Youth Worker BOOST: Separation Anxiety

ym360 knows youth workers. We know what an incredibly rewarding, yet incredibly challenging job youth ministry can be. There are days when your spirits are sky-high, and there are days when you could use a bit of a “pick me up” from God's Word . . . That's why we're happy to offer Youth Worker Boost, one of the many valuable resources on the ym360 Blog.

Boost is a short, weekly piece of encouragement designed to, well, “boost” your spirits and encourage you as you minister to students. We consider it yet another great opportunity to serve you and your ministry.

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For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.--Romans 8:38-39

It's pretty common for children to experience what we now call separation anxiety when they're beginning to become more independent. For instance, when they spend the first night away from home, or maybe on that first day of school. For most people this is a feeling that's part of growing up and fades with new experiences. For some, it can be so strong it presents challenges to living a healthy childhood.

But this feeling doesn't just affect children.

It's been said that the main challenge of adulthood is learning how to deal with grief and loss on many different levels. When we deal with loss--whether it's the death of a family member, or the loss of a job, or any other loss--the same old feelings of anxiety caused by separation can come back. Yet, Paul reminds us that there's no separation anxiety when it comes to our relationship with our loving, Heavenly Father.

Commentary writer Robert Jamieson summed up these verses best when he said; "No condition in this present life or none of the unknown possibilities in the life to come will be able to separate us from the love of God." What an amazingly powerful promise from God's Word!

There are plenty of uncertainties in life. But one thing we can know for sure is that the love of God will fill us in this life and follow us in the life to come.

Our prayer for you: Our prayer for you today is that no matter what you're facing, you can draw strength and comfort from the unfailing love of God.

Last Week's BOOST: Rx For A Healthy Youth Ministry

Next Week's BOOST: The Dream Team

Get more BOOST articles HERE!