Dear Precious,
You are sixteen, turning seventeen—on the threshold of adulthood. You’ve already experienced important milestones: your first period, completing high school, and now starting university as a freshman. You have an entire life ahead of you both on campus and beyond. Here are a few things I want you to carry with you.
First, don’t feel awkward because you haven’t had a boyfriend. One day you will marry a man who respects and cherishes you, not someone who treats you like a game. It’s okay that you haven’t dated yet; you aren’t behind. People may think it’s unusual, but you are doing just fine. Your path doesn’t have to mirror anyone else’s.
Believe in yourself and in your dreams. Allow yourself to envision a bright future—dreams do come true when combined with clear goals and steady effort. Write down what you want to achieve and take small, consistent steps toward those goals. You are capable of far more than you often give yourself credit for.
Remember that not everyone will like you, and that’s not your responsibility to change. Your purpose is to follow the path God has laid out for you, to love others, and to give of yourself. Seek to please God rather than people; that will guide your choices and bring deeper fulfillment than trying to win approval from everyone around you.
You were recently born again, and that transformation matters. Nurture your relationship with God above all else. Invest time in prayer, Scripture, and fellowship; build and care for this relationship because it will sustain you more than anything else. Some will mock or criticize you for your faith—hold fast and don’t give up. Stay close to God.
Life will present challenges, but keep moving forward, keep believing, and keep fighting for the person you want to become. Aim to improve a little each day: grow in wisdom, patience, and character.
Choose your friends carefully. The people you spend time with influence who you become. Good friends will encourage and lift you; the wrong crowd can pull you off course. Surround yourself with those who inspire you to be better and who share or respect your values.
Do not let other people’s negative words define your worth. Opinions are plentiful, and some will hurt. Refuse to build your identity on criticism. Believe in yourself even when others doubt you. Over time people’s perceptions may change, but even if they don’t, keep trusting the person you are becoming.
Enjoy life—appreciate nature and the simple, beautiful things God made. Live fully: smile, laugh, play, breathe, and have fun. Embrace your youth, but do so within the boundaries of your faith. Christianity might sometimes feel restrictive, yet it offers the truest kind of freedom: a framework that protects and guides you toward flourishing.
Your future is secure because the One who watches over you neither sleeps nor slumbers. He cares for you constantly. Let Him remain your anchor and your everything.
P.S. I’m not actually sixteen in the photo at the start of the post—I’m closer to twenty. I wish I could find my real sixteen-year-old picture!
If you were to write a letter to your younger self, what would you say?