This lesson teaches children that God comforts His people the way a loving mother comforts her child, and that He keeps His promises even when things look hopeless. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including a short story, a few questions, and a quick activity.
Big Idea
God is our Creator who cares for us. When we feel sad or scared, God comforts us like a mama holds her baby, and He always keeps His word.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
(WEB)
Put your arms across your chest like you are giving yourself a big hug. Rock gently from side to side as you say the verse together. Each time you rock, say “God comforts me” out loud.
The Story: Isaiah 66 for Kids
Long ago, God spoke through a prophet named Isaiah. God wanted the people to know that He is bigger than anything they could build. He said, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” Nobody could build Him a house big enough to hold Him.
God also said something very special. He looks with love at people who are poor and who feel sorry for their mistakes. He wants them to tremble at His word, which means they take His words seriously and respect Him. The people who truly listen to God are the ones He cares for most.
Some of God’s people had been pushed away by others. Those people said, “Let the LORD be glorified, so we may see your joy.” But God said that those who hurt His people would be the ones to feel disappointed in the end. God is always fair, and He takes care of His own.
Then God told the people about a happy promise. He said that Jerusalem would be like a mother with a new baby. Her children would be safe, fed, and full of joy. He said, “As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you.” God promised to hold His people close and make them feel safe again.
God also said that a time would come when people from many countries would come to worship Him. They would bring gifts to Jerusalem and learn about God’s glory. God promised to make a new heaven and a new earth that would last forever.
Read It Together
Isaiah 66:1-2
1 The LORD says, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest? 2 For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but to this man will I look, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
(WEB)
Point out that God is so big that the sky is His throne and the earth is His footstool. Then show children that God looks with special care at people who are humble and who truly listen to Him.
Isaiah 66:10-11
10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”
(WEB)
Ask children to notice how the people are told to rejoice and be glad together. Explain that God’s comfort feels like a warm, full, happy meal for those who are hurting.
Isaiah 66:22
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,” says the LORD, “so your offspring and your name shall remain.
(WEB)
Point out that God’s promises last forever, even longer than the heavens and the earth. Remind children that they can trust God to keep His word for them every single day.
Talk About It
- How does it feel when someone holds you close and comforts you?
- What is one thing God made that you think is amazing, and what does it tell you about Him?
- Why do you think God cares so much about people who feel sad or sorry?
- What can you do this week to comfort a friend who is feeling sad?
- How can you remember that God keeps His promises even when things are hard?
Activity Ideas
Comfort Heart Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have children trace and cut out a large heart, then decorate it with colors and drawings of things that make them feel safe, like a blanket, a pet, or family. Write “God comforts me” across the middle of the heart and let them take it home to remember God’s care.
Mama Hug Movement Game
Gather the children in a circle and have them stand in a row. Call out simple actions, such as “reach up high like the heavens” or “crouch low like the earth.” When you call “comfort,” children give themselves a gentle hug and say the memory verse together. Keep the pace light so children stay engaged and giggling.
Comfort Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pen. Each day for a week, invite your child to write or draw one thing that made them feel comforted by God or by family. Place each slip in the jar, and read them together at the end of the week. This helps children notice God’s faithfulness in everyday moments.
Teacher Notes
Isaiah 66 speaks to a people who had suffered and felt rejected, and God answers them with a vision of future renewal. For adults, the chapter shows that God is both the sovereign Creator above all earthly places and the tender comforter who gathers His people. It also points forward to a new creation where God’s faithfulness is fully displayed.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the chapter’s harsher warnings or going into detail about judgment and the fate of the wicked. Keep the focus on God’s comfort, His care for the humble, and His promise to keep His word.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are bigger than the whole world and still care for each of us. Help us to feel Your comfort when we are sad or scared, like a child held close in a loving arms. Help us to trust Your promises and to share Your comfort with others. Amen.
