Blame Your Hormones

Researchers may have discovered the hormone responsible for making teenagers moody. Do you realize what this means? You can just print out this article and show it to your parents, teachers, or youth pastor any time you’ve been acting like a jerk. “See, it’s my hormones. I couldn’t help myself.” It’s a scientific get-out-of-jail-free card.

I keed. It’s no secret that one of the many perks of being an adolescent is the free coaster rides provided by your unpredictable emotions. Way up one minute; utter despair five minutes later. Some have it worse than others, but it does help a little to know it’s not just you. Everybody’s hormones are attempting to sabotage them and ruin their lives. See, much better.

But you don’t have to stop at, “Well, that’s just the way it is.” Christian teenagers have an option; the Holy Spirit is still stronger than hormones. In the power of God’s Spirit, they can live with “peace, love, joy (a happy perspective even when the happy feelings run away), patience, gentleness (avoiding overly extreme reactions), good choices, faithfulness (staying on course with God), and self-control (not letting the hormonal emotions drive the boat).” (See Galatians 5:16-26, esp. vv. 22-23.) Yes, you’ll feel crazy in the head sometimes, but God gives the power to hold on and make good choices.