are and not what they do. Let’s remind people they are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Let’s tell them they are wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14).
• Buddy Up. Similar to what I had said last week, we need each other. We need people in our lives that will speak life and truth to us. They are honest and gentle when maybe we need some guidance.
• Live in the promises of God. We need to believe within our souls the promises of God. He tells us . . . you are loved . . . you are chosen . . . you are my child . . . I will never leave you alone . . . when you need to fight the battle, I will fight with you! That’s what we need to hear.

When we believe these statements, we are like the student who walks in knowing everything that’s going to be on the test and they’re going to ace it! The stresses will come. And they may produce levels of anxiety within us. But we got this because God’s got this!

Be blessed (and stressed free!)!! Be a blessing to others along the way!