The Teenage Years That Frighten

Adolescence arrives, and it can feel like the child you knew has vanished. The same affectionate boy now rolls his eyes. The same girl who used to tell you everything now keeps secrets. You ask questions and get one-word answers. And you wonder, "Did I do something wrong?"

Most of the time, you didn't. It's just that growing up hurts, and teenagers don't quite know where to put that pain — so sometimes it lands on you.

This verse is both a comfort and a responsibility at the same time. What you planted in the early years hasn't gone away. The foundation you built — even if it now seems buried under layers of moodiness and distance — is still there. Good instruction doesn't disappear; it sleeps and wakes at the right time.

Stay present. Stay firm and loving at the same time. And keep praying — because a teenager's heart is God's territory, not just yours.