Being a person of faith, especially a devout one, may seem some a challenge sometimes. But I believe that's only because we look at our faith the wrong way. If only we utilized the knowledge that is ingrained into what we call our faith, our belief system, then we would know how to make our way through life's challenges much easier. I decided to make a list, a "survival guide," for young Christians out there who are struggling with being authentic with themselves, and how they can live up to the potential that God has called them to, in all aspects of life and in this case, school. Enjoy!

1. Be true to who you are, who God called you to be.

This life isn’t about pleasing people, it’s about pleasing God in the way we live and glorifying Him. If you go along in life trying to impress others and only making other people happy, you'll go down the wrong road quicker than you anticipated. So when you feel pressured to get involved in things that are not of God, starve your flesh and feed your Spirit. Stay true to who you are and who God called you to be.

2. Remember what the Word says.

Stay in the Word. I know things get busy but don’t neglect studying it. It contains infinite wisdom that you should be carrying with you all throughout life, including school. And yes, it applies to every aspect of life...including school.

3. Stay connected to the church and the body of Christ.

Don’t stop going to church. Don’t stop connecting with other people who love God. Instead, get involved in as many godly activities as you can.

4. Be around equally yoked people.

Many times, you hear about finding an equally yoked partner, someone who seeks God as much as you do. But this doesn’t just apply to relationships. This applies to the people you interact with on a daily basis. Find people who share your love for God, not just in your church, but in school too as well as everywhere you go. That’s not to say that you can’t have friends who don’t have the same faith or as strong as a faith, but always surround yourself around people who will encourage and guide you on the right path with God.

5. Share the love of Christ

The title says it all, don’t be hesitant to share and radiate the love of Christ. And also don’t be ashamed to let people know that that love comes from Christ.

1 John 4:7-12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

6. Don’t be ashamed of your faith, be proud of it

For some reason, there’s a lot of shame in young people to be bold for Christ. And not in a mediocre, “Yeah, I’m a super cool, young hip modern Christian” way, but in a loving, caring, following Jesus’s footsteps kind of way. We should all strive to follow His footsteps, and if we are, then we shouldn’t be ashamed of it, but instead proud that we serve such an amazing God that transforms lives.

As Christians, we’re supposed to be set apart. We aren’t supposed to be like everyone else and that’s okay. In fact, that’s great. According to the Bible, we’re told to not be of this world, meaning to not be pressured or feel like we need to be like everyone else, because we’re not supposed to. We’re supposed to be of Christ and this world (what society glorifies) is far from Him. So be proud of your faith!