Jesus promises in John 16 that in this world, we will have trouble. It’s not one of his most popular promises, but one we must remember and acknowledge especially in our day. 

For our young children, the past three years of been wrought with a global health crisis and–depending on how you engaged with said crisis–isolation from their friends and families. And now, they’re seeing pictures and videos of war.

It’s quite a scary time...for them and for us. 

While we can’t shield our children from all suffering, we can shape the way they choose to engage with it. Here are four ways to do this as parents: 

1.    Validate their emotions  

Verbalize to your kid(s), “It’s okay to feel worried. I’m here to listen.” This statement opens the doorway of their heart and mind so they may be filled with truth from God’s Word. 

In a recent Guardian article, psychotherapist Philippa Perry said, “It is natural to want our children to be happy all the time, but we compromise their capacity for happiness when we try to shut down feelings that we might see as undesirable, such as being panicked or worried. Give them your attention and enough space for them to feel heard and for you to normalize their feelings. Your job is to validate those feelings rather than making them feel crazier by telling them they have nothing to worry about.”

2.    Remind them of Scripture

In Discovery Land, we teach our children that God’s Word is trustworthy and true. Reminding our students of what God’s Word says positions them to call on Scripture in times of suffering. Here are three key Scriptures for our kids as they witness suffering:  

• Acknowledge that God loves the world, and He is in control of all things, including what is happening between Ukraine and Russia. (John 3:16)
• Ask them what they have heard or seen and then pray specifically over the situation as a family, instilling a practice of biblical lament (Hebrews 4:16)
• Keep your eyes and mind focused on God's love, wonder, and power through worship music. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Bottom line: the Word of God is trustworthy, true, and essential when we engage with suffering.

3.    Teach Them How to Trust God

Jesus doesn't end his promise in John 16 with just having troubles. He continues: “But take heart, for I have overcome the world.” 

In the original Hebrew, the verb "overcome" is written in the perfect tense, meaning it’s a present and future reality. We can teach our kids to find comfort in the fact that Jesus will have victory over all things. Knowing this, we can do as Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." 

But what does it look like to trust God? Here’s one way: Worship. If your child participates in Discovery Land, here’s a song our kids love. We encourage you to sing this at home with your kids. (Maybe even do the motions with them!) 

4.    Remind yourself of everything you just read

As a parent, it's important that we, too, are rooted and established in Christ. If we are anchored in Christ, we become a safe place and role model for what it looks like to have confidence in our almighty God. Make sure you make space for your own quiet time with the Lord. Be rooted and established in His Word and guided by His Spirit as you parent your child day-to-day. 

We don't always know what's coming next in the world, but as parents, we can prepare well and sew seeds that will reap Gospel-saturated fruit in our children's lives. 

Take heart, parents. Jesus has overcome the world.