146 Responses From 7 Different Countries
The results showed that youth are, reflective and self aware, employing coping skills/
techniques but still need help when overwhelmed by their stressors. Interestingly some
stressors are a part of their core values and this makes it difficult to place boundaries on
them or eliminate them.
Most common stressors: (in random order)
• Job work/school work
• Money
• Anxiety about future/career
• Exams
• Life decisions/responsibility
• Family/Social expectations to succeed
• Health and wellbeing
• Self doubt/self image
• Time management, work/leisure balance
• Church related activities impeding
school work
• Feeling like a failure/not pleasing or
doing enough for God
G
Pom, pom, moments!
Generally, the feedback was positive
and hopeful youth still believe that
in spite of the challenges their faith
is worthwhile and their relationship
with Jesus is vital. Its seems is it those
who place unreasonable demands
on the youth that are culpable for
cause them undue stress but this is
fixable. “I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.” (NKJV)
Philippians 4:13
Red flags... danger ahead!
However, there are some critical
issues that were red flagged and if
we do not nip them in the bud we will
definitely have dire consequences in
the immediate future.
Most common de-stressors (in random order)
• Bible reading and prayer
• Exercise
• Music-listening/singing /playing
instruments
• Eating comfort food
• Self motivation-positive talk /positive
imagery/distraction
• Sleep it off
• Attending Church
• Personal time out/breaks away from it all
• Movies
• Time with trusted friend
• Talking with family
activities,” regardless of how the
youth are actually doing or how well
they are coping. It was apparent that
we are not picking up on the stress
signals of our youth, many things we
possibly see as rebellion is most likely
a cry for help. Among the “Church
pressures”
deemed
particularly
stressful was the demand for youth to
attend multiple meetings mid week
as well as manage school and in some
cases work responsibilities.
Another concern was adults who tend
to display a self righteous attitude
rather than choosing to mentor or
disciple the youth. This alienates
the youth and further debilitates
their already fragile self esteem and
dwindling motivation to achieve a
The general finding was that “Church
happy work life balance.
can be stressful because of the
demands to “perform” or do “Church” This exposes a lack of discipleship
training programmes and makes
it an imperative for Parents, Youth
workers/pastors to make discipleship
simple, clear and accessible to youth
believers. Discipleship ought to begin
and end with the family altar, where
not only the rudiments of religion is
practised but the relational aspect
of learning to walk with Christ is
demonstrated through the everyday
issues of life being transparently
discussed and finding solutions
through faith is modelled for the youth
to see. The youth earnestly need real,
accessible role models to learn how
to develop a sustainable relationship
with Christ. p
July - September 2017
By Petra Imani Nicholas
Creative Writer, Poet and
Blogger on SHARE XTRA
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