TeenConnect

Shut the door on pain

I knew I didn’t have to be in pain.
Do our individual prayers make a difference when it comes to the big stuff going on in the world? This author says yes—and explains how she knows.
This high school sophomore felt ready for his school trip—rafting the rapids in Idaho. Then, just days before his departure, he faced an even bigger challenge: illness, which threatened to keep him from the trip. Read on to find out what brought healing just in time.
In college, she doubted her abilities and needed reassurance, even when she was performing well. By grad school, she faced down failure with ease. What changed? For this author, the shift happened when she got a deeper understanding of her spiritual identity.
Struggling with painful ankles during a hike, this counselor-in-training wanted to be healed through prayer but was concerned a healing could take time. A spiritual insight proved her wrong—and brought freedom.
“I hate this trip,” said my boat mate as we sailed along the Maine coast.
Even though she’d seen other healings in her family, this teen author found it hard to turn to prayer first when problems came up … until a healing proved to her that God really is the best place to go for help.
My place was so much grander than any particular role in life.
After being unkind to each other in person and on social media, these two friends thought their friendship was over. But one of them wasn’t content to hold on to a grudge, and—even though it was hard—started trying to live by Jesus’ words and forgive his friend.
This student couldn’t wait for the end of the school year … until he was hit with a sore throat. Read on to find out how prayer helped turn things around.
When there was no seat available for him to take an important exam, this teen didn’t get upset or give up. Instead, he relied on what he’d learned in the Christian Science Sunday School to pray about the situation—with quick results.

The key to forgiveness

I started to reverse those negative thoughts, turn toward God, and forgive my friend.