By Jeffrey Spainhour | Associate Pastor, Triangle Prebyterian Church, Durham, N.C.; co-founder/co-chair of Staf of Hope | February 2009
Youth are growing up in a time when there are many opportunities and a “If you can do it, then just do it” philosophy. Youth leaders, parents and students have told me for years, they are tired and too busy; but then express guilt if they are not staying busy and “productive.”
Our culture’s influence on our understanding of God is producing a works-based understanding of grace. We often feel success only when we are rewarded in a concrete way. This way of thinking adds to the stress of today’s youth, making God out of reach and causing them to feel inadequate.
God still speaks in a “still, quiet voice.” Do we have time to hear Him? Are we available to God? We need to live out and teach the necessity of being still.
