Growing With: Lead with Vulnerability

Prompt for Parent to Lead with Vulnerability

Share about a season or two in your life when mental health was a concern for you or for someone you were close to. What did you do well? What did you learn? What would you do differently? How did it affect your faith?

Other Stories, Verses or Data to Fuel Conversation

1 in 3 adolescents struggle with some form of ongoing anxiety issues during adolescence. During the pandemic, anxiety issues tripled and depression quadrupled for people of all ages as we all experienced the trauma of having life shut down and being isolated in so many ways. People (even within the Church) sometimes blame mental health issues on flawed character or immorality. This is not helpful. Just as we wouldn’t degrade someone’s worth or character due to physical health issues like diabetes or asthma, we want to avoid making mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or ADHD seem like a spiritual or moral failure. Instead, we should aim to address them with appropriate treatment and care, just as we would a physical ailment.

Questions to Invite Your Teen to Reflect and/or Share

1. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being awful and 10 being awesome, how do you feel about your mental health right now?
2. How has the past year affected you physically, emotionally, and spiritually? Are there any ways you’d like some support from me?

Additional Resources

Faith in An Anxious World has created a 4-week curriculum, a parenting podcast, and various blogs all designed to help parents and youth leaders navigate adolescent mental health issues.

The Highrock Mental Health Resources Page for links to mental health resources in the Boston area and beyond.

Parent Prompt to Lead with Vulnerability

When have you had to deal with some type of trauma, disappointment, or pain in your life? What helped you through it (try to bring out any of the five practices below)? How did it challenge your faith? Are you able to see where it built a stronger, more resilient faith?

Other Stories, Verses or Data to Fuel Conversation

Definition of Resilience

The capacity to spring back into shape after facing difficulties or hardship.

Romans 5:1-5

This passage speaks to how problems and trials can lead to a resilient faith.

Characteristics of a resilient faith

1. An identity built on a relationship with Jesus
2. Cultural discernment that allows you to recognize the difference between life-giving truth and soul-crushing lies
3. Intergenerational relationships that provide wisdom and community
4. A commitment to living for God’s purposes, not just your own comfort

Questions to Invite Teen to Reflect and/or Share:

1. How have current or past disappointments, pain, or trauma affected your life?
2. Consider the four characteristics of a resilient faith listed above. Which do you see as being helpful, lacking, or strongly present in your life?
3. How have these characteristics, or could these characteristics, become more present or helpful moving forward?

Additional Resources

The book Faith for Exiles, and its accompanying e-courses, teach parents and leaders about the research and practices that help raise resilient disciples. Don’t have that kind of time? These Faith for Exiles podcast episodes summarize the Faith for Exiles research and practices.

We have lots of ideas for future discussion topics to help you lead your youth in vulnerability. Here are a few of the topics that we hope to expand on in the future – stay tuned!

• Health – Physical, Emotional, Mental
• Sexuality – Dating, Sex, LGBTQ+
• Technology – Social Media, Porn, Movies, Music, Screen Time
• Identity – Theology, Scripture, Prayer, Spiritual Practices
• Belonging – Peers, Church, Encouragement
• Purpose – Racism, Politics, Missions, Vocation

If you have a topic you’d like some help talking about with your tween, teen or young adult, let us know and we’ll add it to our list. Contact Pastor Brian at brian@highrock.org