Have you ever wondered if God is really listening when you pray about your teen?

Man, when the conflicts start coming, sometimes it feels like they’re never gonna to stop! Your son’s always got a bad attitude, and any attempts at civil conversation are immediately shut down. You’ve been praying for God to work on his heart, but you haven’t seen a change yet.

I want you to know today that just because God hasn’t answered your prayer with a “yes” yet, that doesn’t mean He’s not listening! Psalm 116, verse 1, says, “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.”

Mom, Dad, God hasn’t stopped working in the life of your teen! Keep on praying. Don’t stop trusting in the Lord’s perfect timing.

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Student Story: Dorothy

Most parents would balk at the idea of giving their immature teen more responsibility and freedom. But according to Mark Gregston, that’s exactly what’s needed to help turn them into independent adults! This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston offers five helpful tips on how to loosen the reins on your teen.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

You don’t need me to tell you—raising a teen is hard work. And if you’ve tried to cope with it all alone, you’ll know that it leaves you feeling exhausted, and isolated.

Believe me, you’re not the only one suffering! There are parents all around you—in your church, in your office, in your social circles—that are struggling through some of the same problems as you. But you’d never know unless you ask!

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” So, surround yourself with a group of parents who can give you support when you need it. You’ll be surprised how you can lift them up, as well!

God didn’t design us to go through it alone.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

When the parenting road gets bumpy, do you turn to others for support? Or do you quietly hide behind a façade of smiles?

When I was growing up, I never saw my parents struggle. Even though I know they had money issues, marriage issues, all sorts of issues, they never showed it. Perhaps they thought that hiding it would help me avoid the problems they had. But in reality, it just taught me to hide behind the same mask while I tripped and stumbled over my own problems.

The lesson here is simple. Don’t be afraid to let your children know that you struggle sometimes. It’ll help them learn how to handle issues wisely, especially when they face turmoil years down the road. Trust me, they’ll be grateful for the example you set!

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Children can be a great source of joy in our lives, but with the joy comes some difficult moments of pain, too.

Sometimes when parents see problems looming ahead, their gut reaction is to run in the opposite direction! Hey, I understand why we want to avoid pain—it hurts! But the right type of pain can actually be good for us.

Let me show you. James chapter 1, verses 2 and 3 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”

Is there a trial in your life that God might be trying to use? Don’t run away! Let Him use it to refine your character and strengthen your faith.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

When the walls feel like they’re crashing in at home, where do you turn for help?

The teenage years are where things feel like they’re gonna fall apart. Your once loving little girl has suddenly turned into a monster, and you need help now. It’s true that there are an unbelievable number of resources out there for parents of teens. But sometimes parents forget about the greatest source of help: the one who made your family!

God has the ultimate power, and his hand is in all situations. When a situation feels hopeless, and you’re not sure what to do, the best thing you can do is get down on your knees and pray. Psalm 121, verse 2 says, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

There are plenty of things that kids can inherit from their parents, like hair color, height, and eye shape, just to name a few. One thing that doesn’t belong on the list? Faith.

When teenagers from Christian families begin to question their faith, parents might be tempted to wonder, “Where did I go wrong?” They’ve always assumed that because they’re Christians, a son or daughter would automatically follow in those footsteps.

Moms, Dads, let me remind you today that faith is a personal choice. You can do everything in your power to foster a loving Christian environment for your teen. But at the end of the day, he has to want it personally. You can’t do it for him!

So, let’s pray for our kids, okay? And encourage them to discover faith for themselves!

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Student Story: Lauren

Most moms and dads wish things could be a little different at home, but struggle with how to make it happen. So what are the steps you need to take to implement change in your family? This weekend on Parenting Today’s Teens, Mark Gregston explains that it all starts with establishing a belief system.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

Every parent wants to encourage their teen to do their best. But can encouraging excellence ever go too far?

Teens live in a performance-driven society, so they already want to succeed. But when parents stop celebrating in their daughter’s victories, and start pushing her to do even better, they risk creating such an unattainable standard that their teen gives up.

This looks different in different teens. Some give up and become rebellious. Others go to extreme, even dangerous measures to achieve perfection. Neither option is good.

So how can you avoid driving your teen to this point? Make sure she always knows this: There’s nothing she can to make you love her more, and there’s nothing she can do to make you love her less.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.

No Mom or Dad wants to see their teen suffer. But is that fear turning you into an “over-controlling” parent?

An “over-controlling” parent tries to protect his or her child from the consequences of mistakes, by making sure that the mistakes never happen in the first place. They try to oversee every single aspect of their child’s life and enforce strict rules to keep him in line.

While these types of parents mean well, in reality their actions are hurting their teen more than helping them! They prevent their children from learning important life lessons.

So the next time your teen makes a mistake, don’t automatically jump in to save his hide. By letting him sit with the consequences of his actions, you’re giving him the opportunity to develop into a mature adult.

If you listen on a mobile phone or tablet, please download our Parenting Today’s Teens app available for Apple or Android. If you listen on a desktop or laptop computer, press the “play” button above to enjoy daily parenting advice.