Justine Froelker

Our children and youth have an unprecedented amount of stress in their day-to-day lives. Our culture has made it more difficult for them to find places of calm and peace, adding new layers of high expectations, distractions, and sometimes crushing challenges. When 100 Devotions for Kids Dealing with Anxiety by Justine Froelker landed on my desk from the publisher, I dived in. I receive many questions for resources for those with anxiety and I am glad to say that I have a new addition to my shelf of trusted choices.

This devotional is organized into 100 separate days, each with their own Scripture passage printed on the page, a devotion that reads more like a conversation with the author, and the invitation to journal about the reading on pre-printed lines (like a notebook). Each devotion helps the reader connect with different ways that God connects with us and with how we connect with God. They gently guide the reader to find ways to frame, understand, and discuss the anxiety and uncertainty that comes in the day to day for so many of our youth, all from the lens of being tended to by our loving God. (God is always referred to in the masculine in this devotional.) There is an introduction in the beginning to set the stage and help the reader be guided, as well as a section in the back for the reader to jot down extra notes.

There are many different ways this book can be used in ministry. Yes, you can keep it in your library for youth to use independently. It is a good suggestion for those that ask for resources to help those with anxiety. There are several days of devotions that are good reading for all youth and could be used to begin faith formation, youth groups, or fellowship groups. I would also keep a copy to be passed around to faith formation and fellowship leaders for children and youth. The language used in this resource is helpful for adults in understanding some of the ways we can discuss these topics with our youth. It is also helpful for guiding adults through what some of our children and youth experience in their day-to-day lives. This flexible resource belongs in your collection!