Have you ever been told it's okay to just "borrow" an item from a retail store? Or encouraged to graffiti someone's car or property because they offended your friends — or just because it would be fun? "Come on. Just bring some eggs and toilet paper, and this will be the sweetest Halloween ever!" Have you gotten in trouble for breaking your curfew because you stayed at a friend's house for just 20 minutes longer than you were supposed to?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has felt pressures from my peers, even from people who aren't my friends. Someone doesn't necessary have to know who you are in order to have an influence on what you do, what you say, what you eat, what you wear, and more.

Growing up, I was always tempted to let my peers decide if I wore the latest trends, snuck out to watch a movie with my friends, or asked some guy out because he was hot. An important thing I've learned over time is that dangerous things can happen when we let others make our decisions, when we allow peer pressure to rule our actions. Before I ever made any decisions when options like these were thrown in my face — when I knew my own popularity and what others thought of me might be decided by my decisions — I placed the situation into God's hands.

After all, who do I really have to answer to in the end when pressured by life's temptations? Were those same friends — or strangers — really going to be there for me if I sprayed the graffiti and got caught, or if I "borrowed" an item from a store and got caught? Instead, I think about who is really going to save me, who is really going to be there in the end.

Think About It

• Do you think God carries us in our toughest times? How does that relate to peer pressure?
• What are some ways that people are pressured by others? How can you help someone who is feeling pressure from peers?