Today’s youth have to deal with peer pressure just like every other generation that has gone before them. You may argue that today’s peer pressure is more intense or you may argue that it is the same as in your day, whatever the case it exists and needs to be dealt with. We must teach our children how to deal with peer pressure, how to avoid it, and how to face it.
Raising a child in a Christian home is important, equipping them to face a cruel, dark world is even more important. It is important that we not only help them to know Christ, but we help them to live as a Christian.
They must arm themselves with the armor of God so that they will be able to face what is before them.
The Bible gives us these tools, this armor that we can use against our enemy. Spending time with your children reading God’s word will help them to realize what it says and hide those words in their heart.
In addition, you can talk with them about how they should react to their peers. The art of turning the other cheek, the art of “treating others as you would like to be treated” rather than how they treat you. Though these things might not be popular, they are Biblical.
Remind them of the saying, “What is right is not always popular, what is popular is not always right.” Help them to understand that taking a stand for Christ is not always easy, but they will be rewarded by their Heavenly Father.
Finally, remind them that the best way to avoid temptation is to flee from it.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 2:22:
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. “
This is the ultimate way to resist temptation and peer pressure, just run.
We must equip our children to know how to handle peer pressure. Give them the tools that they need, encourage them at every chance, the battle for their innocence is not easily won, but a worthy cause of battle.
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