Hey there, friend. Just in case someone hasn’t reminded you lately, the God of the universe created you—with intricate, skillful, like-none-other attention to detail. And yes, He had a precious plan in doing so, in creating a valuable life that matters.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well (Ps. 139:13–14).
Your Creator is your Knower, and He’s your Purpose-Giver, too. So don’t believe for one second that this one life you have is insignificant or meaningless. Don’t assume there must've been a hiccup in His design process as you were divinely formed.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me (Ps. 139:2–5).
The boundless Savior of this world personally sees every layer and corner and nook of your soul. You’re undeniably, inescapably known. He hems you in. Like an always-there border of protection, His presence wraps around you. Never forgotten, never left to fend for yourself, never tossed aside, you are surrounded by the Father who lays His kingly hand upon you and declares, “I know you. Everything about you.” Your young heart needs deep, durable roots planted in these truths about our immense-yet-personal God. Because teenage life is an unpredictable jumble of outrageously fun and carefree days smushed together with awkward, anxiety-riddled, confusing, heartbreaking, meltdown-inducing moments—leaving you aching for answers about yourself, your circumstances, and everything in-between. From the mundane drudgery to the butterflies-in-tummy highlights to the heart-crushing disappointments, it’s easy to lose ourselves on the curlicue roller coaster. It makes our stomachs drop in the best way possible, then it makes our stomachs lurch with sickening pangs. A lot happens when you’re a teenager. If you don’t know the truth about our steadfast Father, you can lose your footing and drown in it all . . . That boy is so cute, you’re losing your mind around him. She’s your best friend, then suddenly she’s not, and you can’t figure out what happened. Your sisters are driving you insane, and your hormones have you acting like an irritable, fire-breathing dragon who snapped at your parents. While your junior-year homework makes you want to collapse into a limp, tragic pile that should just binge watch Netflix while double tapping trending TikTok videos. And by the way, your future is calling, and it wants to know what college you’ll be attending, and for some reason, it needs to know now, so add that pressure to the mix of after-school practices and maintaining your GPA and dressing on-trend and keeping your Snapchat streaks alive. You don’t know God’s plan for your next five years, and you wonder if this guy could be your guy, and you desperately want to get it all right. Because you love Jesus and want to honor Him with your whole being—you just don’t know how it all plays out yet. But you do know that from the big picture to the right-here-and-now picture, you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, insecure, and maybe a little lost. Breathe, sweet girl. God hems you in. He encircles you. Behind and ahead. Under and over. Before and after. Around and around and around (Ps. 139:7). The same Maker of flaming stars in the galaxies also reaches into your dizzying details and reminds you not to be anxious—because He is near. Close. Intimately involved.
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:5–7, emphasis added).
And because He cares.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).
He sees the details. He hears your questions. He understands your hurts. He rescues you from the pit of hopelessness. He knows all of your encounters with that sin—the one you first stumbled into, then the mud you choose to wallow in again and again. But He still cleans you off over and over, because His pure-white robes are yours in Jesus (Luke 12:6–7; James 1:5–8; Heb. 4:14–16; Ps. 40:1–3, 51). And no matter what tiny or massive, mundane or life-altering things happen during your teenage years, you can know that He knows. When you feel less-than, worried, friendless, insignificant, clueless, exhausted, or broken, you can fling yourself on Him whenever, wherever, and His grace will be sufficient. It will be enough. He will be enough (2 Cor. 12:9).
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah (Ps. 62:8).
Never forget, precious one, that this life is all about Him. You and I and everyone else on this earth find our great big mission when we lay ourselves down at His feet. When we say, “What I have is Yours,” and when we open our hands so that He can fill them with God-glorifying, gospel-exalting purposes (Matt. 16:24–28, 22:34–30). Give Him your whole heart. Because He is more than worthy of it. And He can absolutely, undoubtedly handle every single thing you face during your teenage years—and beyond. Resting in His love with you, Samantha