Peer pressure is a phenomenon that takes place and affects people of all ages. Although it happens more often amongst young individuals it still has it’s toll on all ages. The company we keep and engage with will often wield a significant influence over us. We have to understand that peer pressure is a social dynamic that many people will encounter. With environments such as school, university, work and even family this chapter will be one to take in as this is something that many of us may continue to experience.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the concept of peer pressure, it can be described as:

“The inclination to conform to the behaviors and actions of individuals within one’s age group and social circle, in order to gain acceptance and respect”.

Reflecting on our own experiences, as we progressed through life, there were numerous instances where we gave in to peer pressure. At the time, we didn't perceive it as such; rather, we believed we were just doing what everyone else our age was doing. It seemed normal and was often regarded as a part of the process of "growing up."

However, as we advanced in our spiritual journey with Christ, we came to the realization that our actions were misguided. We had allowed our surroundings and in doing so, we compromised our values and the commitments to fulfill for the Kingdom of God.

When we give our lives to Jesus we are told to be the light in the world. Light and darkness cannot mix. God separated us for a reason and the sooner we realise our purpose the easier it will be for us to walk in his presence and do his will.

The Consequence of Peer Pressure

In Corinthians 15:33-34 we are warned very clearly about peer pressure:

“Do not be misled: ‘bad company corrupts good character.’ come back to your sense as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God - i say this to your shame”.

This verse has been perfectly put. We have to understand that God has foreseen circumstances like this and has warned us what it may do to us and our integrity if we allow it to overcome us.

Throughout our years of development, the majority of us can relate in some way that peer pressure has always had some type of hold or effect on us. We often feel the need to impress because we enjoy the feeling of being liked, loved and accepted. Being loved and appreciated is a thing we all long to feel, and even relates to God’s commands.

God calls us to love one another because love does amazing things, it brings joy and happiness even in our darkest moments. As Christians, we have to be able to differentiate between the love that our flesh seeks and the love our spirit seeks.

• The flesh desires a type of love that only satisfies us momentarily and does not care about the damage it will cause in the long run.

• Our spirit longs for a love that can satisfy us forever and that can only come from the love of God, a unique love that will never run out or fall short regardless of our mistakes.

We understand that we are not perfect and we will make mistakes today, tomorrow and most likely for the rest of our lives, but we have to notice these mistakes that we make and limit them. Seeking validation from others can sometimes come at a cost, a cost that has the ability to compromise our morals and corrupt our thoughts to the point we have abandoned God’s will. We understand that we can often do these things subconsciously and we don’t mean to go against him, but we have to remain in his presence to overcome such difficulties.

To combat this it is vital that we assess whose approval we live for. We do not live to please man but only God and that means we must go against people’s wishes that go against God. We are sure of this because of Galatians 1:10, where it says:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ”.

How to Deal with Peer Pressure

God set aside words for situations like this, to remind us to keep our focus on him to avoid evil doings.

• Proverbs 4:26 - “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways”

• Proverbs 4:27 - “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil”

These verses are just a few of many contained in Proverbs. The book written by King Solomon is a book that focuses on wisdom and the need for discipline. King Solomon was renowned for his wisdom, which was granted to him by God.

The Bible describes an incident where Solomon was visited by God in a dream and given the opportunity to ask for anything he desired. Solomon asked for wisdom to govern the people of Israel, and God granted his request, making him one of the wisest men in history. Thankfully, he wrote a lot of his wisdom down for us to read today.

We would highly recommend this book to get a more in-depth understanding of God’s desire for us and why he wants us to avoid getting drawn into sin. We are sure that you can conclude from the verses above that God emphasises for us to stay focused on him and to be alert to these types of situations.

Applying This in Real Life

Now, you are probably asking yourself: “How do I apply these instructions in real life?”

Firstly, if we look back at Proverbs 4:27 it talks about keeping our foot from evil. From our experience growing up, we would always ask other Christians or search online what is regarded as evil in the eyes of our Lord. The most common search that we typed into Google was…

“Is it okay to do …. As a Christian”.

But little did we know the answer was already available to us. When you accept Jesus into your life you are gifted with the Holy Spirit, who will teach you all things. A lot of Christians forget that this is God himself, who is there to guide and assist us.

That feeling you get inside you that questions the actions you are considering is confirmation from God. He did not gift us with his spirit for decoration but for guidance, a gift of his everlasting presence. When we are aware and alert to evil it is easier to avoid.

Another tip that can assist you, is to avoid environments and situations where you know temptation can arise. By doing so, you avoid the battle removing the chance of confliction between the flesh and spirit. Sometimes it is best to just avoid situations that we know will be hard to fight and resist.

Within this life, you may have people question your loyalty and love for God because of the things you struggle with. Do not let them get to you. We all struggle with something whether it is behind closed doors or a clear problem known to people, everyone has battles. Alone we can do nothing and if we hope to fight and succeed against temptation alone we will surely never be successful. We need the guidance of God.

Jesus says in Matthew 19:26-27:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”

More confirmation in regard to the use of the Holy Spirit for guidance can be found throughout the book of Psalms. Specifically, Psalm 139:7-10 says:

“Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there,
if I rise on the wings of dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there you will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast”.

God is always there, He has blessed us with his presence, never forget how much he loves you and wants to help you. The world we live in today is intense, and we are often told that we have to bend to society’s will in order to fit in.

This causes us to forget or even suppress what our creator wants us to do and how to behave, but we have to remember, God’s way is always the right way. He is in the past, present and future and ultimately knows what is best for us.

We have to put our faith in him and trust that he is God and has the best intentions for us. God knows how evil this world is, he understands that we will go through hardship and struggles and knows that Satan will be there waiting for us at our vulnerable moments.

Although this may sound intimidating we have to understand that we are children of God and he has equipped us for times like this.

The Armour of God

Ephesians speaks about the Armour of God and how we can prosper against darkness. If you have your Bible close by we recommend reading the whole of Ephesians 6 and really thinking about the different aspects of the armour of God in your own time (the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God).

In verses 10–11, it says:

“Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Put on the full Armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes”.

How We Use the Full Armour of God Against Peer Pressure

• THE BELT OF TRUTH: Put on the belt of truth by knowing and standing firm in your beliefs and values. Be honest with yourself and others, refusing to compromise your integrity and holding to the truth of the Word of God.

• THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Peer pressure can tempt you to engage in unrighteous actions or compromise your moral standards. Wear the breastplate of righteousness by making choices that align with the Word of God.

• THE SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: Let the peace of Christ guide your decisions and interactions with others, even when you are facing the pressure of others, knowing that the peace given to you by Christ is enough.

• THE SHIELD OF FAITH: Use your faith as a shield to deflect and extinguish the fiery darts of peer pressure. Trust in God’s guidance and promises, knowing that He is with you and will help you make wise choices.

• THE HELMET OF SALVATION: Remind yourself of your identity as a child of God, secure in your salvation and the grace that God has given you.

• THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT: The Word of God is a powerful weapon against peer pressure. Equip yourself with knowledge and understanding of Scripture. Seek wisdom from God’s Word to discern what is right and make choices that honour God.

Being Christ-like

We understand how powerful people are and their ability to influence our choices and morals. This is why we suggest that you seek to spend time with those who will have a positive impact on you. Communion with other Christians is extremely powerful; we are told in Galatians 6:2:

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ”.

By surrounding ourselves with other Christians they can help us draw closer to Jesus and perform healthy habits rather than bad ones. Once we understand how our environment and friends have a significant impact on our lives and journey with Christ, we will be able to take action to grow our relationship with him.

Remember, it is not him who distances himself from us but it is us who distances ourselves from him.

As believers, it is vital that we also check our hearts when we are being pushed into situations that do not align with our new given nature.

Our New Given Nature

By new given nature we mean that we are born again and our spirit is now changed through Christ. What does this mean? Well, it essentially means that our spirit is changed and we can now see things more clearly, to the point we can identify what is wrong and right and can now deal with situations with a more Christ-like mindset.

We no longer agree with our old and fleshly desires and now have clean Godly desires. For reference, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!”

We figured that some of you may be thinking “Does this mean I should be completely free from sin and perfect?” Although many people will assume this is the case, the answer is no.

As long as we are still bound to our flesh, the temptations to please others and ourselves will still be there. Our flesh will still and always will desire the wrong things. Our spirit is made new, not our flesh and that is the reason why we will still struggle despite our knowledge and loyalty to God.

Jesus does not expect perfection as it is impossible for us. Only Jesus is perfect thus why he was worthy enough to take the punishment of our sin. What Jesus expects from us as his children is to strive for perfection and to follow his teachings because that itself is enough to be a difference in the world.

He died for the sinners and not the righteous so remember, when you fall pick yourself back up again, learn from your mistakes and ask Jesus for guidance.

Practical Tips

Before we finish this chapter we thought we would give you some practical tips in dealing with peer pressure effectively.

If you find yourself facing peer pressure, it’s important to take proactive steps:

• If you feel the pressure building, remove yourself from the situation before it becomes more difficult to resist.

• Find a quiet place to pray and seek strength and wisdom from God.

• Reflect on your reasons for not giving in to the pressure and reaffirm your commitment to your values.

• Take time to read your Bible and stay in God’s presence, allowing his word to guide and strengthen you.

• Imagine Jesus standing beside you and consider whether he would approve of your actions.

• Practice saying no confidently and assertively.

• Surround yourself with friends who share your values and will support you in making positive choices.

• Avoid situations where you know you may face strong temptation.

• Recite and meditate on biblical verses that will remind and inspire you in moments of peer pressure.

By implementing these strategies, you can navigate peer pressure with greater confidence and integrity.