How do we please God in our youth?

Being young, strong, and energetic is the best season to live fully. This is one of the most exciting stages of our lives, where we first fall in love, meet friends, make decisions, and try adventurous things. 

Moreover, this is the stage where we can please God with our youthfulness and energy. 

Sadly, most young people think God is just a religious belief, and they are disgusted with the idea of pleasing Him because of peer pressure.

Thus, how can we please God in our youth in this fallen world? The youth is one of the easiest targets for satan to deceive. 

How do we please God in our youth

Our decisions in our youth could harm us or lead us to God’s plan for our future. 

Moreover, the young years are considered a dangerous season for each of us. These are minefield years of hormones, peer pressure, alcohol, drugs, pornography, etc.

So, how can we please God in our youth? 

Here are some ways to please God while we are young. 

Remember your Creator

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.” -Ecclesiastes 12:1

If we remember God, our loving Creator, we will consider Him in everything we do while we are young. 

We will be afraid of doing things He dislikes, such as drinking too much alcohol and taking drugs. 

Additionally, if we remember God in everything, we will respect His words and commands in our youth. 

No matter how influential the world is, you will not be persuaded because you know your identity in the eyes of our Heavenly Father.

Besides, it would be challenging for you to be distracted.

Obey your parents

Do you want to live long and go well with your life here on earth? Then we should obey our parents. 

Ephesians 6:1-3 says that the right thing to do is for children to obey their parents. They should honor their parents, for this is the first commandment with a promise. 

God noted that things will go well with you and that you will live long here on earth.

Most people who listened to and respected their parents in their youth have a brighter future than those who disobeyed their parents. 

Furthermore, God has given our parents the authority to guide us on how we should go. So we have to listen to them when they say “No.” 

Our younger years are crucial because this is where we are building the stairs for our future.

What we choose in our youth could significantly impact the paths we take for our future. Sadly, many young people who do not listen to their parents are in danger or distracted.

Therefore, God is pleased if we obey our parents.

Love discipline

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” Proverbs 12:1

If adults try to look back on their younger years, they may agree that we think we know everything already when we are young. 

Sometimes, we think we know better than our parents, church pastors, and leaders.

Thus, we do not like to be disciplined sometimes and take it against those who discipline us. Yet the Bible emphasizes that those who dislike being corrected are unwise. 

Many young people who hate discipline are the ones who suffer from the consequences of their actions.

In addition, God disciplines those He loves. So if we reject His discipline, we are not pleasing Him in our youth. 

The more we use our strength to obey God’s command, the more we will experience God’s protection and security in our youth.

Focus on your studies

Not all young people have the privilege to study, so when your parents work hard to give you the best education, study hard and focus. It is one way to honor them and please God as well. 

In addition, many distractions could influence us and lead to losing our focus on our studies. Our peers could put so much pressure on us to be distracted from our studies.

As young people, getting validation from our peers is crucial, yet this should not be why we lose focus on what matters most.

Furthermore, education is one of the most important ways to have a promising future. God is using our studies as a stepping stone for His plan for us. So value your studies.

Having a relationship could wait

Being in a relationship while we are young is another distraction that hinders us from pleasing God. We quickly get tempted in our youth since we are passionate and aggressive about love. 

Young generations are easy targets of satan when it comes to relationships. Premarital sex and early pregnancy at this age are rampant.

Though it is one of the most exciting feelings when we first fall in love at this age, we still have to guard our hearts and minds against satan’s schemes. 

He can use your relationship to steal you away from God and convince you that there is nothing wrong with falling in love.

Though nothing is wrong with falling in love, during our younger years, it is difficult to differentiate between infatuation and love. 

We may have given everything and then realized it was only an infatuation.

Moreover, having a relationship at an early stage could also lead you to disobey your parents. Some choose to live with their partner before marriage.

Thus, we have to remember that having a serious relationship can wait, and there is no deadline. 

Because most of your peers have relationships, that does not mean you should also have one.

Learn more about God-given life

Read the Bible and discover more about your purpose. If you devote your time to God, He will give you the wisdom and power to resist temptations in your youth.

Besides, you can read books about your identity in Jesus. One of my favorite books is “Purpose Driven Life” by Dr. Rick Warren of Saddleback Church. 

He explained why God had formed us and how we could live according to our purpose.

More importantly, if we discover more about how God values and loves us, we are more likely to resist temptations. We could stand firm because of our strong foundation.

Also, it would not be easy for you to get into a relationship because you know that God’s unconditional love is enough for you to be happy in your youth.

Serve God while you are young

God is pleased when we serve Him while we are young. 

1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity.”

Our age should not hinder us from being a part of God’s mission here on earth. We seek to imitate Jesus by loving God with our hearts, minds, and neighbors as we love ourselves. 

You will have nothing to regret if you serve God rather than seek peer validation. Your heavenly treasures is worth more than what the world could offer, so do not feel disappointed.

Moreover, you can use your talents and skills to serve the Lord. If you are good at music, sing for God during the worship service in the church. 

If you are good at teaching, then you can also volunteer to teach the children about God. Maximize your gifts to glorify the Lord.