The Session:  Having a sense of purpose may have an impact on teens emotional well being.  (aka the "DUH" show)

Study by UI indicates a sense of purpose may have significant impact on teens, emotional well-being

Jeremiah 29: 11-13

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The definition of purpose is “The reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.”

Research by Kaylin Ratner at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign found what we already know from scripture. In this case she studied teens 14-19.  Those who have a tendency to have a purpose in life tend to be more satisfied with their lives and experience more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions.

Key elements in the study:

Teens 14-19 years old who scored high on having a purpose were more satisfied with their lives and experienced more positive emotions and fewer negative emotions.

When teens felt more purposeful than usual, they also tended to experience greater well being.

The study appeared to show that teens with autistic traits tended to report higher levels of negative feelings, and lower levels of life satisfaction and positive feelings from day to day.  WHY?

That’s the world’s view.  Now let’s look at purpose from God’s point of view.

It is important that we find God’s purpose for our lives.

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” 

Vision / Calling

It is important that we ask why am I here?  (DID YOU MEAN, “IS IT IMPORTANT TO ASK WHY AM I HERE?)

Through Scripture, CAN WE discover why God created me?

Psalm 139:13-16

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!  Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;  all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

1.Come to Jesus

Your highest purpose and calling have nothing to do with your job or education or marital status. Your highest calling is simply Jesus. He calls us to Himself. 

2. Be faithful.

The second step in our journey to discover God’s calling and purpose is that we are called to faithfulness.

Paul’s life demonstrates this step perfectly. 

He spent ten years in his hometown, waiting for God to reveal the next steps for his life?

3. Enjoy fellowship. 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:24-25

Discussion questions to ponder:

At what age do children/teens typically begin developing a sense of purpose?  At what age should we be concerned about our child’s LACK of purpose?

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.