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Angry Teens and Broken Homes


Find yourself discouraged by angry teens in your group? It might be hard, but never give up! They need you to show them the love they maybe haven’t found at home to connect with the true love of the Father.

Many teens today are from broken homes. They were never given the love that they needed at home, and now they’re looking anywhere for it. Because of their pain-filled past, they’ve built up a defense against authority and anyone who tries to get close to them because they don’t want to risk being hurt again. This means they are often disrespectful.

Anger isn’t the root of the problem, and you aren’t the one who causes it. Anger is an “alarm” that goes off when someone triggers a memory of guilt or pain from unresolved hurts in the past. They might not even know what’s going on or how to get rid of it. The source is deeply rooted in their lives.

When it gets frustrating, remember that God is the one working on their hearts and He’s trusted you to love and pray for them. Beneath everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

Don’t manage anger, resolve it! Love heals all wounds, not time. But our love alone can’t heal these hurting teens. They need to see the love of Christ and learn to trust Him. It’s important to show them how God’s truth and power can bring them true joy regardless of their circumstances and do more than just tell them about it.

1Thes. 5:16-18 says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Try sitting down with them sometime to talk frankly about the things they are going through. Ask lots of questions and let them share what they are comfortable with—don’t try to force anything out of them. They need attention and the chance to talk about how they feel. Don’t always go right for the big questions. This won’t be easy for them right away, but if they see that you really care and want to help, they will eventually come around.

Begin to build a true relationship with them, because chances are they haven’t had many adults in their life who have honestly cared for them. They really do want your friendship, but they may put you to the test at first to see if you’re sincere. When you start asking about the deep issues in their life, they won’t be willing to open up right away, so develop a strong relationship first.

God’s love heals every wound! Countless teens today need major healing, and you are God’s ambassador to start the healing process. Pray for the teens in your group and take time to love and build up relationships with each of them. To do this, you will need the resilient joy and patience that comes only from God. Don’t give up! You’ll be amazed at the healing you witness in their lives.