When Children Fear The Classroom: God’s Protection in a Violent World

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Psalms 91:11 KJV  *”For the Lord shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. ”    *Note: Corrected spelling of online source.”

Understanding a Child’s Fear

As parents, it’s heartbreaking to watch our children live with fear when school should be a safe place for learning and growth. Sadly, fear is very real for many children today:

• Anxiety and Panic: Younger children (ages 2–9) are especially vulnerable to anxiety and PTSD. Even just watching media coverage of a school shooting can trigger lasting fear and panic (Time, 2022).

• General Worry: Among adolescents, nearly 75% report some worry about school violence, and 20% are very or extremely worried (PMC, 2024).

• Bullying-Related Stress: In one large study, 71% of students reported experiencing bullying, and those bullied had up to 18 times higher odds of anxiety, with higher risks of PTSD, depression, and sleep problems (arXiv, 2023).

These statistics remind us that even if a child has not directly experienced violence, the fear of it can weigh heavily on their heart and mind.

A Counselor’s Encouragement for Parents

Child psychologists and family counselors consistently recommend practical steps for helping children manage fear after exposure to violence. These suggestions are based on research in child psychology and trauma care (American Psychological Association, National Association of School Psychologists).

Here are five proven steps:

1. Listen First: Let your child share their feelings without interruption. Simple words like, “I hear you, and I understand why you feel scared” validate their emotions.

2. Reassure Safety: Calmly explain the safety steps their school and family take to protect them. Avoid overwhelming details; focus on what helps them feel secure.

3. Pray Together: Encourage your child to invite God into their fear. Remind them of Psalm 91:11 (KJV): “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Children find peace in knowing God has angels watching over them.

4. Model Calmness: Children take their cues from parents. When you demonstrate faith and calm in the face of fear, it helps them feel steadier.

5. Limit Media Exposure: Shield young children from repeated images or stories of violence, which can increase anxiety.  

 

A Story of Courage

In 1 Samuel 17 KJV, David was just a young shepherd boy facing a giant everyone else feared. His courage came not from weapons or armor but from trusting God’s protection. Parents can remind children that, like David, they can be brave not because the world is safe but because God is bigger than their fears.

 

This Editor’s Testimony

When my daughter was in school, we prayed together every morning until she graduated. At first, she rode the public school bus, but it was chaotic. I decided to make her a car rider instead. Every morning on the drive across town, we held hands and prayed The Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 91. The ride was long—sometimes an hour in the evening because of traffic—but it gave us peace, and I was grateful she could attend an excellent school.

Those prayers made a difference. Like many schools, hers had its share of bullying. A few boys in the “No Child Left Behind” program gave her trouble. She handled it with grace, but one persistent bully also targeted her friend. His reputation for causing problems was well-known. After letters, phone calls, and two visits to the principal’s office, he was suspended for three days—and the bullying stopped.

Sadly, not every parent had the same outcome. One frustrated mother, after getting no response from school officials, confronted a bully directly. That encounter turned physical, and police were called. The story even made the local news.

The truth is, we can’t control everything in the world outside our home. But what gave me strength was releasing my daughter daily into God’s care. I trusted Him to protect her when I could not. Over time, she grew more confident, not only because of her own courage but because she knew her mother prayed with her and that God was with her.

Faith does not mean parents stop being alert or taking action. It means that after doing what we can, we stand on the assurance that victory belongs to the Lord.

 

Reflection Question — Let’s talk. Answer the question below in the comment section or on our social media pages.

🙏🙏💕💕🙏🙏How can you pray and prepare your heart so fear does not control your thoughts when your loved ones are away from you?

 

                                     Psalm 23 KJV  The Lord’s Prayer  (1611 original KJV with edits for spelling)

 

 Psalm 91  1769 KJV Version  (1611 original version with updated spelling)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

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Romans 10:17 KJV  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

A CALL TO SALVATION:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Romans 10:9-10  ⁹That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.

  John 3:5-6  ⁵Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷