Keys to Family Happiness/WHEN YOUR ADOLESCENT QUESTIONS YOUR FAITH - Your Adolescent's "Power of Reason"

Parents and experts have observed that there is a marked difference between the way young children think. (1 Corinthians 13:11) While young children typically think in concrete, black-and -white terms, adolescents  tend to reason more abstractedly.  For example, a young child can be taught  that God created all things.  (Genesis 1:1) However, an adolescent might wrestle with such questions as: 'How do I know that there is a God?  Why would  a God of love permit evil?  How can it be true that God has always existed?' - PSALM 90:2.

You might feel that such questioning represents a step backward in your adolescent's faith.  In reality, it may well represent a step forward.  After all, questioning can be an important aspect of a Christian's  spiritual growth. - ACTS 17:2, 3.

Furthermore, your adolescent is learning to use his "power of reason." (Romans 12:1, 2)  As a result, his able to appreciate "the breadth and length and height and death"  of the Christian faith in a way that he simply  could not as a child.  (Ephesians 3:18) More than ever, now is the time to help your adolescent reason on his beliefs so that he can develop firm convictions regarding his faith.-  PROVERBS 14:15; ACTS 17:11. 

Next time: Keys to Family Happiness/WHEN YOUR ADOLESCENT QUESTIONS YOUR FAITH - The Value of a Mentor

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