You can't understand it. Your best friend has asked you to a party. Everyone you know will be there, but your parents...! Your parents won't let you go because they've heard about the parties held at this house and they don't like what they've heard. Or maybe your parents won't give you unlimited car permission. No one else's parents seem concerned. Everyone else's parents seem a lot cooler than yours.

How do you cope when the answer you want to hear is not the answer you get?

1. Take a deep breath.

Chances are both you and your parents need to do this. Remember that your parents need to answer to God for how they raise you. Their love for you is likely reflective of their love for their Savior.

2. Take stock of the situation.

Are your parents trying to protect you from the influence of Satan? Are they trying to protect you from making a split second decision that might have life-long or eternity-long consequences? You may not agree with their decision, but try to appreciate their reasoning.

3. Respectfully and honestly talk about it.

Parents are used to being in control of your life. They were probably there when it started. Remember that they are adjusting to your new independent life-style. With any change comes adjustment. Perhaps you can come up with a compromise. Perhaps you can not. No matter what, your parents are working out of love. Your love for your Savior will help you to accept their decisions.

4. Jesus' forgiveness and love heals all wrongs.

Maybe you have disobeyed your parents, gone behind their back, abused their trust. You may even have gotten away with it - kinda. Jesus sees everything. It's worth risking your parents' anger to get it off your chest. If you don't, your sinful nature may talk you into going even further and trying something more daring next time. There's a better reason to speak up. Once sin is out in the open and apologized for, forgiven (God's and your parents') can be given and received.

Although parents may be upset with what you've done, they still love you. They really do appreciate openness and honesty. These feelings are essential to trust building.

5. Build their trust.

You are growing up - fast. So fast, it makes your parents' heads spin. It angers you when your parents treat you like a child and yet to them that is what you are. You are their precious gift from God.

You want your parents to trust you. Trust has to be built up. Even though there are times you still don't get the answer you want, you can do some things to help you gain your parents' trust you and prove to them you are growing up.

For more on this, check out these trust building ideas.

Laurie Starr is a wife, teacher, and mother of two teens and a preschooler. She lives in Lake Orion, MI with her family.