The Answer for an Anxious Generation

Recently I read the book “The Anxious Generation,” by Jonathan Haidt. My kids recommended this New York times bestseller book a while ago and once I started it was hard for me to put down. It definitely captures the modern day crisis spurred on by smart phones and social media.

Haidt does a masterful job laying out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental health issues seen worldwide. His research depicts how childhood development drastically changed with the introduction of the smart phone in 2010. He presents many mechanisms by which the great rewiring of childhood has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social comparison, suicide, perfectionism, and extreme anxiety.

Oceans Ministries has been working with many who have grown up in this generation and can testify to the truths of Haidt’s research, as we have seen first hand the adverse impact social media has had on young people. Even youth who have grown up in Christian homes and Christian Schools have not been exempt from this epidemic.

Jonathan Haidt would call himself an atheist and yet when he probes for solutions to deal with technology and the next generation he turns to spiritual practices as one of the answers to bring healing to wounded minds.  He quotes from the famous French philosopher Blaise Pascal who said, “there is a God-shaped hole in every human heart.” How we need spiritual practices to help fill that hole that the phone based life use will block.

As a solution the author suggests to practice the following: shared sacredness; embodiment; stillness, silence, and focus; self transcendence; being slow to anger, quick to forgive; and finding awe in nature.  I applaud Haidt for being courageous enough to include this in the book-though he  also includes how various other religious traditions will benefit.

As he goes on to define what these spiritual practices look like I would argue that each one of them finds its roots deep in Scripture from the heart of our Father God. Who sent His Son Jesus to to fill the “God-shaped hole” in our searching hearts.

This past Sunday I was blessed to preach on the Parable of the Persistent Widow and was challenged by the words of Jesus and His answers to help an anxious generation:

“And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Luke 18:1

Because of the finished work of Jesus we have been given the gift of prayer. No matter what set of circumstances or storm we may face we can always go directly to our loving Father. At any time we can knock on the door of heaven knowing He will hear our cry for help and answer us with the gift of His Holy Spirit who gives us His perfect peace.

We live in an anxious generation and it is not just young people but senior saints and everyone in between as well. Our phones and social media feeds just make it worse. But Jesus shows us one spiritual practice which will fill the longing hole in our heart and give us the peace and belonging we are so desperately longing for. Jonathan Haidt does a masterful job defining the problem BUT Jesus gives us the only true answer that will heal the problem.

I have been challenged by both the book and the words of Jesus to “pray always” and fill my needy heart with His presence, which is the only hope for an anxious generation.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7