The Key

We are grateful for organizations like the Colson Center who share resources with us, like the attached article, to help us further identify and spread God’s truth for His children.

Why Are Children Questioning Their Identity?

Our children and youth are being fed many lies from schools, media outlets, movies, television shows, etc. As taught in CCTI’s curriculum, ages twelve to eighteen are known as the Childhood Development Stage of Identity[1] as kids seek out who they are and are meant to be.

What are their real likes and dislikes, what are they good at, and how do others socially accept them?

These questions become the forefront of their minds as they navigate their daily lives. Much of the world and those who work with children know this, and they are all vying for their attention to tell them who they think they should be instead of God telling them who they were meant to be.

My own childhood memories as it relates here.

As a child, I grew up the oldest of two daughters to my police officer father, who immensely enjoyed taking my sister and me horseback riding. Also, I enjoyed learning proficiency with firearms, construction, being outdoors, camping, etc. from my father. I was a “tomboy” and not a big fan of dolls. But I still enjoyed these things as I grew older. I also began to enjoy putting on make-up, going to dances, wearing dresses, and hanging out with the girls.

I cannot imagine how I might have responded in elementary or middle school to a counselor or teacher suggesting, “You seem to enjoy many things that most boys enjoy. Would you like to consider becoming a boy?” I do not view my childhood as one of uncertainty in my gender. Instead, I look at these experiences and opportunities I had as a way God was preparing me to become a mother of two boys so I can better relate to them! I do not believe that God wastes anything in our lives, including what experiences we have throughout our childhood.

Back to how this all relates to children now.

Because of how society is approaching children, children are having difficulty knowing whom to trust and questioning everything. However, there is freedom in structure (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12), which is what God intended. God has a purpose and design for every one of us. He gave us families, with a mother and father, to grow up with. This was so that we could be taught His word and the boundaries needed to navigate this life well and in preparation for our eternal life. Unfortunately, as we all know, this truth is being questioned, denied, and torn apart, as it has been from the beginning when sin first entered the world.

How can we help children?

We must teach children that everything is not based on feelings or experiences, which are continuously changing and can be affected by many factors. There is only one immovable truth: God’s law as delivered in His Word. We must be careful to teach children about the One True God, not the new gods and religions created daily, such as Therapeutic Moralistic Deism. As the father of lies often does, the Truth is distorted to make it sound like God, but it is not. We must teach our children to discern truth through the study of apologetics, understand what reality is hidden in cultural lies, and teach our children how to combat these lies with God’s truth accurately. When most morals and worldviews of children are set by the age of nine, and the majority of salvation experiences occur by the age of 18, we do not have time to lose![2]

So, What Is the Key for Children Questioning Their Identity?

We see the trauma that is being created in the varying lives that are struggling with identity. One fellow teammate, who works with international students at a US Christian college, noted the following observation: “Trauma tries to steal your identity, but it (our identity) needs to be rooted back in Christ and His purpose and plan for your life. That is the key.”

About the author:

Amy Wilson is a child of God since age 18, a wife of 24 years, and a mother of two sons, ages 16 and 11. She has been involved with various ministries for children for over 25 years. Amy has been a part of the CCTI team since 2013 and the Director of Education for CCTI since 2019.

[1] Eric Erikson Psychosocial Stages of Development https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740

[2] National Association of Evangelicals, “When Americans Become Christians” (Spring 2015)

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