Published on: 21/04/2026
When you think of Children and Young People, whether as a parent or minister/volunteer, I am sure you would never think of “Conflict” would you! This is an interesting time to think about this theme, the world situation is certainly having an impact on our young people, wondering if they will be “called up to fight in the military”, while worrying about exams or mocks coming up and thinking about what’s next in terms of apprenticeship, sixth form or university. The world seems a strange place at the moment to adults, no wounder our young people are going through all sorts of emotions over and above the normal teenage stresses that I am sure most of us had about cleaning your room, or waking up on time, falling out with friends or even washing the dishes!
Over the past year or so I have been working with our young people as they recover from a knife attack in their school, sometimes conflict explodes into much more than shouting “I don’t want to do that” to a much more physical and a lasting damage causing reaction that no one could have foreseen.
Then there is the conflict between faith and society, should I say those words as a Christian or watch that film or drink that drink. How about what we read on social media, when is it ok to ‘like’ a post or engage in a conversation and when is it best to scroll past and not get involved?
Fortunately we have some guidance in Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV) that says:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
God is a loving God, when we get things wrong as we often will do, God will forgive us. If we are a parent who has perhaps over-reacted to a situation with our children, a teenager who has looked at something unhealthy on the internet or a child who has had a temper tantrum in the supermarket again.., God is ready to say, my precious child, I love you and forgive you. Eventually our kids will forgive us too, as a youth worker who perhaps didn’t take their stress seriously enough or a parent who shouted a bit louder than then meant to – they will also forgive us as they know we care for them. May God help us in the conflicts of life.
This week’s Blog post was written by Adam Woodhouse, Centenary Project Worker, St John’s Owlerton