I'm not doing very well in high school, and I want to drop out. My parents are against this, but I have a friend I can move in with and he says he'll help me get a job. How can I persuade my parents to let me do this? It's not like I'm going to run away or anything. — S.J.

If you and I could sit down and talk, I would do everything I could to persuade you to stay in school—and not just to stay in school, but to do your best while you're there.

One reason I'd urge you to do this probably is the same reason your parents have given you: Dropping out of school is an almost certain formula for failure. Only the lowest paying jobs will be open to you—not just now, but for the rest of your life. And as our society becomes even more complex, the demand for people with education and specialized skills will only grow. Your parents love you and don't want to see this happen to you. And neither should you.

But I have another reason for saying all this. Not only do your parents love you, but God loves you—and He has a perfect plan for your life. He gave you your gifts and abilities, and life's greatest joy comes from using them for His glory. Don't waste the abilities He has given you!

Instead, turn to Jesus and ask Him to come into your life—and He will. Then ask Him to help you take advantage of the opportunities He has given you, both through school and in other ways. Most of all, seek His will for your future. The psalmist's experience can be yours: "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence" (Psalm 16:11).