For my elementary-aged self it was the alligator under my bed and the guy hiding in my closet. When my mother decided to calm my overnight fears by putting a nightlight in my room, my imagination ramped up my fright-factor thanks to the shadow that sat menacingly on the wall in the corner. Sure, I had other fears as a kid and maybe a few as a teenager, but nothing compared to the kind of fear so many kids are feeling thanks to the start of another war.
The list of fears our children and teens feel have in recent years have been topped by things like terrorist attacks and war. For those kids actually living in war-zones the ever-present fear they face is absolutely unimaginable to me. Unless we’ve been there, we have no idea. But even though our children and teens might only be seeing and hearing about this latest conflict through the 24/7 news cycle that ramped up just over 48 hours ago, what they are seeing and hearing has fired up the flames of their fear and uncertainty.
What questions have your children and teens been pondering and verbalizing since this latest war began over the weekend? What are they thinking about as, like all of us, they realize that the conflict of now is going to advance with an unknown future? In fact, it’s not just this latest war. All difficult situations and circumstances of life in a sin-torn world leave them wondering. That said, this is the perfect time to gather our families, youth groups, and churches together to view, consider, and navigate the circumstances through the lens of God’s Word.
Life’s difficulties, conflicts, and suffering give us the opportunity to fulfill our high calling to nurture our children and teens in the Christian faith. What we teach them now will help them manage their fears and anxieties both now and for the rest of their lives. And there’s one big truth about life that needs to be taught today: God’s providence.
I want to invite you to click here to get free access to a downloadable resource on how to point kids to God’s providence. Remember: what we teach them now will help them manage their fears and anxieties not only now, bur for the rest of their lives.
Access our free resource on Pointing Kids To God’s Providence.