Great Expectations

One thing I think has changed for teenagers today, as opposed to teenagers when I was growing up, is the growing expectations.

It is not good enough to just get into college, you have to get into the best college.  You have to get every scholarship possible.
If you are not in the top 5% of your class, you failed.
It's not enough to just be on the soccer team, you have to be the star.  Soccer is your ticket to fame.  It is your ticket to college.
You are expected to be involved in clubs at school, band, dance team, excel at school, involved in Church, play sports at school, play on challenge teams outside of school and its not enough to just be involved with them, you need to be the leader of each of these things.

Some of you may not feel the pressure, but our culture puts it there.  Our schools put the pressure there.  Our parents put the pressure there.  Heck, often I put the pressure there.  Most of us are mean well, we just want to see you succeed.  But the pressure to succeed and excel is higher than ever.  The pressure to have a jam packed schedule is greater than ever.

However, when I think of the pressure another young couple faced, I just can't imagine how they handled it.
Imagine being told you are responsible for raising God's son.
Imagine what Mary must have thought for 9 months while carrying Jesus.
Mary was told Jesus would reign on a throne forever, but I think she probably had to worry about Jesus as a little baby.
Imagine changing diapers of the son of God.
Imagine seeing the son of God struggle to walk, falling time and time again.
Imagine Jesus coming to Mary with the bumps and bruises that come with being a toddler.
I think that each time Jesus fell, had a bump or bruise, or struggled in anyway, Mary probably had a "I've messed up the son of God."

Imagine the pressure Mary and Joseph must have felt.

I'm sure that Mary and Joseph probably irritated other parents as well. It was probably difficult for them to not come across as arrogant at times.

When Jesus was "lost" at the age of 12, think about what was likely going through Mary's head. "Great, I've lost the son of God, I've really screwed up now."

Whatever kind of pressure you are facing in your life, you are not alone.
I believe one reason God chose to send Jesus in the form of a baby is so that we could all really relate.  We know that Jesus faced the same problems we faced as a child.  Jesus likely didn't come out walking and talking.  He had to learn those things just as we did.  Jesus didn't come out changing his own diaper, He had to rely on Mary and Joseph to do so.  Jesus didn't come out getting himself dressed, He had to rely on Joseph and Mary.
Jesus went through the same pressures of being a teenager that I did, that you go through now.

Jesus may not of had to worry about college, sports, scholarships or any of the things that teens face today.  But Jesus had the weight of the world on His shoulders.

No matter what you are going through.  No matter what pressure you feel.  Jesus understands.  Jesus has been there.  And Jesus is just waiting, longing to talk to you about it.