Environment is a familiar word these days. More and more people have begun to realize that we are seriously polluting and damaging the earth.
When God first created human beings in his image, he said, “Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature” (Genesis 1:28). That word rule doesn’t mean “use.” It means “take care of.” That’s what Psalm 8 is saying. God gave you a special honor (Psalm 8:5). God made you the ruler over all he made, to take care of it for him for the benefit of future generations and for the benefit of the other living creatures he created (Psalm 8:6–9).
Brittany is upset because her friends talk about her behind her back and call her names. That happens to most of us. It even happened in Bible times. Check out verse 3 of this psalm. When people talked down to King David, he remembered God’s attitude toward such people. And David remembered God’s promise: “I will protect them from those who malign them” (Psalm 12:5). When others talk behind our backs, we can follow David’s example and trust God to protect us from such people forever (verse 7).
Very intelligent people can also be very foolish. In fact, the Old Testament uses several different words for fool, and none of them has anything to do with intelligence.
The word fool used in Psalm 14:1 describes the person who commits gross sins. The actions of such persons show that they don’t believe God exists. If they believed in God and knew that one day God would declare judgment, they would change.
Believing in God makes a moral difference. It won’t make you more intelligent, but it will make a difference in the way you live your life. And that’s what’s really important.
Why am I here? What’s my purpose in life? Many teens ask that question. “What’s my purpose in life?” is a question that probably can’t be answered yet. Looking back on his life, King David wrote, “You are my portion and my cup.” He realized God’s plan for him was a “delightful inheritance.” But as a teen taking care of sheep, David didn’t know his future. None of us knows ahead of time what our future holds. But as long as you look to God for advice and guidance each day (verse 7), he’ll lead you to the “delightful inheritance” he’s planned for you.
Morgan is fearful. She says her biggest problem is not having confidence that God will protect her. We do live in a dangerous world. Terrible things happen to teens every day. And sometimes the terrible things happen to Christians. So what are believers to do? Just what David did when he was being pursued by enemies out to kill him—he remembered how great God is (verses 30–31). He counted on God to give him strength and help him meet the dangers ahead (verses 32–34). David trusted God to bring him through every danger (verses 35–36). Let’s not forget that God can strengthen us to meet any dangers the future may hold.
Josh wonders, “Why is life so hard?” It is hard, for everyone. In this messianic Psalm (a prophecy about Jesus), we even hear Christ say, “Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help” (verse 11). Reading this psalm reminds us that life was hard for Jesus. No wonder it’s hard for us. Jesus’ troubles made him look to God the Father. That may be one reason God lets hard things into our lives. If everything were easy, we probably wouldn’t think we need to rely on God or stay near to him. The great thing is that when our life is hard and we look to the Lord, he gives us the strength we need to live life his way.
Why does God allow people to suffer so much from hurricanes and tsunamis?
Tyler
Dear Tyler,
I don’t understand why there is so much suffering in this world. But I do know that God knows when his people suffer. Psalm 22 tells us, “For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help” (verse 24).
God created an amazing universe with a set of natural laws such as gravity. He set the planets into motion and the whole solar system has been operating for thousands of years. He gave us the sun and rain and all of the natural consequences that come with such a complex system.
As we have seen, sometimes there are massive and destructive storms, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It seems as a general rule, God does not intervene in these natural phenomena. But we hear stories of miraculous rescues and people surviving things that no one should have been able to. Are some people saved by guardian angels? I wish I knew the answers to all these questions. Some things are mysteries to us.
Sometimes disasters come along and damage or destroy even the best people. Not because God doesn’t care and not because God doesn’t see the suffering people endure. We can’t stop natural disasters, but we can share the love and compassion God has given us.
Jordan
One teen writes, “The hardest thing is walking with God every day.” What would you tell her if she’d written to you? I suspect King David might say something like he wrote in Psalm 25: “Ask God to show you his ways and guide you all day long” (verses 4–5). And if you go wrong, look to God for “mercy and forgiveness” (verses 6–7). Will God really do this for you? Sure he will. Because God loves you, and because he is good (verse 7).
They’re constantly talking about me, and it hurts.” Maybe you feel this way too. Most teens are gossiped about at some time or other . . . or even most of the time. When that happens, you may feel a lot like David, who writes, “My life is consumed by anguish . . . I am the utter contempt of my neighbors” (verses 10–11). The trouble with slander is you really can’t fight it or strike back. What can you do?
(1) Remember, your “times” are in God’s hands. It won’t last.
(2) Rely on God to deliver you from your enemies and to silence them.
It may not happen right away. But keep asking God and he will show you his wonderful love (verse 21).
I feel guilty about so many things. Is this normal? How can I make these feelings go away?
Sarah
Dear Sarah,
That’s a good question. Many times people feel guilty when they shouldn’t. Sometimes you may feel guilty over an argument your parents had, even though you had nothing to do with the situation. It’s important not to spend emotional energy feeling guilty and asking for forgiveness when you’re not at fault.
But what about those times when you really are guilty? Believe it or not, feeling guilt for doing wrong shows that the Holy Spirit is at work, guiding you to repent. Repentance means apologizing and asking for forgiveness, but it also means making a commitment to stop sinning.
David said that when he tried to keep quiet about the wrong things he had done, he became ill (Psalm 32:3–4). If this is how you feel, you need to do what David did: admit your sin to God, ask for forgiveness and stop that sin. Do you know what happens then? God forgives you. Have you ever watched a teacher erasing a whiteboard? That’s how God removes your sin. Completely! Remember that and you will no longer experience guilt but the peace of God’s forgiveness.
Jordan
Brandon asks, “Why should I keep away from sin?” From the outside, many things labeled “sin” look like fun. But in this psalm, David has a good answer to Brandon’s question. David reminds us that if we want to “see many good days,” we need to “turn from evil and do good” (verses 12 and 14). God is watching, and he’s on the side of the righteous. That doesn’t mean we won’t have troubles. But God will hear our prayers and will deliver us from the troubles we have. At first, sin can look appealing. Eventually the evil things get in the way and cause huge problems in people’s lives. Like a lot of teachings in the Bible, this is one you can take on faith: Keep away from sin. Or you can try out sin for yourself, and learn the hard way.
Talk about pressure! Sometimes life is just too overwhelming. We have a ton of stuff to do, and not enough time to do it. People expect too much . . . teachers, parents, coaches, friends, youth group leaders, brothers and sisters. What can you do when so much stuff piles up you feel like you can’t stand it any more? In Psalm 37 Dr. David prescribes six remedies. Check out verses 3 though 9. Find the six and write them down. Chances are, whatever situation you find yourself in, one of the six will apply and help you deal with the pressure.
Sometimes it feels like there’s no hope—that even God has written you off. As one teen put it, “I feel like the whole world is against me.” David put it this way: “my soul is downcast” and “disturbed.” It can help to read a psalm like this one and realize others have felt the same way you do. All 11 of the verses of this psalm express those “down” feelings you experience. But in two of the verses, David remembers that when things are darkest, there’s still one ray of sunshine. What is it? Check out verses 5 and 11.
Bad things do happen to good people. One girl who helped with this Bible was upset because her dad lost his business because of an untrustworthy contractor. Her question is, “Why do things like this happen?” It’s too easy to say it’s because people are sinners. Or even that God has something better for her family. The question is, Why does God let such people get away with it? In this Bible passage, God has a word of warning to the wicked. What this psalm says won’t make the pain of being cheated go away. But it is helpful to remember that God himself is judge, and no wicked act goes unpunished.
When David confessed his sin with Bathsheba to the Lord, he asked God to cleanse him, to purify his heart and to restore the joy of salvation (Psalm 51:7–12). And God did forgive him.
But King David didn’t only confess to God. Other people knew what he had done, and his sin set a terrible example for his people. That’s why the introduction to this psalm is important. David sent it to “the director of music.” David’s confession wasn’t made just to God. It was made publicly as well.
If you sin in a way that doesn’t involve others, confess it to God and accept his forgiveness. But if others know what you’ve done, you need to make sure they also know you’ve confessed to God and received forgiveness—and you need to ask them to forgive you too.
How do you handle feelings? Strong feelings, like anger. Or fear. Or loneliness. Or shame. Feelings that are hard to share with parents or even close friends. The book of Psalms can show you what to do with strong feelings. David knew that however he felt, he could express his emotions to God. God wouldn’t be angry with him or say, “You shouldn’t feel that way!” God cares how you feel, and just expressing your emotions to him can often make you feel better. You could look for words about feelings in different psalms and make a list. Then when you have one of those feelings, read that psalm as your prayer.
They’re talking behind your back again? Teens we surveyed while writing the notes in this Bible raised this issue again and again. They feel a lot like David. Sometimes friends are determined to bring each other down. Sometimes we can’t understand others’ motives. We just know that it’s wrong, and that it hurts. When King David hurt, he remembered two important things. He spells them out in verses 11 and 12. Why do you suppose these comforted David? Can they comfort you too?
Did anyone ever tell you, “I just don’t like you”? They didn’t have any particular reason to be your enemy. They just were. That’s what David is talking about in Psalm 69. That and being worn out by trying to stand up to those who are his enemies without a cause. What can we do when we’re in pain and distress because everyone seems to be against us? Find out David’s surprising answer in verse 30. Even better, try it out. Let David’s solution shift your focus away from your enemies and discover for yourself what happens.
My parents don’t understand that it’s harder to grow up as a Christian than it used to be. If you want to have friends, you basically have to do what everybody else does. I want to be accepted in the world where I live. How can I get them to understand?
Gavin
Dear Gavin,
It seems to be more and more difficult to live with Christian values. Young people see and hear so many sinful things they become desensitized—that means they are so used to hearing and seeing sinful things that those things don’t even seem wrong anymore. Music, movies, the internet, drugs, alcohol, promiscuous sex, abortion—all these chip away at our understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong. And those who are most sinful are often most popular (or at least it seems that way).
This is nothing new, however. Many centuries ago the psalmist said he was jealous of wicked people because they seemed to have everything (Psalm 73:3–12). He felt he had gotten nowhere by trying to do the right thing (verse 13).
It wasn’t until he entered “the sanctuary of God” that God gave the psalmist understanding. Eventually the wicked get into trouble so deep they are destroyed (Psalm 73:16–19). They don’t rely on God because they are enjoying doing what’s wrong. But God is always there for us. He gives strength to those who rely on him. It may be hard to live as God wants, but who will be there for you when you need him? People change from one day to the next. But God never changes.
Jordan
Sometimes it seems like God just isn’t listening. Or if he is, he’s decided to ignore us. And sometimes we ask, “Will God ever answer my prayer?” The person who wrote Psalm 77 understands. He prayed too, but God didn’t seem to hear. Finally the psalmist figured out how to deal with prayers that go unanswered. He focused on the fact that God can perform miracles (Psalm 77:10–20). God can do anything . . . but God chooses what he will do. If the Lord chooses not to answer your prayer (yet), then he has a good reason—even if you don’t know what that reason is.
Sometimes Christians are criticized for being “pro-life.” Abortion advocates talk about how terrible it is to be an “unwanted” child. They think if a child is unwanted, he or she is sure to be neglected or abused.
We need to remember that adoption is an option. Believers are called to “defend the weak and the fatherless” and to “rescue the weak and needy” (Psalm 82:3–4). If you should ever face the choice, please consider options other than an abortion. Many Christian couples want a baby to love—couples who would be glad to do God’s will by caring for a fatherless child and rescuing you and your baby from this very difficult situation.
It’s never wrong to pray for people who are sick. It’s also not even wrong to pray for things you need, or even things you don’t really need but want. But don’t miss out on the most important thing about prayer. What’s that? Prayer is a time to relax and just be near God. That’s what this psalm is talking about. Psalms use different word pictures. But they are all about how good it feels to just enjoy being with the Lord. So when you pray, it’s not wrong to request this or that from God. But take an extra couple of minutes just to tell the Lord how wonderful you think he is. You’ll feel a lot closer to God all day.
Did you learn Bible stories as a child? Stories about the miracles that forced Pharaoh to free the Israelite slaves. About God parting the Red Sea so his people could pass through it on dry ground. And the stories about Jesus’ miracles: telling a raging storm to stop, casting out demons and healing the sick.
That’s part of what being “All-mighty” means: God is able do whatever he chooses any time, any place.
A number of Bible passages show how powerful our God is. Like Psalm 89:5–13. Or Job 38 and 39, where God challenges Job to consider his greatness.
One truly special passage in Isaiah 40 quotes God asking, “To whom will you compare me?” and points out that God not only created the universe but he sustains it. It is only “because of his great power and mighty strength” that not a star is missing from the heavens (see verses 25–26).
But what makes this Isaiah passage special isn’t just that it helps us see our God as Almighty. What’s special is that God uses his power to give “strength to the weary.” Whenever things seem to be too much for us, or we feel we just can’t go on, we can look to the Lord God Almighty who will use his power to “increase our strength.”
Have you ever gotten up in the morning and felt just great? Like everything was perfect with your world and you wanted to shout about it? All right then, maybe not first thing in the morning but a little later in the day? Why not be like the psalmist and express it? You don’t have to write a poem, but you could give your mom a big smile and a hug. You could pat a friend on the back. You could sing. Or dance. However you feel comfortable expressing your joy. The psalmist praised God for his happiness. Maybe you could do that too!
What is “praise”? It’s telling a person all the good things you’ve noticed and appreciate about him or her. Praise is also something we appreciate. You know how you feel when Mom or Dad or a teacher praises you? It makes you feel good. You may never have thought of it this way, but when you praise God it makes him feel good too. And really, there’s so much about God that’s worthy of praise. Just for fun, make a list of everything you can think of that’s good and wonderful about God. Then read Psalm 103, and add things to your list. Finally, not just for fun but because he deserves it, praise God for everything on your list.
That word, “Father,” may trouble you if your dad doesn’t love you. Or if he loves you but just isn’t there for you. Some dads may get drunk and beat their kids. A few even abuse daughters sexually. For anyone who has a dad who’s failed him or her, it can be uncomfortable to think of God as “the Father.”
But the Bible assures us that God is a loving Father. Psalm 103:8 says, “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” And Jesus encourages us to see God as a Father who never fails us; a Father who takes care of us and gives us good gifts.
Here are some Bible passages that picture God as Father. Take a look at them. You’ll see what a father is supposed to be like. And you’ll discover that you can count on God the Father to love you and be there for you—even if your dad has fallen short.
If you still feel a little uncertain about God, remember something Jesus said. When one of his followers asked Jesus to show him the Father, Jesus told him, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). God the Father is just like Jesus . . . just as loving, just as kind, and just as powerful and caring as God the Son.
It comes up again and again in Psalms, just like it comes up again and again in life. People gossip and ridicule you. And it hurts. You can feel the hurt when you read this psalm. But there’s comfort here too. God is on the side of the one who is hurt, not of the gossips’. As the psalmist says, “While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame” (verse 28).
It’s great to know that God’s Word is trustworthy, but how do you use it? Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” For a lamp to do you any good, you have to light it and hold it so its light can show you the way. The same goes for God’s Word. To do any good, you have to read it and let it show the way to live. Here is what the longest chapter in the Bible tells you about how to use God’s Word:
• Live according to its laws (Psalm 119:1).
• Hide its words in your heart (Psalm 119:11).
• Obey its words (Psalm 119:57).
• Meditate on its teachings (Psalm 119:78).
• Rejoice in its promises (Psalm 119:162).
Many teens today wonder what’s ahead. One 15-year old writes, “What’s God’s plan for my life and am I on the right path?” The Bible doesn’t reveal God’s plans for individuals. But it does talk about being on the right path. This psalm says God’s Word is “a lamp for my feet” and a “light on my path.” The light in Bible-time lamps came from candles. In the span of their dim light, a person could only see enough to take the next step. Lamps weren’t like flashlights that allow a person today to see a long way down the path ahead. So this verse is a reminder. Let God’s Word guide your next step. Do that every day, and you’ll be on the path that leads to God’s plan for your life.
Most teens who ask about God’s plan for their lives mean, “Will I be or do something really special?” Could be. But God’s plan for most believers is summed up in Psalm 128. God plans for us to do and be good, to work hard, to live with our spouse and see our families grow up. That kind of life probably won’t make you a celebrity. But it sure will make you “blessed.”
Repeat it: “His love endures forever.” Say again: “His love endures forever.” Once more: “His love endures forever.” A lot of repeats? Yes. But an important reminder. Think about what God has done for you. Then change that “His” to “Your”. . . and praise God for the fact that “Your love endures forever.” That’s the essence of praise. Talk directly to God. Focus on something special about him. And let him know how much you appreciate him.
The whole abortion debate hinges on one issue. Is a fetus really part of the woman’s body, so she can do what she chooses with it? Or is the fetus a separate, distinct human being?
Every human being throughout history has had a unique, individual genetic code stamped on every cell in his or her body. Both the mother and the fetus she carries have a genetic code stamped on their genes and chromosomes. Are they the same? No! The fetus’s genetic code is different from the mother’s. To say a woman can do whatever she wants with her own body may be true. But it is not true that a fetus is merely part of the mother’s body.
As Psalm 139 teaches, even in his mother’s womb, David was David, a unique person being shaped by God for a special role in God’s plan.
Ever get really down and feel like no one understands you? Whenever you do, it’s a good time to read Psalm 139:13–16. These verses remind you that God understands you better than you understand yourself. Best of all, God loves you and watches over you. God is all around you. He has laid his hand on you (verse 5). You are his, and he is yours.
I have been sexually abused. Sometimes I feel so angry I want to die. I feel used and worthless. Is there anything I can do?
Alone
Dear Friend,
There are some things you must do. First, you need to try to make sure this doesn’t happen again. You probably have feelings of great shame. But the shame is not yours. It belongs to the person who did this. You must tell someone that you trust. If that person won’t believe you, tell someone else. No one deserves to be sexually abused. Most victims are abused by someone they know. The person who abused you might have threatened you or told you it was your fault. It was NOT your fault. That is a lie to keep you quiet. Tell a parent, your doctor, your guidance counselor . . . tell someone.
Second, pray often. Pour out your heart to God. He made you, and he will heal you. Psalm 147:3 has a wonderful promise for you: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Third, get some help. A good counselor or therapist can help you work through the terrible feelings you have. You deserve to be angry. And you deserve to get help to work through those feelings as well.
I am saddened when I read letters such as yours. I know God is very saddened also. Be brave and ask for help. Do not believe the lies this person tells you. Do not let fear or embarrassment stop you from protecting yourself.
God bless you.
Jordan
Psalms
Friends.
In this book, the psalmists talk to God as a friend. They tell him just how they feel. And they praise God, not only for listening but also for his help.