If you’re a parent, pastor, or mentor trying to understand Gen Z, the headlines can feel discouraging. We read about anxiety, disconnection, and young people walking away from church. It’s easy to wonder whether something has gone deeply wrong.

But what if those headlines are only telling part of the story?

After decades of walking with young people—discipling them, traveling with them, praying alongside them—I’ve come to believe something surprising:

I’m more hopeful about Gen Z than the headlines suggest.

Not because the challenges aren’t real.

Not because faith has become easier.

But because I’ve seen how God forms people over time, especially in seasons of uncertainty.

Why the Headlines About Gen Z Sound So Dire

Headlines are designed to capture attention, not to offer perspective.

Every generation looks fragile when it’s viewed in the middle of its formation. When struggle is reported without context, and anxiety without trajectory, the picture becomes distorted.

Gen Z is growing up in a world marked by sustained disruption, cultural upheaval, digital overload, and global crisis. These pressures shape people. They always have. But Scripture reminds us that God has never waited for calm conditions to do His deepest work.

What I See When I Walk With Young People

When I step away from the commentary and walk closely with young people, I see something different.

I see authenticity - They don’t want to play church. They want the real thing. They want to know if God still speaks, still heals, still moves.

I see honesty. This generation is done hiding behind spiritual appearances. They will tell you about their anxiety, doubt, and wounds without pretending they’re fine. They’re tired of Christian language that paints over pain. Instead, they’re learning to bring their brokenness into the light, where healing actually begins.

I see empathy. Many young people remain tender in a world that rewards numbness. They care deeply about injustice, the marginalized, and the suffering of others. That instinct reflects the heart of the Father, who draws near to the hurting.

I see humility. They know they don’t have all the answers—and rather than pretending otherwise, they’re willing to ask real questions. Humility is the beginning of wisdom. It opens the door to deeper conversations about who God is, not just as an idea, but as a Person who can be trusted.

These qualities may not be flashy. They don’t build movements overnight. But they are exactly the kind of soil where real discipleship takes root.

Formation Takes Time—and God Is Patient

One of the mistakes adults often make is expecting finished faith from people who are still being formed.

Jesus spent years walking with His disciples-teaching, correcting, trusting, and staying. Even after the resurrection, they were still becoming who God had called them to be. The same is true today.

Gen Z is not failing.

They are being formed.

And God is patient.

What Gen Z Needs From Us Right Now

Gen Z doesn’t need us to be cool. They need us to be faithful.

They need elders, not entertainers.

They need adults who have stayed through marriage, grief, disappointment, and doubt-and still believe.

They need mentors who know how to listen when God whispers.

They need people willing to call them higher without condemning their immaturity.

They don’t need perfection. They need presence.

A Closing Word

When I look at Gen Z, I see a people God is preparing, not for status or acclaim, but for intimacy, obedience, and courage.

Hope, in this moment, is not wishful thinking. It’s a reasonable response to a faithful God.