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Answer
Many Christian parents may question whether they will endure the challenge of raising a teenager. Teenagers typically exhibit certain characteristics. Firstly, they are in a phase of life where they believe they possess all knowledge and disregard anything they do not already know. Secondly, the hormones and chemicals surging through their brains and bodies often impede their ability to think rationally like adults. They desire instant gratification and are often unaware that their requests may be harmful. It is the responsibility of parents to protect their children from themselves as they navigate this challenging stage of life.
Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 7:9-10 when He states, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Sometimes children request things that seem beneficial to them but could actually be detrimental, so it is up to parents to act in their best interest. Similarly, when we ask God for something we believe is good but He knows is not, He will not grant it to us.
Having Jesus in your home is the most effective approach to raising children. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” «Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it. », (Proverbs 22:6). If you have embraced Christianity by inviting Jesus into your heart, then the Holy Spirit resides within you and will guide you in all things (John 14:26;1 John 2:27), including how to raise your children. Children learn more from observing our actions than from our words, so setting a good example is crucial.
The Bible teaches us the importance of discipline. “He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him” «He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. », (Proverbs 13:24). “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death” «Chasten thy son while there is hope, And let not thy soul spare for his crying. », (Proverbs 19:18). “Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul” «Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; Yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul. », (Proverbs 29:17). It is very important to establish rules and enforce them. When children know that their actions are wrong, some form of consequence should follow, but it should be suitable for the offense. Lying indicates that a child cannot be trusted, so perhaps until that trust is regained, time spent outside the home should be very limited. They will seek to regain your trust, and in doing so, they will learn. The worst mistake we can make is trying to be our children’s friend instead of their parent.
Discipline should always be carried out with the child’s best interests as the motivation. Ephesians 6:4 instructs us not to provoke our children to anger by our treatment of them (this does not mean avoiding discipline; it means refraining from disciplining in anger or frustration), but to raise them with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord. Ensure that you explain to your child why the behavior is wrong, why you disapprove, and that you are acting out of love for him/her. Hebrews 12:7 teaches us that God disciplines all His children when they err because He loves them, and it would not be beneficial if He did not. When ch
When children argue about being punished, as they inevitably will, the wise parent responds, “It’s my responsibility to discipline you, and if I don’t, I have to answer to God. And He’s a lot tougher than I am!”
Finally, several things are crucial to survive raising teenagers: a sense of humor, a sense of conviction that you are doing the right thing, reliance on God’s wisdom in His Word, and prayer, prayer, prayer! These elements will not only assist parents in “surviving” but also in modeling good parenting, which teenagers will eventually emulate when they become parents themselves.
