Almost all teenagers grapple with the question, “What will I do with my life?” While the question certainly involves choosing a vocation, it goes far deeper than that. It is ultimately a spiritual question: “What is worth the investment of my life? Where will I find the greatest happiness? And where can I make the greatest contribution?” As philosophical as these questions may appear, they are very real to teenagers. More immediately, teenagers must answer the following questions: “Will I go to college, and if so, where? Should I join the military, and if so, which branch? Should I get a job, and if so, which job?”
As a parent, you cannot and should not offer easy answers, but you can encourage the teenager’s search and perhaps introduce your son or daughter to people of various vocational counselors both at high school and later at the university. But ultimately, you should encourage your teenager to follow the example of Samuel. The ancient Hebrew prophet heard God’s call as a teenager and said, “Speak, your servant is listening “ (1 Samuel 3:10), He had a sense of divine calling and lived out that call in his vocation.
Thank God for giving you a model of obedience in Samuel. Thank Him that He holds the future in His hands and has unique plans for your child. Ask Him to give you the wisdom and patience to guide your child through the coming years.
Reflect on these questions:
What do you have to offer a young person who is contemplating his or her future?
In your heart of hearts, what do you want for your child’s future?
What do you need to do in order to prepare your child for the future?
Consider these passages for further study on Preparing for the Future:
Psalm 39:4-7
“Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.[a]
6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.
7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
Hebrews 13:8 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hope changes everything. There are times we need the Lord more than others times. Whenever that time is, keep the Lord close by your side to guide you in the right direction with the decisions you make in life. Great devotional by Gary Chapman.