Summer camp remains my favorite tradition. As a teenager, summer camp meant a week with friends, learning new skills, and getting out of town. Now, summer camp is a time for me to watch my kids have fun like I once did.

            Last week, my oldest and I attended youth camp in Alabama with our church group. This camp experience included mission work each day, which is new for our group. The kids and adults were scattered throughout multiple sites and challenged to step out of their comfort zones. To say lives were impacted is a drastic understatement.

            I watched tough kids, quiet kids, and apathetic kids completely change; some from our church, some from other places. Many teens came back to the dorms, found an adult, and shared their hearts while others talked amongst themselves. But the ones that really stood out were the ones who were deeply moved by God in some way but refused to allow him to change their heart.

            Twenty-five summers ago, I fell into that last category—deeply moved by God, but I refused to allow him to fully change my heart. At seventeen, I had the world at my fingertips. My outside facade looked great, but inside, I was dying. God knew the secrets of my heart, but I refused to grant him access.

            I knew God was calling me to surrender hidden sin that summer, but I excused it away. He wanted me to give him everything, especially the hidden parts. God didn’t want my good deeds or outside appearance of faithfulness—he wanted my heart. My motives. Ambitions. Desires. Secrets. Weaknesses. My everything.

            The hardest part of camp last week was watching these youth give God parts of their heart. Performing for their parents, youth leaders, or chaperones instead of digging into the deep parts and surrendering it all.

            I wonder how many hardships I could have avoided had I surrendered at seventeen. So much of the hiding justified as an adult wouldn’t have been necessary. My heart and mind wouldn’t have required such deep spiritual surgery from all the hidden sin. If I could just go back…

            But I can’t. And neither can you. But do you know what we can do? Encourage those younger than us to get things right now. Tell our stories. Allow God to use our heartaches. Offer our scars. And maybe we can help one young person avoid years of unnecessary heartache and rebellion. Would you join me in encouraging and helping the youth and young adults of today? Let’s be a safe space. Open book. And let’s make a difference.