Are You Listening?

Do you ever feel like people don't take your advice seriously because of your age?

I am a young adult. I feel like sometimes I'm not being listened to or taken seriously by people who are older than me because of my age. Have you ever felt this way? It doesn't happen just because you're young - it can happen the other way around, too. Plenty of younger people my age don't take the advice of people who are older than them because it's not the cool thing to do. They think they know better because times have changed since that person was that age and they go out and try to do it their own way. As much as this happens in general life, it also happens regarding our faith. A younger person might try to share Godly advice with someone who's older than them only to get looked down on because they're younger and shouldn't know as much from the Bible as the older person. Have you ever felt intimidated to share something the Lord has laid on your heart to someone else because of your age difference?

There were so many young people featured throughout the Bible and a lot of them were very bold. I'm currently reading through the Bible and recently finished first and second Kings. Those two books take a deep dive into the different kings that ruled around Israel and how ultimately Israel meets its demise. After the rule of Kings Manasseh and Amon, Josiah was the next king called into power. At the time he was put on the throne, he was only eight years old. The two kings prior to him chose to do what was evil in the eyes of God throughout their reigns, but Josiah chose to do what the Lord saw as good - just like David did. I cannot imagine how intimidating that must have felt for Josiah. I mean, imagine the whole scenario here. The two kings that ruled before him were 37 and 24 at the end of their reigns and chose to do so many wrong things. Then here comes the next king who's eight years old and chooses to try to turn around the whole nation by reversing many of the things the previous kings had done. Do you think everyone wanted to listen to Josiah and his complete change of who everyone was supposed to worship? The Bible doesn't tell us this information, but my guess is that probably not everyone appreciated what he was doing. I'm sure there were people who thought they could just keep doing their own thing because the king was so much younger than they were - but there were also a lot of others who were grateful and appreciative of what he was doing.

"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

This verse has slowly started becoming one of my favorites. I love that Paul not only encouraged Timothy not to let anyone think less of him because of his age, but also gave him guidelines of how he should act around the other believers. By being an example to them all. Sometimes, it's best to let your actions speak louder than your words. If someone isn't taking your advice because you're too old or too young, just let your lifestyle do the talking. When they see how genuine you are and that you live what you are trying to speak about, they'll stop taking your advice lightly and actually listen to what you have to say. I volunteer in the children's ministry at my church - I've been volunteering since I was eleven and met all the qualifications to be able to be a youth helper. It's been fourteen years since I started volunteering now. I don't make a big deal about what I do when I'm in with the kids, but many people have stopped me to say that I've inspired them in the way I serve. Anyone can lead by example - no matter the age. My oldest nephew when he was seven years old would make it a point that he would come to the front to greet with me whenever I was scheduled to greet. He would help me hand out our church t-shirts when I volunteered to help pass them out. He's twelve now and serves by helping record the services and teaching with me in the children's ministry. Without even realizing it, he's inspired me to serve with a joyful heart. He led me by his example when he was seven years old and I was twenty. It doesn't matter how old or young you are - your actions will always speak louder than your words. It's important to be aware of this fact because someone's always watching, whether you realize it or not, and you always have the chance to leave an impression on somebody.

Let's take a closer look at the verse I shared above. If you read all of chapter 4, you'll see that Paul is talking to Timothy and giving him a lot of good advice as he was going to be joining Paul in sharing about Jesus to others. Timothy takes note of all this advice from Paul and is sure to follow it as he goes to help share the Gospel. 1 Timothy 4:12 might seem like one of those Bible verses that's quoted quite often and, in turn, might become glossed over by believers who are familiar with the Bible, but it's honestly a great verse. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young" - I love that statement. It's so easy for me, as a younger person, to accept that people who are older might just ignore what I have to say because I'm younger than them. It's just how life goes sometimes. But this verse reminds me that even if I am younger that what I have to share is just as important. Even though it doesn't specifically say it in this verse, this idea goes for those of you who are older and think that your say isn't important, too. Don't let people look down on you because of your age. Period. No matter how old or young you are, you can always encourage others. You can always inspire others. You can always share your faith. You can always lead by example. Don't let the opinions of other people stop you.

"And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone,'" Mark 16:15

Jesus commanded this to His disciples after he was resurrected before ascending up to heaven, but we are called to follow this command, too. In order to share the Gospel with others, we need to be bold. How can we be bold if we're worried about others judging us because of our age? Exactly - we can't. If you tried but weren't confident enough, the person you're trying to share with might not feel the sense of urgency you're trying to convey or the level of importance that the story of Jesus holds. It can feel so intimidating to share our faith with others, especially in the times we live in now where almost everything is found to be offensive, but it is the best thing we can share with anyone who's willing to listen. If we're not confident enough to share our faith with others because they might judge us, we're not really obeying this command. How can you gain the confidence to share your faith with others? It's easy. Pray. I know I tell you guys to pray a lot, but it's really powerful and effective. One of my favorite verses, as you may already know, tells us not to worry about anything and pray about everything (Phil. 4:6-7). After praying, we will experience God's perfect peace. And when we experience this peace, we won't feel too anxious about sharing the Gospel with others - no matter the age difference.

I pray that you all feel encouraged that whatever you have to share with others - whether it's the Gospel or a word from the Lord - does matter and have relevance no matter your age. Let your actions show everyone that you practice what you preach, and they'll know that what you're trying to share is true. If you're feeling inadequate or anxious to share with someone, know that you can pray to God and ask for His peace and guidance. God is always there for you and He will come through. When you share God's Word, it's always relevant no matter who it's coming from. I hope that the next time you have a word to share or want to share the Gospel with someone that you don't feel as worried about the age difference you might have been worried about before. Don't let the opinions of other people stop you from sharing what needs to be shared.