Recently, on our church text prayer chain, a pray request was posted by a desperate mother. It was the first day of the new school year. She asked for prayer that her anxious daughter, a junior in high school, would have the courage to get on the school bus that morning.
Anxiety in kids today is clearly an epidemic! Know one definitively knows why this generation seems to experience more anxiety–often crippling anxiety–but among many things, a major culprit is social media. In our first edition of Reclaim a Generation: 21 Days of Prayer for Schools, author Cheryl Sacks wrote about this issue. I post it here:
Day 4: EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
. . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, esv)
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1:2, niv)
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly one third of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder, and these numbers have been rising steadily. While there are a number of factors that are likely contributing to student anxiety, one that stands out as particularly noteworthy is the increased influence of social media.
Today’s children and teens are connected constantly to social media and are being bombarded by all kinds of negative messaging. The resulting anxiety has been undeniable. While it is a great way to communicate through distance, take attractive photos, and stay in touch with loved ones, its abuse is rampant.
Social media platforms are frequently cesspools of bullying, comparison, provocation, and darkness. Studies show that social media does more harm than good—it’s not good for anyone’s mental or emotional health. It lowers self-esteem, encourages comparison, and paints an unrealistic picture of reality.
We must pray against all the ways social media tells our youth that they are not good enough. Our children must know their worth is unquestionable, despite the messages they are receiving from social media. We must pray against the ways these platforms have destroyed their self-esteem, and ask that God renews their mental and emotional well-being with His divine presence in their lives.
Let’s Pray
Lord, we pray for the emotional and mental well-being of our students, knowing that every day they face pressures from others, as well as from what they see online, in the news, or on their smart phone.
We ask that any messages that inspire fear or lower their self-esteem and their self-worth be replaced with Your unceasing acceptance of them and love for them. May they always know that their worth is unchanging! They are special, with an original design and plan for their life!
We pray against all the ways social media can be a toxic weapon in the lives of our children and teens. We pray against the spirits of comparison, jealousy, and greed that have robbed them of their youth and innocence. We pray against the ways cyber bullying and mean-spirited online interactions have allowed fear, inadequacy, isolation, and rejection to fester.
In Jesus’ name, we declare that the mental and emotional well-being of our students will not be defined by what others say about them, nor will it be defined by what they think of themselves! We declare contentment, confidence, self-love, generosity, kindness, and joy over the lives of today’s youth. We ask that students have the boldness to step away from social media when they know it is harmful, even when it is not the popular choice to do so.
Help Us Write a Prayer Guide
The Church Prayer Leaders Network wants to do something about this issue. We want to help churches, parents, and teens to pray effectively over this issue in kids’ lives. We want to develop a practical, pocket-sized, Scripture-based prayer guide that teens and children can carry with them to pull out and use as they feel anxious. Parents and adults could also use the guide to pray its Scriptures for their kids, grandkids and kids from their church.
Here are 3 ways you can help us with this project and to bless kids!
- Pray for the Anxiety Be Gone in Jesus Name! Project (working title). Satan will not want to see this come out. Please bathe CPLN in prayer as we collect prayers and put the booklet together. Pray immediately for the writers who are working on the prayers. Pray for the needed funds to come in to complete the project.
- Write a prayer for the booklet! We need prayers. If you like to submit a prayer or two, please check out the submission guidelines.
- Give to the project. Development, design and printing of this project will likely cost between $10,000 and $15,000. Would you please consider making a donation to the project. Or if you know someone with means, who you know has a heart for kids, please let him or her know about our need and ask him or her to consider making a donation.
While the new school has commenced in many places already, this guide will be designed to be used at any time of the year. Our initial timeline to complete the project is to have copies of the guide by late October.
