A reflection on how preteens navigate discomfort in faith and why anchoring them in truth matters.
When Church Feels Uncomfortable
My preteen self would have said “yes” if you asked whether I loved Jesus and loved my church.
There was consistency in church being a priority in our family. There was an emphasis on serving and being involved beyond just attending. There was love through relationships relationships my parents, my siblings, and I built with people we spent hours with each week.
And yet, I still carry memories from my preteen years of discomfort even in a place that felt familiar.
I remember tension, conflict, and hurt surrounding certain situations. I remember church hopping for the first time in my life during the summer before fourth grade. I remember changing churches, meeting new pastors, and feeling unsure how to make sense of it all.
The Weight of Change During the Preteen Years
There were new faces to meet. Questions to answer. Stories to retell over and over again. In my preteen mind, there were comparisons of how things should be done, how they could be done, and frustrations over why they couldn’t be the way I was used to.
I didn’t feel like I fit in with any crowd. And that didn’t get better as I moved into middle school.
Looking back, if it hadn’t been for the familiar rhythm of church, my belief in God’s love for me formed through experience and my family’s depth of involvement that modeled faith lived out, I likely would have walked away from church for a season.
This is where family discipleship and spiritual parenting become crucial. The foundation of faith we build at home through Christ-centered parenting can anchor our children when everything else feels uncertain.
It was uncomfortable.
I didn’t prefer it.
Even though deep down, I knew I should stay.
What Scripture Says About Staying Anchored
Hebrews 13:5-9 reminds us:
“So we can say with confidence,
‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?’
Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace…”
Preteen years are full of moments that feel uncertain and uncomfortable. But they are also years when a child’s brain and heart begin connecting truths from God’s Word deciding for themselves what they believe.
Faith Formation for Preteens: Building on Truth
I had a choice to lean on what I knew to be true:
- God is faithful.
- God is always with me.
- God loves me no matter what church I attend.
- God made me to love others.
- God made me to shine His light for others to see.
This is the power of faith formation for preteens when we’re intentional about teaching preteen about faith and building a biblical worldview for preteen, they have truth to cling to when life gets hard. Whether through family devotionals, preteen Bible study, or family faith habits, we’re establishing an anchor for their souls.
Practical Steps for Parenting Preteens Through Uncertainty
What truths are you helping your preteen know and understand?
Does your preteen know where to go to find truth?
Do you know how to find what you’re looking for in the Bible and are you helping them learn how?
If you don’t start now, they will likely turn to other sources for truth.
This discipleship journey of raising godly children means equipping them with practical Bible study skills they can use on their own. Through family faith formation and preteen ministry at home and church, we give them tools to discover truth for themselves.
Ready to build a stronger foundation of faith with your preteen? Explore Christian parenting resources including devotionals for preteens, Bible study for tweens, and practical tools for your family discipleship journey. Because the truth they learn now will anchor them for a lifetime.