Peer pressure is something everyone can relate to no matter who you are or how old you are. Sometimes without you even realizing you’re being pressured or influenced. People influence the way you dress, the shows you watch, the music you listen to. Everything...it’s not always pushing you into a corner and chanting, “Do it!”
With that comes responsibility as a Christian to how you will handle these situations and influences. Romans 12:1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Christian life is to be sanctified which means “set apart” (I Corinthians 6:11).
But what does it actually mean to be “set apart”, and how are we supposed to be set apart in a world that makes it so appealing to just fit in? Our peers through social media alone have pressured us into believing we have to look and act a certain way to be liked. Or, that we’re not popular unless our followers out-number who we are following. We are constantly being influenced and pressured by things other than God’s Word; and if you’re not being influenced by God’s Word, you’re being influenced by the world - which is what we are to be “called out of” (John 15:19).
Now, how can we deal with these pressures?
You must decide in your heart what you will and will not participate in before you are put into the situation, even if it’s something you’ve grown used to doing. I Peter 4:4 reads, “They think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.”
When everyone but you is doing “the fun stuff” and you’re not, you’re going to be tested when they speak evil of you for doing good. It’s hard. It really is.
But what we need to remember is that, we are to be hated. You have to be hated. John 15:18-19 reads, “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of this world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of this world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
If you are walking through this life as a “Christian” and everyone loves you and everything is easy, you might want to check to make sure you’re actually living the Christian life. Because it’s not meant to be easy. What I have learned through the trials and woes of high school and anything else is… don’t just make up your mind “I will not do this” no matter who asks me, because you’re going to be pressured to do something you actually want to do- that’s why it’s tempting. You’re not going to be tempted to give into something you have no interest in.
Before you are even put into a pressuring situation, have exactly what you will say prepared, not just “I don’t do that,” but meditate in your mind the reason why you don’t want to participate or give into something. Have the exact phrase you will use prepared. Because you’re going to be put on the spot, and if you’ve never thought about *oh what will I do if someone asks me this?*, you’re very likely to give in; but, you’re less likely if you’ve thought about it and are prepared, even if you’ve never been pressured to do anything like it before. Always be ready.
I Corinthians 16:13-14 reads, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.”
This life isn’t easy, but oh how it is worth it.
Remember what James 1:2-4 says: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.”