Why So Many People Look Stable on the Outside  but Are Falling Apart Internally

There’s a new generation rising—one that isn’t defined by trends, likes, or peer pressure, but by power, conviction, and unashamed faith. They are not waiting for permission to believe; they are standing boldly in their identity as sons and daughters of God. While much of today’s culture pushes compromise, this generation is pushing back with courage, compassion, and truth. They’re preaching in hallways, praying before class, posting Scripture online, and refusing to hide the light that burns within them. These young people are proving that faith isn’t outdated—it’s alive, relevant, and powerful in every decade. They’re not ashamed of the Gospel, because they’ve seen firsthand how it changes lives. The Bible says in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.” These youth are living proof of that scripture. They are not silent witnesses—they are living testimonies. The Courage to Stand Alone Being young and faithful in today’s world isn’t easy. From social media to classrooms, the pressure to blend in is overwhelming. Yet, in the face of ridicule, many of these students are standing tall. They’re showing that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the decision to stand for truth even when standing costs you something. We are seeing young leaders emerging on sports fields, in student councils, and even in digital spaces. They’re forming Bible clubs, prayer circles, and podcasts that spread the message of hope and truth. They’re finding creative ways to let the world know that following Christ is not weakness—it’s power. When I speak with teenagers across our community, I see something different in their eyes. They’re hungry for authenticity. They’re tired of imitation. They’re searching for purpose deeper than popularity. And they’re discovering that purpose in Christ. The Role of Parents, Pastors, and Leaders But let’s be honest—these brave young believers cannot thrive alone. They need us. They need parents who pray with them, pastors who preach truth, and mentors who model consistency. They need to see faith lived out, not just talked about. When the church and the home work together, something powerful happens. A legacy of faith takes root. As Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” That training is not passive—it’s intentional. It happens in conversations at the dinner table, in car rides after school, and in the quiet prayers whispered over sleeping children. We cannot expect our youth to stand strong if they’ve never been taught how to stand. They need the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18) and the spiritual disciplines that make that armor real: prayer, worship, Bible study, and community. They need us to correct them in love, affirm their identity, and remind them that their voice matters. At 514 Grace Church — www.514gracechurch.org — in Villa Rica, Georgia, we’ve made it our mission to empower this very generation. We believe in equipping students to be light-bearers in their schools, athletes who play with integrity, and artists who create from a place of faith. Our youth are not the future church—they are the now church. The Spirit of Boldness In Acts 4:13, people were astonished by the boldness of Peter and John—ordinary men who had been with Jesus. That same spirit of boldness is returning to our youth today. They’re not waiting for a stage or microphone. Their platform is wherever they stand. Their ministry is whoever they meet. This generation is not afraid to pray in public, to share their faith online, or to invite friends to church. They’re showing the world that holiness and happiness are not enemies—they walk hand in hand. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in them, and it’s evident in how they love, serve, and stand. Yet for every young person standing tall, there are others struggling silently—dealing with anxiety, isolation, or identity confusion. That’s where our encouragement and discipleship become crucial. We can’t simply applaud their courage; we must also equip them with spiritual, emotional, and practical support. Equipping the Next Generation Discipleship is not about perfection—it’s about process. It’s the consistent investment in a young person’s spiritual growth. When we mentor teens, we’re not just teaching lessons; we’re transferring faith. As parents and pastors, we can: 1. Model consistency. Let them see us worship when life is hard. 2. Affirm identity. Remind them they are loved, chosen, and called by God. 3. Empower leadership. Let them lead worship, organize outreach, or share a testimony. 4. Cultivate community. Surround them with peers and mentors who lift them higher. 5. Celebrate growth. Praise effort, not just results—faith is built through small victories. When young people are discipled well, they don’t just survive culture—they transform it. They become ambassadors of Christ in spaces that adults may never reach. A Call to the Church The church must move from entertaining youth to empowering them. Flashy lights and loud music may attract a crowd, but only truth will sustain a generation. Our teens need substance more than style. They need encounters with God more than events about Him. If we truly believe in this generation, we must invest in them like we do in buildings, programs, and technology. Let’s create mentorship pipelines, leadership training, and creative platforms that make room for their gifts. Let’s allow them to fail forward, to learn, to lead, and to grow. This is not a lost generation—it’s a launching generation. The same Spirit that empowered David, Esther, and Timothy is stirring again. And it’s our responsibility to recognize, release, and resource them. Standing with Them As I look across this generation, I see revival—not rebellion. I see students who are unashamed to pray, unapologetic about purity, and unwavering in their faith. But revival needs reinforcement. Let’s be the mentors who guide them, the parents who bless them, and the pastors who prepare them. They’re not waiting for the world to change—they’re changing it now. Let’s join them. By Pastor Harry L. Pitts, Jr. Senior Pastor, 514 Grace Church – Villa Rica, GA Visit us online at www.514gracechurch.org

Trials have a way of exposing what comfort hides. Pressure reveals what preparation conceals. In Scripture, anointing is rarely discovered in moments of applause. It is uncovered in seasons of resistance, obscurity, and testing. When God places His hand on a life, that anointing is almost always proven through trial before it is displayed through triumph. David’s life offers one of the clearest examples of this principle. When the prophet Samuel anointed David as king, nothing in David’s circumstances changed immediately. He did not receive a crown, a throne, or recognition. Instead, he returned to the fields. The anointing came first, but the affirmation followed much later. Between those two moments stood years of trials that revealed what God had already placed within him. David’s early testing began in obscurity. Before he ever faced Goliath, he faced lions and bears while tending sheep. No audience watched. No one applauded. Yet those unseen battles forged the confidence David later carried onto the battlefield. When he stood before Goliath, he did not suddenly become brave. His courage was revealed, not created. The trial made visible what had already been cultivated in private. This pattern continues throughout David’s life. After his victory over Goliath, David did not move into ease. Instead, he entered conflict. Saul’s jealousy turned David into a fugitive. He lived in caves, fled betrayal, and endured seasons where promises seemed delayed. Yet each trial refined his leadership, humility, and dependence on God. David learned how to lead before he ever ruled. His anointing matured through adversity. The key lesson is this: trials do not negate anointing. They confirm it. Resistance often appears precisely where purpose exists. The enemy does not fight what carries no weight. When opposition increases, it is often because what is inside you matters more than you realize. Jesus’ life follows this same divine pattern, though on an eternal scale. At His baptism, heaven opened and God declared, “This is My beloved Son.” That moment was public affirmation. Immediately after, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. Not into celebration, but into testing. Forty days of hunger, isolation, and temptation followed the declaration of sonship. The wilderness did not question Jesus’ identity. It tested whether He would live from it. Each temptation challenged Him to use power outside of God’s timing or will. Yet Jesus overcame not by spectacle, but by obedience. He did not perform miracles to escape discomfort. He stood firm in truth. When He emerged from the wilderness, Scripture says He returned in the power of the Spirit. The trial revealed the authority already present. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, trials continued to expose His anointing. Rejection revealed compassion. Opposition revealed wisdom. Betrayal revealed obedience. The cross itself stands as the ultimate example. What looked like defeat became the greatest demonstration of divine authority. The trial revealed salvation. This truth carries weight for anyone walking through hardship today. Trials are not random interruptions. They are often part of the unveiling process. God uses pressure to expose calling, refine character, and deepen trust. The same fire that threatens to consume also purifies. Anointing is not proven by how loudly people praise you, but by how faithfully you endure. David learned to trust God when he was forgotten. Jesus trusted the Father even when abandoned. In both cases, trials revealed obedience, humility, and authority. It is important to understand that anointing does not exempt you from struggle. It often invites it. God trusts anointed people with weight because they can carry it. Trials stretch capacity, sharpen discernment, and strengthen spiritual muscle. What feels heavy now may be evidence that God is enlarging you. There is also a timing component to this revelation. David was anointed long before he was crowned. Jesus was declared Son before He was revealed Savior through the cross. Purpose unfolds in stages. Trials are often the bridge between promise and fulfillment. When you face difficulty, the question is not whether you are called. The question is what is being revealed through the struggle. Are you learning endurance, obedience, compassion, or courage? Often the trial is not meant to stop you, but to show you who you already are in God.  In the end, trials do not define your future. They refine it. David emerged from caves prepared for a throne. Jesus emerged from the grave with victory over death. In both lives, the anointing was not destroyed by suffering. It was revealed through it. If you are in a season of trial, do not assume God has stepped away. He may be drawing something out. The pressure you feel may be the very thing revealing the anointing within you.