God’s Peace to Make Tough Decisions

February 17, 2024

Throughout the Bible, people have given many names to God. Sometimes, they were given in response to something God had done; other times, they were to describe who he is. Sometimes, God describes himself with his own name. In this month’s devotion and parent blog series, we’ll discuss four names of God (Father of Compassion, I AM WHO I AM, The Lord is Peace, and The Righteous God), think about how each name describes God, and how that name helps us understand the attributes that we should also aspire to have.

With how our world is today, people have become hesitant to stand up for their beliefs. We sometimes compromise doing what is right without realizing it because we try not to offend or upset anyone else. But God wants us to remember that we are not alone. He will give us the courage and peace to speak up for what is right when the time comes. This is true for our children as well as us. The story of Gideon is an excellent example of a young person who is faced with a tough decision to trust God and save his people. Here are a few lessons from Gideon to teach your children how to experience God’s presence and peace.

Everyone is faced with hard decisions. As adults, we sometimes forget that even children have difficult choices to make in life. Their decisions may not look like ours, but that doesn't make them any less difficult. The first step is talking with our children beforehand and giving them the tools to know what to do. You can begin talking with your child about challenging situations they may face with friends, in school, or on the playground.

God’s promises are true for everyone. We know that the Word of God is for everyone. However, children may think that they only apply to adults. Spend time reading the Bible together, discovering the promises of God. Discuss what the promise means and how it could apply to their lives. Use some of the examples previously discussed with your child about tough decisions. Help them connect the dots between the challenging situations they may face and the promises of God that will help them make those decisions.

God’s peace is available to everyone. Just like his promises are true for everyone, God's peace is available to everyone. All of God's children, regardless of age, have access to his peace. Teaching our children that they can have peace and how to recognize the sense of peace is critical for them to make big decisions for themselves and others.

As you discuss these lessons, share an example of a tough decision you once made. Explain to your children what promises of God helped you. Help them understand the sense of peace you felt when you knew God was leading you to do the right thing.

Our trust and recognition build as we mature in our faith. Daily habits of Bible reading and prayer also help develop that recognition. It may not happen right away, but we will be faced with a “mighty warrior” Gideon moment at some point. His story is a wonderful lesson to teach us about trusting God to do the right thing at the right time.

Want to dig deeper? Check out Family Fire’s article Standing Firm in Faith: Facing Fear.