Depression and anxieties are extremely high in the Gen Z generation. Sometimes I get a little judgmental and wonder why they can’t seem to handle as much as we did as Gen Xers. And I’m sure I’m not the only Gen X parent, Boomer grandparent who have thought the same about the Gen Zers.

However, Pastor Tim Dilena of TSC highlights key events of our country in the last 21 years of his son’s life. After hearing all the major events of the last 21 years that they had to process as children and teenagers, I realize that I have been harsh in my assessment. Growing up as a Gen Xer in 1980s and 90s, I remember that the USA was quieter, safer and upwardly prosperous for anyone who worked diligently and hard. (I came to the USA in 1980 when I was 8 years old.)

Pastor Tim Dilena also summarizes the current statistics of Americans on antidepressants. It is a lot. Covid exasperated already a very bad situation and today many more are on antidepressants. However, there is great hope…because God’s people are praying together more than ever before. Pastor Tim also gives examples of great leaders in the Bible who begged in their prayers to die due to their depression and exhaustion. If you are feeling depleted, overwhelmed, depressed and even asked during your prayer for death, then this message is for you. It will encourage you and give you the strength you need to keep on going and believing in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

http://sermons.tsc.nyc/the-kind-of-depression-that-makes-me-want-to-give-up/

Here is a good secular summary on the current mental situation of Gen Z. This is to prepare ourselves for what state the young people will be when they come to our churches for help and relief.

https://healthmatch.io/blog/the-gen-z-mental-health-wave-what-is-causing-the-surge

2. I don’t know the Millennials very well. I believe that they are going through a lot too raising their own young children now or perhaps still not having found the right person, wondering if they should just compromise and go with the flow. If anyone is at this place, please reach out to me for prayer. Stormie Omartian’s prayer book for parents said that the most important life decision in a child’s life is salvation, and then the second most important decision is who they marry. I totally agree. Do not compromise on the second most important decision of your life. 

In my opinion, the good thing about being a millennial parent is that you now have concrete secular research reports and studies that prove how accurate the Bible is about raising children well. Not only that, there are so many Christian parent resources to help you process the information and give you easy-to-follow biblical guidelines and many parent seminars too.  My advice to you is – just follow the Bible as closely as possible, and also take advantage of the Christian resources and communities in these ministries. If you need good Christian parent resources and ministries, please reach out to me. (By the way, I applaud your faithfulness too. You are the 20% of millennials who grew up in a Christian home and have maintained your faith commitment.)

3. Importance of Worship:

Pastor David Jeremiah is a teacher that I admire for his courage in teaching the word of God without compromise. God’s word is very uncomfortable. It cuts you inside, and makes me squirm often. 

I have never heard a message about the importance of worship. Here is the first one from the series. Please listen to the first one at least, and even better listen to all. Here they are in his podcast or website radio links:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/turning-point-with-david-jeremiah/id1635262732?i=1000577984049

https://www.davidjeremiah.org/radio

With my daughter, Alex being in college as a sophomore, I have been thinking about what was happening to me at that time. I wasn’t walking with the Lord, having given up completely on my faith by end of freshman year at the high school. I believed the enemy’s lies that all my experiences at the summer Christian retreats and church teen groups were emotional mirages, and the Bible is an old religious book and not applicable to modern times. 

I don’t remember at all any sermons or messages during my teen years searching for God in the church community. However I do remember the great warmth, joy and peace that I felt during worship. Our teen worship was very long on our weekly Friday nights and at the summer retreats. I also fondly remember the fun times socializing with other teenagers and the college students who would give us their attention and time. 

Dr. David Jeremiah said that at our worship, God’s presence comes down to us. I believe this since my best recollections of encountering and hearing from God was at corporate worship. I hope and pray that our youth will be blessed to encounter God as I did. Even if they depart for a season to search elsewhere for truth, life and love; the memories of encountering God’s presence and love during corporate worship will bring them back to God and the church. 

If you have young children, please bring them to church early and sit in the front to worship without distractions. Bless them with this weekly gift. They are watching you too so even if you don’t feel like worshiping, command your mind to worship the Lord. Close your eyes and lift up your hands for their sakes. They will model you and as they do, they can very easily get into God’s presence in corporate worship. 

Additionally, send your children and teenagers to Christian retreats. They have very long prolonged worship services and so there are lots of opportunities to enter into God’s presence throughout the week. 

Bless your children and grandchildren with encountering God’s presence during corporate worship. Teach God’s word, the Bible diligently and daily. The children will listen to you well unto age 12. Then after, you must pray a lot for them. Next ten years will be a faith-challenging roller coaster ride with intermittent dark tunnels too.

Happy studying and worshiping! With love and prayers from your librarian.