How to Push Back on Peer Pressure for Teens

People can experience peer pressure at any age; however, for teenagers it can be especially more difficult. The teen years are a time of change—spiritually finding what you really believe about God, emotionally realizing the power of feelings, and physically changing every day. Throwing on pressure from your peers is like adding fire to a gasoline!

Yet keep in mind that God will never leave you even in times of temptation. He has all power to help you overcome what seems like the most impossible of situations. In fact, the Lord promises to make a way for you to escape when you are tempted. The best defense against peer pressure is a great offense. Try to P-U-S-H B-A-C-K and experience the best teen years yet!

P – Pray for God’s strength to keep your focus on Him and not people

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4).

We are weakest in dealing with peer pressure when we are so busy looking at others instead of looking towards God. Our vision is short-sighted because God is the source of your strength to stand up for yourself as a soldier of Christ. Take the time to seek after the Lord every day and He will renew your resolve to step away from bad influences.

U – Understand and know your real enemy

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

It’s so easy to judge the person or people causing us drama. Yet whenever there’s smoke—there’s fire! Satan is the father of all lies and he seeks to steal our joy, kill our desires, and destroy our dreams. Pray against the spiritual powers that use people to draw your heart away from God.

S – Stand for what is right even when the pressure sets in

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

Have you ever heard of the saying “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything”? Standing up for what is right may result in persecution from those around you. Friends may drop like flies in bug spray yet when the mist clears—you will be standing with your integrity, reputation, and future. God has called you to be a warrior for righteousness.

H – Hold off your desires to repay evil

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

The desire to get revenge runs within the hearts of many people. We want justice right away and in our own way. The key to holding off the desire for revenge is recognizing it in your heart and confessing it to God. The Lord will repay evil in His all-knowing “how-to-get-you-real-good” way.

The best defense against peer pressure is a great offense. Try to P-U-S-H B-A-C-K and experience the best teen years yet!

B – Be willing to learn from your experience

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3).

Nothing happens to you without God’s foreknowledge. He knows what you are pressured to do. The Lord allows these temptations to grow you up spiritually so that you can be a wiser and stronger Christian. God stretches you so that He can bless you in ways that you could’ve never imagined before.

A – Accept that everyone doesn’t have the courage given to you

“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).

Sometimes when dealing with peer pressure you may be surprised when other Christians fall under the temptation to please people more than pleasing God. It’s tempting to judge them as weak and yourself as strong. Perhaps it’s better to accept that God has graciously given you a greater measure of faith. It may be that those friends’ faith may be strengthened when you set the example of following Christ.

C – Cover your mind with the word of God daily

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

It’s difficult to find your way around an unfamiliar place when the lights are out. However, you can easily make it from one room to the other when the light switch is on. When you take the time to read and memorize God’s word every day, the knowledge and application of it will lead you through the difficult times of peer pressure. The Lord speaks plainly and clearly through the Bible for those who really want to hear from Him.

K – Keep your faith in God to get you through it

“Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).

It sounds simple to “have faith in God” but sometimes it’s harder to live out especially when you feel the heat to conform to the ways of the world. Faith is a precious gift that not everyone can receive. It’s believing and trusting in God even though everything around you is saying “you are all alone in this”. God is with you and He’s moving in your behalf even when you don’t see it, feel it, or touch it. He’s going to get you through it in victory.

Push Back on Peer Pressure!

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Your physical age doesn’t dictate your spiritual maturity. When you desire with all your heart to follow after Christ, He will allow you to go through big pressures so that you will be a stronger Christian and warrior for the kingdom of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit, stand firm in the faith and never give in.

More reading: Teen Purity: 10 Tips on How to Remain Pure

Tagged as: teen peer pressure, tips and advice