In the real world, peer pressure means “the suggestion to do what we don't want to do so we will belong.” That desire to belong is a huge motivator and can move us to act against our will, whether we're being pressured by a member of our family or of a street gang. The best defense against peer pressure is understanding who you are and why you are here.
You are a child of God and you already belong to Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, 7:23). As His child, God has a plan for your life, one He guarantees will bring you peace and joy (Jeremiah 29:11). Believe in this hope! Nobody else sees the big picture like God, so the smart thing is to do His will. If you follow Him and do what He says, your life will be one of peace and joy. If you do not, and instead give in to peer pressure, you could really mess up your future and your life will be one of fear and pain. Many a person has gone astray from God's will for them by giving in to peer pressure. While not all consequences are terrible, there are always consequences. And while you can recover from mistakes, it's easier to not make them in the first place. This one thing, if taken to heart, would see you through every difficult situation, because you can ask yourself, “Is this something God would want me to do with the life He gave me?”
Educate yourself right now, before the pressure comes. Speak with others who have given in to peer pressure, especially as it involves drugs, alcohol, and sex. While you might not think drinking alcohol is bad, or taking mind-altering drugs is harmful, or that pregnancy couldn't happen to you, there are plenty of horror stories out there that will convince you otherwise. Do your research. Truly, knowing is half the battle.
There are people around you who don't require you to act against your will to belong. Hopefully you have a loving family or group of friends who accept you as you are. Even if you don't have loving family or friends, you can find a church filled with people who will accept you. A good church can be a great family.
So if you are ever in a situation where you feel pressure to go against God's will for you, ask yourself why you are tempted to conform. Is it because you want someone or some group to accept you? Is it because you have a sinful desire you want to fulfill, and this seems like an easy excuse? Regardless, ask God to give you strength to escape the situation, even if it means losing face or a friend.
And remember, the amazing thing is that God's whole purpose in life is to get you to accept Him! CK Lester
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Rach
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 2:35 AM
What I do when I am involved with peer-pressure around is pray and ask God to help me.......prayer works!
Brian
Monday, February 28, 2011 7:41 PM
I have a method that might help a lot of boys. How I think of it is every temptation is a test to see how strong you are. If your weak, you'll give in. If you're able to resist, it proves how strong you are. What I do is tell myself only weak people follow others. The leader of a group is always the strongest or smartest member because he convinced everyone else to follow him. Why can't I? That is how you deal with out; the weak give in and the strong will win.
Mc Carson Bledman
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 11:29 AM
Peer Pressure can be very deadly like the venom a snake injects into the human system. But there's hope with God all things are possible, we just need to know that we are Princes and Princes because our Heavenly Father is a King and that we are more than conquerers. We should be the influencer not our negative peers. Keep the faith alive don't let it die people.....
Synthia
Saturday, November 13, 2010 1:21 PM
Peer pressure can even happen when you are as old as 20. The other day, my friends invited me to a bar after our class. I don't drink, but that wasn't the problem: the problem was the fact that I didn't tell my mother where I was going. It may sound lame, but I still have to tell my mom where I'm going, even at 20 (I still live with her, so it's her rules till I leave). When I told my friends my mom would say no (which sounds lame mind you) they looked at me like 'What? aren't you over 18?' Sadly I gave in. I didn't drink alcohol, just ate some sliders and had a Shirley Temple, but I truly couldn't enjoy myself because I didn't tell my mother since I tell my mother EVERYTHING (I'm trying to build a better relationship with her and it is going pretty great. But she would FLIP if I told her I was going to a bar in the first place). Please Lord, help me to say NO the next time they ask. I really need your strength in this.
Chantelle
Friday, November 05, 2010 4:30 AM
I go to a public school, and it true... peer pressure is everywhere and it's hard sometimes. For instance, my school mates always try to get me to swear or go to parties. At first, it was quite hard to turn them down, but once I made my stand and asked God specifically for help in that area... I never found it so hard the next time around. I think it's like that, once people see that there is no way on earth you're going to give in... they eventually give up themselves. I thank God that I've learnt to have a strong will concerning my beliefs. :) God bless you all.
sara
Wednesday, September 01, 2010 2:15 PM
I think the most hardest thing is peer pressure from christians when you're at a party in a christian house after the sabbath and they drink alcohool or when you can just see a the party that the way they dress and dance ... or when your at church and one of your friend offers you one of his earphones to listen to secular music on the sabbath! I never know what to do because if you say no they'll be like you think your better than us...
Jessica
Sunday, August 15, 2010 10:41 AM
Yeh I have had peer presure in watching bad movies and listening to bad music. But I have said no thanks. BUt sometimes you get rebuked and it hurts, but Jesus died for all of our sins and it hurt. So What I do is I pray a little prayer that is like this. Satan, get behind me I don't want what you are trying to give me and then say Jesus take the wheel Amen. I hope this helps! And REMEB+MBER that if you are struggling with the peer presure, just remember that Jesus is always there and all you have to do is cry out to him and he will come to your rescue.
chrystal
Sunday, August 15, 2010 7:57 AM
Stay strong in the Lord. Let YOUR light shine among men, so that your testimony might be shown. KEEP YOUR EYES ON CHRIST. He IS our strength, He IS our Salvation. Psalm 18:28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. Matthew 6:22-23 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! If our eyes are good. They can not be good, if they behold evil. Remember we are at war. You are on the front lines. You are a soldier for Christ. This is the great controversy!
Dnieper
Saturday, August 14, 2010 11:34 PM
Me and my twin brothers are the only [Sabbath-keepers] in the house. My twin brothers are 18. One of them is very strong in the word and a good witness. We have friend that has been baptized and has been going to church for three years. We met him 3 months ago when he moved to our town. My brother has been hanging around with him to teach him more about God. But our friend doesn't like reading because he doesn't learn well that way. So instead of my brother doing bible studies with him they watch movies and play video games. At first it was only few hours day, now its the whole day. It sad to see how slowly because of influences my brothers spirituality has decreased. But I have plan. God has a plan. I encourage any one to not give in and be strong God will reward you. Do what you know is right and God will have your back...you will see. :)
Yanick
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 8:07 PM
This is SOOOO true, I'm an 18 year old Jamaican male(been Christian for around 11 years) and trust me i can tell you peer pressure is all around me and my family, Satan is so deceiving and tricky he always tries to use the ones we love/admire/respect to get to us, just like what he did with Eve to Adam, he tried the same with Job and his wife but Job chose God over his peers and I'm thankful for his example and for a God who loves me so much to send his son to give me the chance for everlasting life, Amazing Facts Family please pray for me as i pray for you guys, oh and i can't wait for your teen series Pastor Doug. God bless you all. .
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