Growing Faith for Young Girls

Today, girls in high school get spammed with messages from social media and from their friends as to how to act, always trying to be perfect, dealing with school, friend drama, and figuring out who they are. Growing Faith for Young Girls by Ella Sparks is a quiet refuge from all this noise. It's an easy-to-follow spiritual guide, combining scripture with real-life teen life. Written like a warm conversation rather than a manual, it acknowledges the feelings and headaches that teens face on a day-to-day basis. As a morning devotional, it is pushing girls to build their faith amidst the contemporary trials of identity, comparison, anxiety, and purpose.

The book succeeds in connecting traditional Bible teachings with the contemporary life of teenagers. Sparks mentions numerous difficulties that girls experience, like overindulgence in social media, being neglected, wishing to be like everyone else, and being lonely when they follow their values. The author reinterprets these struggles through the side of God in both 'Faith and Followers' and 'Beautifully Designed,' chapters in the book. She tells true stories of her daughter, and the lessons feel real and touching. The book is not complex to read and is not overly critical but motivating. Sparks also leads the readers on the same track that she is on.

I like the way the book is arranged: behind every short devotion is scripture, a true story, a reflection, and almost always a way to apply the teachings to day-to-day life. This structure enables adolescents to feel that they have time to develop at the spiritual level despite busy schedules. Sparks effectively teaches girls that faith is a part of all their life, including what they can see online and how they can communicate with their friends. She demonstrates to the readers that God is always present, and his unconditional love is what makes them worthy of being loved by anyone.

Nonetheless, the book could use some more depth, especially for those facing severe issues such as grief, bullying, or other forms of emotional suffering. But these omissions are small in a devotional which otherwise has so much to commend it. To young girls, this book accomplishes what many devotionals fail to accomplish, and it makes them see that they not only need faith in their lives, but that their existence matters as well. It harmonises the message of the gospel with reflections on being a girl in a very earnest, tender and optimistic manner. The book does not require perfection, and reminds teenage girls that they are treasured and that there is a purpose to their existence.

So, I'm all in for a solid four out of five stars. It's ideal for girls who are 12 to 18 years old, wherever they are on their spiritual journey. Moms, youth leaders and mentors seeking to guide young women will find it useful as well. Whether you wish to use it as a personal devotional, an icebreaker for a group, or a bedtime read with Mom or Dad, Growing Faith for Young Girls is an abundance of faith for that critical period of life.