Will Teens Die Young?

According to new research, nearly 15% of teens today think they will die young.

Dr. Iris Borowsky, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, based the study on the responses from 20,000 kids. In the past, many teens would be involved in dangerous forms of behavior mostly because their youth made them feel nearly invincible. But today, more are engaging in certain unhealthy activities because they feel life to be hopeless and having little or nothing at stake. The study found that such thinking threatens to turn their fatalism into a self-fulfilling prophecy and that these kids are seven times more likely to suffer from AIDS, do drugs, get into fights, and even attempt suicide.

It is beyond sad to see young people living in the greatest nation on earth and possessing such a negative and destructive attitude. Why would those who have nearly unlimited opportunities, and who are the envy of most kids on the planet, feel so clueless and hopeless? And why on earth would those who live the ‘good life’ feel it to be a ‘bad life’?

The answer is simple. It has little to do with where they live, what they own, or how they feel. The answer is spiritual. At the core, hopelessness and depression is about an emptiness in the depths of the soul – irregardless of one’s current lifestyle or future prospects.

The basic reason for the presence of despair in a life is the general absence of God’s Holy Spirit in the heart. Without God, man is left alone to produce his own joy and contentment. He is left primarily to external circumstances and his own devices for gratifying internal effects. Also, statistics reveal that many who achieve great levels of outer fortune often possess limited inner peace. Again, the entire matter is all about the spiritual.

For those in God’s family through faith in Jesus Christ, even the most negative external circumstances can be countered and accompanied by an unnatural inner joy. James, in his New Testament wisdom book, wrote of this unique ability in chapter one of his letter. In verse 24 he penned, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Then, too, Peter reaffirmed this amazing potential for the Christian in 1 Peter 4:12-13. “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

The unlikely scenario of possessing a consistent inner joy, come what may, is also confirmed to and guaranteed by the one who offers it as part of His salvation benefits plan. In John 15:11, Jesus stated, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.“ Paul also shares the source of spiritual joy in Romans chapter fifteen. Verse 13 states, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

For the young and old alike who struggle with hopelessness, the only sure remedy in this life and the promise of eternity with God’s in the next, is through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. This is a real and ‘living hope’ – one that explains the Christian’s unexplainable victories even in the face of life’s most unmanageable problems!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Gal 5:22-23)

Bill Breckenridge