But everyone else is doing it...

~Tuesday Thoughts~

Two weeks ago the Starting School mini-series kicked off with “Homework? Maybe later…” Last week the post was “Never quite reaching ‘perfect’”.  Today’s going to be about that awful thing called peer pressure. 


Peer pressure is JUST NOT FUN. When the kids around you are whispering about you-know-what or you see at least half a dozen kids cheating on that test, it’s hard to say “no; I’ll go against the flow”. Pressure can come in different ways: the “everyone-else-is” way or the “you-better-or-else” way or the “if-you’re-my-friend” way. It can be subtle or it can be screaming in our ears. We can be the only ones thinking it or others can be pushing us around.

Whatever way, peer pressure is peer pressure. And the easiest thing is to give in. But we shouldn't.


The Narrow and Wide Gates
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Through Him we can overcome this problem. That is good news.

How about you? Do you ever want to give in to the pressure? What are some other ways you can think of that peers can pressure us? Do you have a story about how you said “no”? Please share.