Dear Ticked Off:
I admire your spiritual thirst. But please keep in mind that not everyone is on the same track you are. Many teen girls are interested in what’s fashionable; and that’s great. In fact, it’s normal to want to know what’s in style around you and to want to look your best. You can be interested in these things without becoming obsessed about them.

We usually cover fashion once a year. I don’t feel that’s too often for a teen girls’ magazine. Brio is aimed toward Christian teen girls, but that doesn’t mean each page will have only spiritual content. We also enjoy covering what’s relevant and giving a Christian perspective to it.

Pray for us, OK? We truly want Brio to be God’s vehicle to reach as many teen girls as possible. We can’t please all 200,000 subscribers; but really . . . we’re only trying to please an audience of One.

Dear Susie:
I’m not very popular in school. I fight with my parents, and I feel as though my life is totally worthless. You’ll probably tell me to pray or read the Bible, but how can I get rid of the constant tears and hopelessness? I want to have a positive self-esteem and feel good about myself!
Hopeless

Dear Hopeless:
Yes, I do want you to pray and read the Bible. Know why? Because a big part of healthy self-esteem comes from a strong, growing, intimate relationship with your heavenly Father. Popularity is fleeting. Arguments come and go. But a strong relationship with God is something concrete. It’s something you can depend on.

Take a peek at Psalm 139 — the entire chapter. Read it. When you’ve finished, read it again. Then choose a verse to memorize. Make it your goal to memorize the entire chapter by Thanksgiving.

Why?

Because there’s so much power in the Word of God. And the more you apply it to your life and actually believe it, the more it will change your thinking.

Are there specific things you and your parents fight about over and over? Or are you simply fighting about everything? If you’re not able to communicate with them without fighting, consider putting your feelings in a letter to them. Learning to communicate in a civilized way is a must if you’re going to get along as a family.

You state that you’re not very popular at school. Do you have friends at church? Are you plugged into a youth group? Are you a member of a Bible study? I’m hoping there are Christian teens around you with whom you do feel comfortable with and can be friends.

As you probably know, low self-esteem often comes from feeling insecure. I think by saturating yourself with Psalm 139, you’ll realize how valuable you are in God’s eyes. He loves you more than you can even comprehend. Ask Him to help you bask in that love and learn to love yourself as He loves you.

God wired us for relationships. You may already be reading your Bible and have a strong relationship with Christ, but perhaps other people are stomping on your self-esteem. That’s not your fault. Again, ask God to teach you how to see yourself through His eyes, so you won’t put so much stock in what others think.

And by the way, the Brio staff loves you, too!

Dear Susie:
I was on the Internet today and read some of your other “Dear Susie articles.” You said that wearing jeans isn’t a sin. I disagree with that. I like wearing pants, but I wear them only when I’m doing an activity that requires it.

I don’t think girls should look like boys, though some people will say just because a girl wears pants doesn’t make her look like a boy. The pants made for girls today are tight and show so much figure that it can be dangerous. I don’t want to offend anyone by this e-mail, and I have nothing against you, Susie. I just disagree.
Frustrated With Susie

Dear Frustrated With Susie:
I’m glad you shared your thoughts with us. I agree that it can be hard to find fashionable styles that aren’t suggestive, but it’s not impossible. I see more Christians dressed appropriately and stylishly than I see Christians dressed inappropriately.

We’ll just have to “agree to disagree” on whether wearing pants is a sin. That doesn’t necessarily mean one of us is wrong and the other is right. It means that we interpret this issue differently. And that’s OK. Sharing varied opinions, while still loving each other, is part of what makes the body of Christ so exciting!