Family Discussion: Government Shutdown

The following article is designed to help parents dialogue about a current event with their children. It was written at a 7th grade reading level.

READ

The government is flipping the open sign after the longest shutdown in American history.

After 41 days, on Monday the Senate passed a bill to set the government’s budget (for now). They sent it to the House of Representatives for a vote, where it passed last night. Next, the bill headed to the White House for President Trump’s signature—the final step needed to reopen the government.

Here’s what the bill does:

• Pays the government’s bills through January 30

• Funds services for veterans, military construction projects, Congress, and the Department of Agriculture (including food stamps) through September 30, 2026

• Gives federal workers who were laid off during the shutdown their jobs back

Democrats had been withholding their votes to end the shutdown to try to get more government money for health care. Senate Republicans promised to vote on that separately in December.

In the next few days, Uncle Sam will be paying back his IOUs. Federal workers will get paychecks they missed during the shutdown as soon as possible.

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

Christian hope is never based on a political outcome; it’s much more secure than that. Regardless of whether things get worse or better next week or during your lifetime, everything eventually ends well for followers of Christ.

REFLECT

What might my kids misunderstand about this story?

Words and posture are more important than outcomes. We can celebrate that our lawmakers found a way out of this shutdown, but a vote passing and paychecks going out doesn’t mean all is well. Congress is deeply divided: many Republicans are taking a victory lap, trolling Democrats who caved. Democrats have tension and anger within their party, frustrated with the compromises made.

Believers in Jesus measure success differently. It’s not about earthly outcomes like which way a  vote goes—those outcomes are temporary anyway. Believers are successful when we faithfully represent Christ as His ambassadors in our temporary home, displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-2). If we sin to win, we’re really just losing. If we lose with godliness, we’re winning.

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?

This shutdown was the longest in history… and it felt long. But the reality is that it was 42 days. In the grand scheme of things, that’s hardly any time at all.

A lot of serious suffering can happen in 42 days, don’t get us wrong. But Christians don’t view history with an eye toward our lifetimes—we’re looking toward eternity. Even our longest, most painful seasons are preparing us for something much better that will last much longer.

Our trials are “for a short time,” but the ending is “praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7, CSB). And that glory has no end date.

RESPOND

• Think of a time recently when you “won” the argument or got what you wanted, but you didn’t handle the conflict well. How did that feel? What would you do differently next time? Have you ever lost in a way that felt like a win?

• Memorize 1 Peter 1:5-6, “You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials” (CSB).

• Pray for help in your role as an ambassador: Merciful God, You have called us to be ambassadors for Christ, bringing His aroma to our temporary places of exile. Forgive us for the ways we’ve taken on the world’s scent of decay: caught up in unhelpful debates, puffing ourselves up with knowledge, speaking truth with harshness, or checking out when You would have us lean in. Renew our minds so that we can walk in good paths, pleasing You as we live with godliness and dignity in Your world. Make us wise servants of our cities, seeking the good of our neighbors in the outposts where You’ve placed us. Through Jesus our King, amen.

Credit: Decaf (The Pour Over for Families). "Opening for Business." November 13, 2025.