"I need to grow up and mature before God will really use me or answer my prayers."
How it sounds in your head: Your prayers probably don't count as much as adult prayers. God listens to pastors and parents, not kids. You need more Bible knowledge, more experience, more... something. Maybe after confirmation or baptism you'll be spiritual enough.
"But the LORD said to me: 'Do not say, I am a youth, for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.'"
-- Jeremiah 1:7Religion - creating hierarchy and process where Jesus created immediate access. Making relationship with God transactional based on maturity.
Adults pray longer prayers with better words. You mess up all the time. You don't understand half the Bible. How could God take you as seriously as He takes grown-ups who've walked with Him for decades?
Called as a prophet while still young, argued he couldn't speak well. God touched his mouth and sent him IMMEDIATELY to speak to nations and kingdoms with no training period.
I REFUSE the lie that God is waiting for me to mature before He uses me. IT IS WRITTEN that God told Jeremiah 'do not say I am a youth' because age and maturity are irrelevant to calling. I have been given the righteousness of Christ as a GIFT, not as a goal to achieve over time. IT IS WRITTEN that I come BOLDLY to the throne right now, not cautiously later. I am a branch in the Vine, and the sap of Heaven flows through me at eleven years old exactly the same as it flows through missionaries at fifty. The BARAK blessing makes me the head and not the tail TODAY. My prayers shake Heaven because I pray in Jesus's name, and that name has no power curve based on my age.
The Father isn't waiting for you to grow up spiritually. He's holding you like the prodigal, placing the ring on your finger RIGHT NOW while you're still figuring things out, because sons have full access regardless of how long they've been walking.