Lucy- I've lived with God and I've lived without God. The in-between stage was the hardest for me. I knew God and yet I was running away from Him. As Lolly said, the more you get to know Him, the more He gives you freedom, He gives you love, He gives you joy, He gives you peace, and you get all that good stuff with God when you really get to know Him. But when you're in that horrible place where you're rebelling against Him, and you're not living fully for Him- it really sucks, doesn't it? It's horrible because you know that God is there but you're not getting the freedom. You're being attacked from everywhere, so I would just say- give yourself up to Him. Lukewarm is the nastiest place to be at. That's why God put it in the Bible, He knew that it was a nasty place to be! So go for it.
Jess- I went through a long time just trying to look around and see what was cool and try to be that. It was only when I went to college and said, 'I can start the clean sheet. I can just be myself.' Actually God brought a whole confident personality out of me which was not there before, which I wasn't able to express before. And He brought friends who were interested in who I actually was and not for who I was trying to be. It is really a God thing. Just be honest to who you are. Some people might not like that, but it's OK. Know that God loves you, and don't pretend. Just be honest.
Nic- I'd say relationship is one of the most important things as a young person. I realised that it is in my actions, the way I speak, and what I do- that people always recognise. And all my friends will say, 'yea mixed Christian, but she doesn't throw it down my throat. But actually her life, and the choices that she makes are so much better than mine.' In everything that we do, it's not necessary to say 'I'm gonna tell you about Jesus, and you will know God!' It's about relationship. Just get to know your friends and let them know your lifestyle and your choices and be proud of that. Stick with it.
