5 Faith Phrases Your Family Needs For School

When I worked in Kids’ Ministry, our team would encourage families to bring in new school supplies to donate to families in need. We’d watch the pile of backpacks, notebooks, and pencil boxes expand until the path in the lobby grew almost too narrow to navigate. Then we’d gather and pray for the children who’d receive each item. We rarely knew the kids’ names and circumstances, but God knew. And our prayer always ended with the hope that each child would come to know Him, too.

Through prayer, those school supplies became a tether to Him, an invisible line connecting those kids to the Father. As Christian parents, we can send our kids into their school day connected to Him, too. Of course, school prayers offer a solid foundation, but so can giving our kids one or two simple phrases they can carry with them like armor. Words they can whisper to themselves in the cafeteria, during a test, or on the walk between classes.

Pick one or two of these phrases and claim them for your family. These words can remind your kids that God’s love, provision, and protection travel with them wherever they go. Talk about them on the way to school or in the morning, include them in bedtime prayers, and send them as midday text messages to your older kids. It’s a small but mighty way to keep your family connected to Him and each other.

1. “God’s got you.”

School life is full of unexpected moments, and as parents, we can’t shield our kids from every challenge. But we can remind them: God’s got you. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Or simply put, God’s got you.

God knows what the day holds for everyone involved. He knows about that pop quiz, the hurt feelings at lunch, and the homework left on the kitchen table. (Ugh.) In those moments, “God’s got you” becomes an anchor, reminding your kids that they’re never facing anything alone, no matter how overwhelming it feels in that moment..

2. “You’re not alone.”

Even surrounded by peers, teachers, administrators (and the bustling noise of the school day), kids can feel lonely. When your children feel scared, overwhelmed, or worried, these three words remind them that God keeps His promise in Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”

“You’re not alone” tells your kids that God is with them. And during those vulnerable seasons when kids feel like they don’t fit in (especially during middle school), this phrase serves as a quick reminder that their identity and worth are found in the God who claims them as His own. They are children of the King.

3. “Breathe and trust.”

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us not to be anxious about anything but to present our requests to God with thanksgiving. This super simple phrase makes that truth accessible, like when your child feels overwhelmed by a presentation, worried about a test, or stressed about a conflict with friends. The “breathe” part helps them physically calm down, while “trust” redirects their focus to God’s peace. I encourage my kids to use this phrase as part of a breath prayer like this:

Inhale: “Jesus, I trust You.”
Exhale: “Give me Your calm.”

4. “You are chosen and loved.”

Your kids are chosen, handpicked (and created) by the God of the universe. Make sure they never forget that. And, He loves them infinitely more than even you. So, when your child’s confidence gets shaken, whether from a bad grade, a mean comment, or feeling overlooked or left out, this phrase speaks directly to their true identity in Christ. They are chosen by God and loved beyond measure, regardless of their performance or popularity. This phrase grounds them in the unchanging truth of God’s love.

5. “Be the light.”

This one is our family’s go-to phrase. It started in elementary school when my girls would unbuckle, pull on their backpacks, and lean over to open the car door. “I love you. Be the light,” I’d tell them with a smile. Now, as teens, it’s a phrase my husband and I say to them as they open the garage door to drive themselves to high school.

Jesus calls us to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14), and He doesn’t put an age restriction on that either. Scripture doesn’t say, “You are the light of the world when you graduate high school or turn 21.” We become His light when we choose Him as our Lord and Savior, whether we’re 5 years old or 50.

So, what if your children knew their school assignment for the day wasn’t just math and reading, but showing Jesus to their classmates? Whether it’s asking the new kid to play during recess, helping a friend who’s struggling with Chemistry, or choosing kindness when others don’t, “Be the light” empowers them to show Jesus to their world.

Making These Phrases Your Own

Start with one phrase and incorporate it into your daily use during the school year. Let your family get comfortable with it before adding another. Write it on sticky notes in lunch boxes, create a family text thread for midday encouragement, or include it during dinnertime prayers.

Other phrases to consider as your family grows in this practice:

• God sees you.

• Trust His timing.

• God has a plan and a purpose.

• Be courageous.

• Look for Jesus.

Find the one (or ones) that speak to your family’s heart and your children’s current season. You don’t need perfect timing or ideal circumstances to speak truth into your child’s life. For families, ministry happens in those often mundane moments, through simple words that remind our kids that God’s love travels with them wherever they go.