USA (MNN) — The fourteen-year-old suspect in the September 4 mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia is being held in custody until his next court hearing in December. Next month his case will be presented to a grand jury to decide if there is enough evidence for an indictment.
The attack left two students and two teachers dead. Nine others at the school were wounded. It’s the 45th school shooting this year in the U.S., according to a CNN analysis. It’s a sobering reality for families in the back-to-school season.
“You can’t say, ‘Okay, I won’t be afraid anymore for my kids.’ That’s not real,” says Ron Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries. “But we can deny [fear] the driver’s seat. It doesn’t have to be the source of our decisions that we make with our children, of our attitude, of our conversations.”
Hutchcraft says children today face cruelty from fellow students, lies that are taught in the classroom as truth, and pervasive cultural pressures from media. It’s tempting for parents to respond by trying to control everything for their children, but that’s exactly what we shouldn’t do.
Children today face pervasive cultural pressures from media. (Photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash)
“If I’m afraid as a parent, then I will probably react by pushing harder on my child because I’m afraid. So I’ve got to keep preaching to them and trying to protect them — and in so doing, I’m probably pushing them away,” Hutchcraft says. “I’m going to overreact to things. I’m going to sow fear in my child. There’s no wonder that God says ‘fear not.’”
He points to 2 Timothy 1:7 as a special encouragement for parents and grandparents.
“It says God has not given us the spirit of fear, but he’s given us power, love, and a sound mind. I think that’s the ability to think straight,” Hutchcraft explains. “Fear distorts reality. It makes the problems and dangers bigger and shrinks our faith.”
Instead, parents can help their kids look to Jesus as they deal with challenges at school. It could be as tangible as praying together in a living room chair.
(Photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Laura Ohlman/Unsplash)
“If we can establish in our home a sense of the realness, the closeness of Jesus that they can take with them when they walk out that door, it makes them make different choices, and it’s a tremendous antidote to fear,” Hutchcraft says.
Ask for God’s mercy for the families touched in the Apalachee High School shooting. Pray that God gives Christian parents courage and trust in Him to stand against fear.
5 key scriptures for courageous faith
If you’re a parent looking for a practical next step, Hutchcraft shares five Scriptures to walk through with your child.
- You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14–16
- Cast all your care on God. 1 Peter 5:7
- Take your stand. Ephesians 6:10
- Guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23
- You are God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10
“If they can go armed with those five truths, those are five powerful fear-fighters and [make-a-difference] battle cries,” Hutchcraft says.
Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Taylor Flowe/Unsplash
