What are the negative consequences of not accepting personal powerlessness?

If we do not help our youth accept powerlessness over the uncontrollables and unchangeables in their life, then they could:

Begin to frustrate themselves in their attempts to gain control and to fix the non-fixable.

Become extremely rigid and dogmatic in their handling of life’s problems believing that there is “only one way” to do things, the “perfect” way.

Deny the enormity of the things which they do not have power to change and become locked into “fantasy” or “magical” thinking that given enough time, energy and resources they can succeed in changing them.

Become so full of self-pride as to believe that only they can be the “savior” for the ills or problems they are facing.

Become so self-preoccupied that they become incapable of reaching out to ask for others’ help and support in facing these problems which are beyond their power and control.

Lose their faith in the capability of human beings to help out a fellow human who is in need of help and support.

Become so frustrated and depressed in trying to solve the unsolvable problems that they find their temper, anger and rage igniting and flaring up spontaneously, inappropriately and disproportionately.

Feel so defeated by the non-fixable realities of life that they come to believe that God is impotent and inadequate.

Forget that they are a human being and as such open to failures and mistakes and not the “perfect being” who is omnipotent and infallible in all things.

Cling onto the people whom they cannot control or change until they one day walk out on them frustrated by their incessant efforts to change, correct or reform them.

Lose perspective of their own limits and not be self-protective of their energy, resources and spirit in their incessant effort to solve the unsolvable.

Increase in a sense of low self-esteem because they are incapable of making everything right and perfect with all people, places and things in your life.

Deny the existence of and need for the Holy Spirit in their life, upon whom they can call for help and assistance.

The Scriptures remind us that:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NLT)

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Because of the very nature of their developmental stage students are prone to all of the above.  We, as caregivers, must help them understand that weakness and brokenness is a pre-requisite to entering the upside-down Kingdom.