Shalom, My Peace
Israel was in one of its darkest seasons. Because they had turned away from the Lord, He allowed their enemies to oppress them for seven years. Their crops were stolen, their livestock taken, and they were forced to hide in caves. Fear and scarcity filled the land.
Gideon wasn’t on a battlefield when God called him; he was hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in secret. He felt small and confused about why this suffering had come.
Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to him.
When Gideon realized he was in the presence of a holy God, he was terrified. In the Old Testament, to see God face to face meant death. But instead of judgment, Gideon encountered peace, encouragement and guidance from God!
“But the LORD said to him, ‘Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.’ Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. (YHWH Shalom)”
Judges 6:23-24
This devotional reminds little ones to always be thankful and follow God. The Israelites forgot Him, and life became very hard. Even then, God did not leave them. He came near to Gideon, gave him peace, and miraculously used him to save His people from the enemy. God is our peace, even when we are afraid or forget.
Engage:
As you read Judges 6 with your little one, help them step into the story:
“Close your eyes and imagine you are Gideon. You are hiding in a dark winepress, trying to stay safe from the enemies who have stolen your food and scared your family. You feel small and worried. Not only are you afraid of what might happen, but suddenly God appears right in front of you! You don’t understand how someone like you could help save all the people. How would you feel if God chose you for such an important job?”
Remind your little one: Gideon was scared and hiding, but God came near and gave him peace. God didn’t just bring peace after the battle. He was peace in the middle of it.
Apply:
Talk about how the Israelites turned away from God and faced hard times at the hands of the enemy. Explain that sometimes when we make wrong choices or forget God, there are consequences, not because God stops loving us, but because our actions have results.
For example, if we are mean to a friend, don’t listen to our parents, or ignore God, it can lead to hurt feelings, arguments, or problems at school or at home.
God still loves and helps us: Even when the Israelites struggled, God didn’t leave them. He came to Gideon, spoke peace to him, and used him to save His people. Remind your little one that even when things go wrong, God loves us so much that He can stop the enemy’s plans and help us.
For example, if we feel scared, lonely, or in trouble, God can give us courage, comfort, or send angels to help us. That can sometimes look like a parent, friend, or teacher.
Trust and follow God: Encourage your child to follow God and make good choices, knowing that God is with them. Just like Gideon, even when they feel small or unsure, God can give courage and bring victory in ways they may not expect.
For example, they can trust God when trying something new, helping someone, or doing the right thing even when it feels hard.
Repeat & Reinforce:
“Gideon’s Victory Trumpet”
Make your own trumpet like Gideon’s soldiers! Decorate a paper roll and march around while blowing or tapping it, remembering that God can use even small tools and small people to do big things!
“Peace that finds you”
One child hides like Gideon; another is the Angel who finds them and says, “Peace! God is with you!” Feel God’s courage and comfort come near.
“Courage Steps”
Lay down a “fear path” with tape or rope. Kids walk carefully along it, pretending the enemy is around them. At the end, step on a “God’s peace” marker and say, “God gives me courage!” showing how God leads us safely through scary times.
“Shalom Banner”
Create a banner and trace the word “Shalom.” Lift it high to celebrate God’s peace, courage, and victory, just like He gave Gideon.
Closing Thought:
Just like Gideon, and many other heroes of the bible we may feel small, scared, or unsure, but God is always with us. He gives peace, courage, and victory when we follow and trust Him. Remember, God is YHWH Shalom, the Lord our peace!
I’ll leave you with this 3 min video “Shalom” from the Young David Series.
For even more hands-on fun, pair this mini-devo with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Shalom Activity Sheet
Bring the story of Gideon and the peace of God to life with this engaging 2-page printable! Designed for preschoolers and early learners, these activities blend essential skills like letter sequencing and counting with meaningful faith-based lessons.
Page 1: The Alphabet Maze & Shalom Prayer: Guide the boat to calm waters by coloring A-Z in order. Includes a "Shalom" tracing exercise and a sweet, short prayer for little hearts.
Page 2: Gideon’s Count & Color A hands-on way to explore Gideon’s story! Children follow the coloring guide for shofars, torches, and jars, then practice math by counting and recording the totals.
DAVID | "Shalom" | Now Streaming | Brandon Engman | Angel
