Some people say family and furniture are the only things that stay the same in the life of a military family, and sometimes even the furniture changes! That means that your family is of critical importance to your growth and development as a teenager. In fact, families play a primary role in developing our resilience as people, and that is especially true of military families. There are a lot of people who care about military families these days, and a good number of studies are being done on the effects of operational tempo, deployments and separation on families and military personnel. A recent RAND study found that rates of anxiety among military teenagers are higher than national averages, especially when there are longer periods of parental deployment. However, the study also revealed that the majority of military families are healthy and coping well with the challenges that the deployments and separations pose.

The slogan “Army Strong” is not just about military members, but it also refers to the family! Strong families address stress as opportunities to develop personal character, positive attitudes and collective hope. For all the people that care about military families, I would contend that God cares even more. This particular section on family is designed to take a look at what a family is and where the idea of families comes from, as well as some things that make a good family and how to function well in a broken family. Understanding that the family is God's design and that he understands what your military family is going through is a key to knowing (1) his presence, (2) you belong, and (3) there is hope! Quoting from the book, SHIFT by Brian Haynes, “As the designer of humanity, God knows–and every sane psychologist agrees–that the single most important experience in a person’s life is his or her family of origin. Everything flows from the original familial relationships that we enter without choice. God's plan for spiritual formation places the family in the lead when it comes to equipping the next generation. Parents are to impress the commands of God on their children and everyday life as they walk along the road, as they sit at home, when they lie down, and when they get up.” This is a primary function of the family: to teach us how to live life and how to love God in a loving relational environment.

Our growing spirituality has a unique opportunity for producing hope, and hope is a prime ingredient in our personal resilience. Resilient people turn challenges into opportunities, which is what strong families do. Perhaps you've noticed that this website is called ReZilient Life. That's on purpose. We believe that as you grow spiritually you will develop the kind of resilience that strengthens families and changes lives for the better. You, as a teenager in a military family, can have an impact beyond your wildest dreams, starting with your own family! Have some fun looking around under the topic of family. There are multiple subtopics with tons of stories, songs, videos, stuff to learn, and of course, Scriptures that are full of families and family stories. Be sure to dive into the Scriptures and investigate for yourself. Enjoy.

Who hasn’t ever wondered who they really are? Wait – since you have an ID card, that should tell you everything you need to know…or does it? Does it tell you what type of music you like? Or what kinds of clothes you look good in? Or what you believe about global warming? Or your level of honesty? Perhaps you’ve been in a situation where the group at your new base is totally different from the gang at your previous duty station. And maybe you’re wondering, “How do I fit in with these people?” If so, then you know first hand about identity issues. But the difference between knowing about identity issues versus knowing your identity is like trying to explain the way of life in a foreign country versus actually living in that culture. Do you believe it’s possible to live your whole life and not ever learn who you really are? I do! That’s why we’re going to take an in-depth look at ourselves through this study on Identity. We’re going to explore what the Bible and its many characters have to teach us about this all important topic. But first a little preface. Have you ever seen the movie Remember the Titans? Watch the video below to see one of the most pivotal scenes in the whole movie. Watch it now before reading on.



Our look into the topic of identity: the real me will use this scene as a framework for the rest of our study. “Who’s your daddy?” the question raised in the movie, helps us determine investigate who (or what) shapes our image. Let’s not think of it as an actual, physical person (father), but rather as an expression of who (or what) controls our sense of self and our identity.