Puberty, Pimples and Pressure

PUBERTY

Hi Girls!  Most of you are very likely going through puberty right now; maybe even acne and peer pressure all at the same time.  Awesome, huh? 

Puberty can make it seem like you are on an emotional roller coaster.  Do you ever feel like crying and screaming, or yelling at someone for no good reason?  Those same hormones that effect your body during puberty also effect your brain and are constantly changing, which explain your mood swings. 

Just because you feel a freak-out coming on doesn't mean you should act on it.  Remember... you belong to Jesus.  There are a few things you can do to feel better without getting on the emotional roller coaster. 

1.  PRAY.  Ask the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit and help you control your attitude.  God is so faithful! 

I John 4:4 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

2.  TAKE YOUR ANGER OUT ON SOMETHING... NOT SOMEONE.  Yelling at a person never helps and always makes things worse.  Screaming into a pillow makes it a lot quieter -- and your pillow doesn't have any feelings for you to hurt!

3.  ASK FORGIVENESS.  If you know you've hurt someone, always ask forgiveness to make the situation better and feel better about yourself.

Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

4.  GET SOME SLEEP!  Try to get 10 hours of good rest a night.  Being overtired can cause mood swings.

PIMPLES

When you start puberty, hormones tell your skin to make more oils and those oils can clog pores.  Bacteria that normally live on your skin also can get trapped and before you know it, pimples pop up.

When it comes to keeping acne away, it's all about what you put on your skin -- and that includes your hands.  Some people think that what you eat makes you break out, but that's true only if you eat greasy pizza and then touch your face. 

How to Help it Go Away

1)  Wash your face every morning/night.  Use an alcohol free toner and don't forget to moisturize.  There are some great oil-free moisturizers out there!

2)  Remove dirt using a gentle cleanser or soap that is free of dyes and perfumes.

3)  DON'T PICK.  Even if you think the bumps might look better, popping a zit will create new problems. The picked area becomes even more irritated and can get infected -- this can mean a scab, or worse, leave a scar. Yikes.

4)  Don't scrub too hard.  You will irritate your skin.

5)  Try water-based make-up.  Oily products can make acne worse.

6)  Drink water.  Lots of water.

PEER PRESSURE

Romans 12:2"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 Good and the Bad

Your friends can have a big influence on the decisions you make, from what you wear to what you talk about, even to where you sit for lunch.  This is peer pressure.  It's not the same as bullying and it's not always negative.  Maybe you signed up for study group because a friend said that it helped her improve her spelling.

But then there's the bad. Negative peer pressure happens when you make bad choices just so you can fit in with your friends. Some examples are:

• ditching school
• gossiping
• swearing
• smoking, drinking
• wearing clothes or make-up that your parents feel is inappropriate
• piercing your body without permission
• watching TV or movies that your parents disapprove of
• stealing or vandalizing

A real friend won't push you and will respect your decision.  She'll even listen to why you won't participate. 

Have friends that love Jesus like you do.  The Bible talks about this in 2 Corinthians. 

2 Corinthians 6:14 "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

Choose friends that build you up.  If a friend is giving you too much negative pressure, then she's a friend to walk away from.  This can be a very tough thing to do.  Pray for her.  Never gossip about her.  Be the light in the darkness!  

Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

So, whether it's puberty, pimples or pressure that you are dealing with, remember to take it all to the Lord. He loves and cares for you and He knows what you struggle with.  He wants to hear from you. Talk to Him, cry to Him, and listen to Him.... He will never turn you away! 

James 4:8  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."