​How to talk to your children about war

With the situation in Israel and the Ukraine, children may pick up snippets of alarming news from the TV, other children or from overhearing adults. How can we be honest about the situation while also helping to allay their fears?

The news brings up feelings in us all. I think the first step is to ‘put on our own oxygen mask first.’ To spend time praying, reading the Bible, and talking to God about our own emotions. As fear and worry surged up in me on hearing about the events in Israel, a piece of scripture popped into my mind from Matthew 24. ‘And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.’ Matthew 24.6. With 365 pieces of scripture with the phrase ‘do not be afraid’ in, it’s clear that God did not want us to fear. He wants us to know that he is a powerful God, that he is in control. I’ve noticed that the more time I spend in God’s word the less I feel fearful about the future.