Raising Weak-Willed Teens
By guest author
KAYLA WRIGHT
Licensed Christian Counselor
Specialist in Christian Counseling for Teens
Life Training Christian Counseling
Raising strong-willed teens is difficult. Raising weak-willed teens requires the same intentionality in order to nurture their strength into adulthood. Although “weak” is in the name, being weak-willed is NOT always a weakness in God’s kingdom. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Troy Dobbs, in his book “The Blessed Life: That No One Really Wants,” explains that “the Greek for meek is a word that means ‘power under control,’ ‘bridled strength,’ or ‘power harnessed for a purpose.” Further he says it is “the equivalent Hebrew word for meek is used to describe someone who is submissive to the will of God.” We have a responsibility, then, to teach our weak-willed teens how to walk in meekness to honor God.
Some Teens Need To Be Led
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105 NIV
A weak-willed individual needs to be led. This is a wonderful thing in our relationship with God: We are called to surrender to the authority of God in our lives. However, if a weak-willed teen is not taught how to seek God for wisdom and guidance, an unhealthy dependency can form between the teens and those around them.
Codependency occurs when an individual feels they cannot emotionally separate themselves from another individual. Their emotional well-being is dependent on the emotional well-being of the other person. This occurs when there is a lack of boundaries in place in a relationship. As parents of the weak-willed teen, it is important for us to direct their dependence to the Lord. In this, they may grow in confidence in making decisions separately from you. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” If you teach your child to seek the Lord for guidance and approval, then the approval of man will not be as valuable to them. They will know how to listen for God’s direction and be confident in His word.
Enforcing Healthy Boundaries
“If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
Luke 9:5 NIV
It is not only important for parents to have boundaries with their weak-willed teens, but it is important for them to teach their teens how to implement boundaries in their own relationships.
Weak-willed teens have gentle hearts and a desire to serve others. Feelings of being taken advantage of and bitterness create a hardened heart of resentment when a teen is in a relationship without boundaries. As our teens learn how to apply boundaries in a healthy way and love with the grace of God, they are able to say no when necessary. They will learn to “shake the dust off” when others hurt them, and move forward with their gentle spirit. Colossians 3:12-13, which says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” The Holy Spirit will nurture their hearts and give them what is needed to move forward.
Speak Scripture To Your Weak-Willed Teen
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Be intentional in how you speak to your weak-willed teens. They already wrestle with a lack of confidence in their choices. If you shame them each time they make a mistake, fear of failure will rule their lives. However, if you teach them that failure is a part of growth, and encourage them to try again, they will learn to be resilient. Speak scripture to your children. Remind them that they are not walking this battle alone, but the Lord is fighting with and for them. Help them to bury His truths in their hearts, and His love will flow from them.
Christian Counseling for Weak-Willed Teens
Kayla Wright joined the counseling team at Life Training Christian Counseling in Louisville, Kentucky in May of this year. The passion of her counseling work is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Teens and pre-teens.
Kayla is nationally licensed as a Christian Counselor by the National Christian Counselors Association. She possesses an advanced board certification in Child & Adolescent Therapy. Kayla gained extensive experience and credibility in providing counseling to teens and pre-teens during her tenure on the staff of Revive Christian Counseling in Owensboro and Madisonville, Kentucky. She is highly skilled in teenage substance abuse counseling and teenage depression counseling.
Kayla Wright, as well as each of our other counselors, offers convenient sessions at Life Training Christian Counseling in Louisville, Kentucky. She also offers online counseling via Zoom or FaceTime. Please click on this link to learn much more about how our Counseling for teens and pre-teens in Louisville, Kentucky can help the child you love find the highly-effective, Christ-centered help they need. Contact us today at 502-717-5433, or by email at kayla@lifetrainingcounseling.org