Jump Start # 3812
1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
Worry, stress, anxiety—most would say that’s life. Those things come with life. But, multiple recent studies show very high levels of stress and anxiety among younger generations. Gen Z and millennials rank their anxiety level as 6 on a scale of 10. In comparison, those aged 65+ rank their anxiety level at 3.4 out of 10.
And, one of the greatest fears and causes of stress and anxiety among millennials and Gen Z is talking on the phone. As high as 90% of that generation have a great phobia of talking on the phone. They would much rather text than talk on the phone. This anxiety is on a level with the fear of heights and snakes. It’s more than they do not want to talk on the phone, the very idea of talking on the phone creates great anxious moments for them. As a result, many use texting as a means of breaking up dating relationships.
Now, I don’t have a psychology degree but it doesn’t take much to see what the problem is. In phone conversations, someone is immediately talking back. You receive the tone of their voice, the inflection and the volume. Angry words. Questions. Rebuke. In texting, one can take their time in replying. One doesn’t get all the inflection and tone that a voice delivers. I didn’t find any studies on this, but it would seem that this young anxious generation would rather text than talk in person. Because talking in person adds yet another layer of conversation, body language. The eye contact. The expression on the face. The wrinkled forehead. The sighs. The movement of hands and arms.
Anxious moments are not special or unique to our times. Five times in Matthew six, Jesus brings up the topic of worry. “Why are you worried,” the Lord asks over and over. I expect if we put the worry of earlier generations next to us, we’d be ashamed and embarrassed. Today, having a baby is such a wonderful event. Not so long ago, having a baby was extremely fearful. Our cemeteries are filled with young mothers and their babies that both died in the delivery process. I read about a small town not far from where I live in Indiana. In the 1830s a disease swept through that small community and wiped it out. The town no longer exists. Just going to work long ago was very dangerous. Jobs such as coal mining, building bridges and buildings, often came with the loss of life. Survival was the goal for many in those long ago times.
What are some take-a-way lessons from all of this:
First, we must train our children to be the exception and not the norm in these times. We do this first at home by having conversations. We encourage friendships with our children. We limit texting times and encourage face to face conversations. One doesn’t text God. They must talk to the Lord. Crossing generation lines also helps. Young talking to older and older talking to younger. Developing communication skills will help your child as he matures and branches out in life.
Second, much of anxiety issues are really a faith issue. That’s how the Lord saw it in Matthew 6. Strengthen the faith in God and the anxiety levels plummet. Knowing God is always there, helps. Knowing that God loves even when we don’t do right, helps. Knowing God is greater than any problem, helps. Instead of rushing off to counselors who happily prescribe pills like M & M’s, maybe we ought to be rushing our young people to Bible classes where they learn about fiery furnaces, prison doors being shut and lion’s dens. Building faith solves many of our problems today.
Third, phobias about talking to someone on the phone is really a relationship problem. Maybe we have sheltered and pampered a generation to the extent that they can’t handle anything negative. Maybe they can’t deal with someone disagreeing with them. Catering to this won’t help them. It’s time to put on the big boy pants and man up and be the people of God that the Lord expects. Act like men is what the apostle told the Corinthians. Grow up and stand firm is what the Ephesians were told. We don’t help a generation when we continue to feed their phobias. Paul confronted Peter to his face in Galatians two. For some today, that would be a crushing experience that they could never recover from.
Our verse, casting your anxieties upon Him, is the assurance that God understands and God cares. Put the phone down and sit across from each other and have a wonderful and deep conversation. You’ll see that it’s not nearly as bad as you feared. In fact, it’s very enjoyable. Talk about the past. Tell stories. Grow closer to one another. You’ll learn the Bible has a word for that. It’s called, “Fellowship.” It’s one of the strong bonds that keeps us going.
Give it a try…and don’t do it by texting.
Roger