Spiritual Adolescence

by John Michalak

Jeremiah 32:26-27

Then the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?”

How old are you in your relationship to God?

In our spiritual walk, many of us suffer from adolescence.

When our faith was young, God was beyond us. We stood before our Father with an equal amount of fear and love. We dared not cross Him and we respected His power to discipline us for wrong behavior.

But then came adolescence. The teenage years.

We feel so independent. We unconsciously assume we are God’s equals. We feel we don’t really need God anymore, and we certainly don’t respect the consequences of disobedience.

In the days of Jeremiah, Israel was like a rebellious adolescent, so full of themselves that God no longer had any sway in their lives. However, He was about to show them how strong a parent He could be. Then they’d see what life was like without Him.

While God wants you to mature, He also wants you to remember the humility of childhood. Make no mistake. God is still your Father. He still knows better than you. And He still loves you. If you’ve ever strayed like a teenager, God is calling you to return.


Reflection

Are there any areas where I’ve turned from God and gone my own way? Do I still depend on Him the way I used to? I will ask Him for the gift of humility to return to His love and care and embrace His forgiveness.


Prayer

Dear Lord, Forgive me for my adolescent acting-out. Help me to regain the awe and pure faith I had when I first started to believe in You. Nothing is too hard for You. You are the master of all. Be master of my life as well. In Jesus’ dear name I pray, Amen.