8 Verses for Hovering Helicopters and Other Unpeaceful Situations

Hovering helicopters!

A day couldn’t get more beautiful than today. Seventy-two degrees, bright sunshine, a tinge of color on the leaves …

But then there’s those hovering helicopters.

I woke to the unfamiliar noise this morning and it was a minute or two before I figured out where it was coming from. Not just one helicopter flying over to check traffic – but multiple copters flying in circles.

The last time this happened was 9/11. All planes were grounded that day, but the hovering helicopters continued over our neighborhood all night.

So this morning I knew immediately that something had happened somewhere.

The news explained. A fire had started in the basement of the FAA facility and a man was “in custody” and taken to the hospital. Planes had been grounded at Chicago’s two main airports and before long, news reports were coming in that this was affecting airports around the country. Now they’re reporting that planes won’t be going out until this evening. The helicopters were surrounding the FAA facility to make sure there weren’t any additional problems.

Another event in our unpeaceful world.

The clubbers we teach live in this world, too, but often it is not the big news’ happenings that bring chaos to their lives, but rather chaos in their own homes. Dad’s lost his job and often comes home drunk, Mom has a boyfriend, big sister is on drugs, big brother is in jail.

We can’t make their problems go away any more than I can make the helicopters stop hovering over the neighborhood.

But I do know the Lord Jesus Christ – the very personification of peace.

That’s what we need to share with the kids.

Here are 8 peace verses to talk about with your clubbers (or your own children).

1. John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Here Christ makes a distinction between the temporary peace of the world and the true peace that He provides. We can rest in His peace and not be afraid.

2. John 20:19 – On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

As soon as Christ entered the room, He said, “Peace be with you.” Christ is the personification of peace. With Him as our Savior we are privileged to experience His peace at all times. (The problem is we often ignore the peace He offers.)

3. Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder,
and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The Prince of Peace is one of Christ’s names. This is a great verse to talk about around Christmas (and all year). One Christmas I taught a group of Sparkies the four names of Christ listed here. We talked about Isaiah living hundreds of years before Christ was born, but yet knowing what was to come – as a true prophet of God.

4. Romans 14:19 – So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

We are to follow after peace, to pursue it. For kids this would mean doing the peaceful things. Here Paul is talking about Christians helping each other to be unified and work together. If clubbers see a bunch of kids fighting at club or saying nasty things about someone else, they should walk away from it and not get involved and tell a leader. They should work at being the peacemaker rather than a peace destroyer.

5. Ephesians 6:15 – and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

Shoes of peace are one of the pieces of our spiritual armor. Kids love learning about the armor. God offers us the ability to “walk” in peace. (This is an especially good verse for kids who live in chaotic homes.)

6. Colossians 3:15 – And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Peace is something that we should allow to rule over our hearts. In other words, we need to let peace be in control of our actions. That’s hard for all of us – not just kids. How often do we give in to worry, or frustration or confusion? We need to be an example for those kids we teach.

7. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

I like the “at all times in every way” phrase. That’s how often God’s peace is available to us.

8: Isaiah 53:5 – But He was pierced for our transgressions;
He was crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with His wounds we are healed.

And of course, the most important fact your clubbers (kids) need to know about peace is that because of the cross, we can have peace with God.