What Makes Following Jesus in High School Worth it?

I would say if there is any topic that I'm the most experienced in, it'd most likely be this one.

What makes following Jesus in High School worth it?

If you're a high school student, then hey! I'm so glad you clicked on this post. Chances are you're wondering this for yourself.

Let me start by saying: I have walked in your shoes and asking this question is NOT wrong.

If I recall correctly, my middle school years were some of the hardest of my life. I didn't fit in anywhere and I felt deeply insecure. Prior to high school, I hadn't grown up in church. I had the encouragement and testaments of Jesus through my mother. Yet, I hadn't really experienced Jesus for myself. I stepped into high school hoping to leave a mark and make a name for myself. To finally fit somewhere and to develop security in who I was and how I looked. I mean high school was go-time for me.

But in my freshman year through a Young Life Camp, I had heard the gospel laid out to me for the first time. My heart lit up because in that moment I knew that following Jesus was what I desired and what would heal all of this brokenness I had been feeling inside my lil' heart. As a lot of us know though, when we return to the reality of the world that we live in, we are confused and confronted by all of the things.

I will be honest and upfront with you: Following Jesus in High School isn't easy.

Yet, this does not mean that it is not possible. So, let me tell you a little story.

At the beginning of my relationship with Christ, I had friends my age running along side me. We had our arms linked and it was one of the most fun years of my life. But as things started shifting and changing, a lot of them wanted other things. We didn't share the same goals anymore and I started to feel lonely. Before we do anything though, let's talk about this for a second.

Have you ever thought Jesus was a vacuum for fun?

What do I mean by this? Well, have you said to yourself, 'if I follow Jesus then I won't be able to do fun stuff anymore.'

Let me say this: YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Heck, I thought this too but I hope we can break this down for a second. There's a huge difference between life-giving fun, and the kind of fun that can break your heart into pieces. I have learned this and fallen on my face quite a few times to understand what fun truly is. Jesus is the author of fun, the one behind the feelings of joy we experience in a hug from our friend. He was the one that created the excitement of having the top down in a car with your friends and your hair going every place you could imagine. All the while, you're laughing and screaming music at the top of your lungs. Jesus is the author of fun. But what do I mean when I say, the kind of "fun" that can break your heart into pieces?

Trust me when I tell you from personal experience, it will be so easy as you move throughout high school to believe everyone is having way more fun than you are. That as they all get drunk together at parties, or participate in mindless, feelingless activities that you are missing out on something. Being the one to go against the grain can sometimes cause a lot of loneliness. At my senior year of high school, I was without a single friend my age.

I hope that you don't look at that and pity it, or think, 'Gosh, I hope that's never me.' Let me tell you, that in those years I have never felt God's consolation like I did at a table by myself in the cafeteria. I had never had the eyes to see more people who have felt this loneliness their whole life until I, myself, had experienced it. Think about that joy that you got to experience hearing the gospel for the first time. You do know it in your heart deep down, or you wouldn't be here reading this. When I had truly seen brokenness and fear in my own life, man did God give me a heart and eyes to see those around me who felt it too.

One of my main drives of following Jesus in high school was that this gospel wasn't just for me anymore. It was for every person I'd pass in the hallway. It was for every intentional "hello" and smile. It was for being friends with the people who felt broken. You will wonder at times if all of this was worth it. And let me say, that your walk with Christ in high school could look like planting seeds and never seeing the fruit that comes. Other times, it could look like you changing your whole entire high school with the way you lived your life.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This scripture might be intimidating to you and you might think,'I don't really want to be afflicted in every way.' Or you might wonder how you'd make it through that. And you're probably also thinking, 'the stuff all of my friends do right now honestly sounds way better.' And trust me, I only say this because I thought those things too. But I can promise you that both bring affliction but only one brings hope and solid ground to stand on.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Following Jesus means receiving life to the full. It means following a God who will graciously and generously give you all that you need. I invite you to take a chance on Jesus. Maybe this is the first time you really are considering it. To recognize it is hard is not to deem it fearful, but really it is all the more room to rely on a God who generously gives. I hope you seek to consider sharing and living out the gospel from this point forward.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.

2 Peter 1:3

You are walking with the Holy Spirit and the power of God in your heart. You are equipped and made righteous through nothing but the perfect blood of Jesus. As we come to a close, I hope you can have peace that as you move forward you will fail. You'll bruise yourself a couple times. But if the power of God is in you, there is no circumstance that won't be worked together for the good of His glory and your heart.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, or those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

So what makes all of this worth it? You get to live life next to the creator of the universe, the one who died on the cross for YOUR heart. Maybe spend a couple days praying about this and processing through it with God. The prayer below is a great place to start.

Something to pray as you move forward:

Jesus, I desire to walk with you. And man, I know it might not always be easy. But give me the courage to praise you in the valleys and the highlands all the same. As I walk through high school, I pray I exude your light and your presence. That no soul is left untouched by you when they encounter me. Give me the eyes to see that you are a God of adventure and ample amounts of fun. That you call me to walk on the waves and participate in things that no one has ever done before.

Give me the heart to be teachable and faithful as the days proceed. Encourage me to seek counsel and community that push me toward you. Father, show me that I am equipped even if I feel like I don't know that much. I have the Holy Spirit moving and working within me. You are pruning the parts of me that are beautiful, and healing the parts of me that are broken and hurting. Let us develop a relationship over these years that will catapult me into the rest of my life. Father, I love you. Let's do this thing.

Amen.