God’s grace and compassion can be hard to comprehend, not only because it is hard to extend this kindness to others, but also because it can be difficult to receive this kindness for ourselves. 

• Do you ever have a hard time showing grace to yourself? Tell about that. (Accept all reasonable answers. Some teens will struggle with this more than others. Some may describe themselves as perfectionists. Others may lie awake at night replaying their mistakes in their mind. Others may deprive or punish themselves for things they think they’ve done wrong.)
• What sorts of negative labels do you give yourself or hear from others? (Accept all reasonable answers. Labels may relate to looks, ability, smarts, status, mistakes, or circumstances. It may help for you to share some of your own here—especially ones you heard at their age.)
• How would it change your life to label yourself as forgiven instead? (Accept all reasonable answers. It might mean having more grace to give oneself another chance after a mistake. It might mean freedom to talk or pray about issues rather than hide them. It might mean a greater capacity to extend compassion to others.)

God is always there for you with forgiveness. This week, remind yourself of this by repeating our memory verse every day. Pick a time or times throughout the day to say or read the verse—first thing when you wake up or before you fall asleep, or at times when you feel tested or burdened in some way. Encourage your teens to write it somewhere that they will see several times a day—on a mirror, in a locker, or set it on their phone’s home screen along with a frequent alarm reminder to re-read/memorize. Evaluate whether this changes your actions or attitudes. Look for opportunities to share this message or a measure of grace with others. 

Close in prayer.