Most Americans believe young adults face more challenges today than their grandparents did. How can you make the transition to adulthood less difficult?
”And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
Recent surveys have revealed what any young adult already knows: the transition into adulthood is really hard.
Here are a few quick statistics to prove the point:
”7 out 10 Americans believe young adults face more challenges today than their grandparents did.
Reinforcing these findings, another survey found that 82% of Christians believe the US is facing a leadership crisis due to a lack of emerging leaders. Needless to say, it’s a hard time to be a young adult.
5 THINGS YOU CAN DO THAT WILL HELP
There isn’t a way to make the hardship disappear altogether, but I believe that most of these struggles can be addressed and supported through a few key actions. Here are 5 steps that the young adults in our urban missions programs take to aid in their personal growth:
1. Get with God’s people.
In warfare, the enemy aims to “divide and conquer”. It is a successful recipe for our failure because we are weaker when we’re alone. We were created for community. For this reason our Team Members live in community with 4-8 other Christians in a single household where they pray together, serve together, live together, encourage one another and hold each other accountable. They commit to a local church where they do life with other Christians. Here, they learn how to live out the Great Commission communally and how to love one another graciously and sacrificially. Christian community provides a safe place to struggle, doubt and fail as well as flourish and grow.
”There isn’t a way to make the hardship disappear altogether, but I believe that most of these struggles can be addressed and supported through a few key actions.
2. Get into God’s Word.
Scripture informs our minds and hearts about who God is and about the world around us. Scripture teaches us, rebukes us, corrects us and shapes us. Jesus loved the scriptures and used them to reveal himself and the gospel to the world. We understand God’s voice and his will most clearly through scripture. Personal study of God’s word and hearing the Bible taught will nourish and sustain us.
3. Get into God’s mission.
God is saving lives every day. He has invited us to be a part of his mission – to see Christ redeem lost people and make them new. Our Team Members respond to the physical and spiritual needs of hurting people by serving full time with nonprofit ministries. Our Team Members ask, “Where is a need? How can I help?” and then simply show up to serve.
”Ask, “Where is a need? How can I help?” and then simply show up to serve.
4. Get with God himself.
Each day, our Team Members are provided with 1 hour for silence and solitude. During this time, our Team Members surrender themselves to God. They find a place where they won’t be distracted. They seek to drop their personas and give their anxieties to Christ. They bring their tired souls to God and learn how to bring stillness to their distracted minds. During this time, they become more adept at hearing the voice of God and internalizing his will for their life.
”It has been said that the fundamental question of people in their 20’s is, “Who am I?”
5. Get to know yourself.
It has been said that the fundamental question of people in their 20’s is, “Who am I?” Our relationships in life act as a mirror – helping us to know ourselves. Our relationships with God and other people help us to understand our strengths, weaknesses, fears and hopes. Each Team Member goes through a personality evaluation and skill set assessment to help them grow in their self-awareness and develop their relational tools. As they serve at their service site, they grow in their personal skill sets and become more aware of their passions and convictions.
These 5 steps are not comprehensive but they’re good areas to prioritize in life if you’re trying to figure out how to make the transition to adulthood less difficult.
Jesse Eubanks is the Founder and President of Love Thy Neighborhood. He’s been leading urban missions programs for young adults since 2005. He is the host of the Love Thy Neighborhood podcast and an ordained minister. He is the author of How We Relate: Understanding God, Yourself and Others Through the Enneagram from Zondervan Books and is passionate about the intersection of social action, relational health and Christian spiritual formation. Relevant Magazine named Jesse one of the top 50 Christian artists and activists making an impact on culture in America.
