I have just moved back home after university—and it has certainly been a learning curve! The reality is that change is bumpy, jobs are tricky and friends and housing are uncertain.
And I’m not alone. In the past few weeks thousands of other young people have graduated from university, left school or are going through transitions of their own.
And that probably includes people in your church, too.
Many are having new experiences and are finding the differences challenging. As friends come and go, and money issues resurface, there are also spiritual strains. Students speak of enjoying vibrant churches at university, and then returning to find less vibrant congregations at their home church. Others lose some of their passion or sense of direction in the wake of disappointing grades, difficult relationships or rejected job applications.
But these are crucial moments when a church family can encourage young people in transition to pray, not be anxious and look to God for guidance in a period fraught with disillusion. Transition can be hard—but it can also be a time of real spiritual growth. This is a great opportunity for older church members to get alongside younger Christians and encourage them.
Paul in his letter to the Philippians tells us to value others above ourselves, “not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2 v 4). So how do we look out for the interests of those going through tough periods of transition?
Here are three suggestions for how you can help:
1. Don’t be their saviour. As tempting as it may be to want to jump in and fix things, gentle encouragement is much more welcome and effective. Poking someone to tell them to get a job will only make someone want to not get one. Instead, look out for them by telling them you saw a link for a job advert and thought of them (rather than adding to the pressure by discussing rent payments!).
2. Let them know you are praying for them. (And actually pray for them!) When people know they are being cared and prayed for it has a profound effect. And we believe God listens and cares for us—he’ll answer the prayers of his people!
3. Help them feel part of the flock. Ask someone if they’d like to go for a beer or coffee, or even just get involved in serving at church. For people who may feel out of the loop, it will be of great encouragement to be invited to enjoy fellowship at a time when loneliness creeps up.
Any other suggestions you can think of? Join the conversation and comment below. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, subscribe to our YouTube Channel, and download The Good Book Company App straight to your phone or tablet.
