A cry amidst the clutter

My Facebook page is littered with meaningless content. Every time I check it, I’m forced to scroll through numerous posts from people griping about the weather, posting pictures of their food or updating me whenever they leave their house. If you’re on Facebook as well, you can probably relate.

I was scrolling through my Facebook page recently and nearly missed a small block of text that stopped me dead in my tracks when I read it: “I see only one way out ... who would cry if I took it?” I opened up this student’s particular page and began to read through the content there. There were several recent comments relating feelings of depression and loneliness. I felt my heart begin to break for this young man as I saw the desperation he was expressing.  

Due to the nature of my job, I’m friends with a lot of young people on Facebook, and while I wish I could say this was the first time I’ve encountered something like this, it’s not. Unfortunately, it won’t be the last. Young people today are carrying around a tremendous amount of pain, and they often don’t know where to go with it. They feel alone and they feel desperate. And while it’s true that they may say things in an attempt to gain attention, the reality of the situation is they are hurting and need our love and support.

I’m thankful to be part of a place where we work really hard to make sure every kid knows that they are loved and cared for, and not just by our staff and volunteers. We want them to know that God cared enough to create them in a unique and specific way, and that He gave His own Son so that they could know Him.

So, I said a quick prayer and responded to the post, and I’m hopeful this young man will give us a chance to show him that he is loved and cared for. Please pray for this young man and the many kids like him who so desperately need to know the truth -- our doors and hearts are open to them.

I also encourage you to be aware of the young people God has placed around you. It’s important that we listen to them and make sure they know how much we care, and how much more God does.

Ryan Underwood is the executive director of Head of the Lakes Youth for Christ & The Encounter. He can be reached by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by telephone at (218) 722-9820, ext. 11.