From our YD OEC Chaplain, Miss Carina…

How often do our kids feel afraid of something? It can be all sorts of things; the dark, animals, being alone, or even unknown situations. These things can cause anxiety and fear that can sometimes be crippling. We are humans with a huge variety of feelings, and it is quite normal to be afraid and scared at times. However, when we do feel afraid, there is good news for us.

In the Bible, we read about Joshua, a man that God ordained as a leader of the Israelites after Moses died. Joshua had the extremely difficult task of leading the people to the promised land- Canaan (Joshua Chapter 1). The bible does not say it openly, but we can assume that Joshua must have been overwhelmed with this task because he knew that the previous leader was a Godly man that led the people of Israel for a long time.

So God said to Joshua: “Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. So don`t be afraid. The Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go” (Joshua 1:9 Children Version).

Joshua then felt very encouraged and, as we read about Joshua in the Old Testament, we can see that God kept his promise to Joshua. Joshua became a great leader and an example of the person of Jesus that was to come in flesh years later.

Some of our kids at YD OSHC Emmanuel College have been memorizing this Bible verse so that when they feel scared, God can remind them of the courage and power that comes from Him. Our desire is that our children grow in the knowledge that Jesus is always looking after them and, even though they are afraid, they can remember that God is with them everywhere they go. There is no promise more encouraging than this- knowing that we are never alone and that Jesus, our Saviour, loves and cares for us.

As we teach our kids these precious words, our hope is that they feel “…peace which transcends all understanding and guards their minds and hearts in Jesus Christ”. (Philippians 4:7)