A Survival Guide for Ultimate Satisfaction in a Forever Changing Culture
Super Mario Brothers for Super Nintendo, a Classic Duncan Butterfly yo-yo, a new deck of Pokémon cards, the latest season of Power Rangers on VHS, the new Beanie Baby, and a case of “Squeeze It” juice bottles was the ideal Christmas list of any young teen during my teenage years. Now, in the year 2014, I’d venture to say that a young teen’s Christmas list would look completely different. In fact, I’d be willing to guarantee that a young teen would want nothing even close to what we wanted in the late ’90s.
We all have stories that begin with “When I was a kid…” in which we reminisce about the luxuries and popular items that kept us jumping with excitement. As time progresses, teens get excited about different things. The things that excited one generation merely bore the next. As the culture shifts throughout time and different styles come and go, let’s face it—some fads should just remain dead, never to be resurrected again. We can rest assured that no matter what happens, there is one underlying factor that will never change—the need for satisfaction.
Humans have been searching for satisfaction since the dawn of time. We have cultural shifts because one generation, bored with the popular trends, creates new ones in order to meet the demands of those searching for lasting satisfaction. Today’s teens may have a different hairstyle, wear different clothes, and choose different forms of entertainment, but they have the same underlying needs.
No matter how many inventions we enjoy or how cool the latest technology is, there will always be a void in a person’s life if he or she is not filled with lasting satisfaction. God tells us in the Bible, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” Psalm 16:11. The only place that anyone will ever find true satisfaction is in God. God says that if we’re willing to follow Him with our lives, then He promises to provide for every one of our needs (Matthew 6:31–33).
Our teens today don’t need the newest gadget or the latest technology to keep them satisfied. These things might make them happy for a short period of time, but teens will soon grow bored of their new items. Teens need a personal relationship with God. When they turn their eyes from everything else that will fade and look to an unchanging God, their entire focus will change. They will receive ultimate satisfaction that nothing could ever diminish. This isn’t just what a teen needs, it’s what everyone needs.
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Article by Brandon Joyner
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