One of the most difficult aspects of being a teenager is having a limited perspective. In other words, teens have difficulty with seeing a bigger picture, a deeper image of how their lives will play out in time. Time, in fact, is very condensed when we are young, and the days of marriage or career can seem as if they are an eternity away.

The writer of Ecclesiastes noted there is great wisdom in remembering God, in being a godly person, when one is young. There are lessons—not just spiritual ones—that a young person can learn by being active in the community of the church, being involved in a youth group, or serving on mission teams or at community functions. Being involved in outreach and helping other teenagers are lessons many teenagers simply don’t experience.

As a youth leader you can play a significant role in providing these opportunities for teenagers. Your mentoring and coaxing may be life-changing for those teenagers who are marginalized or who may need a bit of extra help in becoming the people God meant for them to be.

Sometimes, telling our own stories of our hard knocks and difficulties and mistakes can be life lessons teenagers will take to heart. Hiding our own youthful failures from teenagers may not be the best solution to helping build solid and productive lives. Telling the truth and being open and honest about our own histories often can be empowering…and will help teenagers to make guided and wise choices for themselves.

There are, of course, many lessons to learn—and we cannot teach them all. However, helping teenagers build faithful lives will be more than a lesson. It will be a foundation upon which they can build their futures, including careers, marriages, parenting…everything. That’s a life worth living and giving.