This lesson teaches children that God is our strength and our safe place, even when life feels scary or sad. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how much discussion your class enjoys.
Big Idea
God is always our strong place to run to, and He sees everything we do. Even when hard things happen, we can trust Him because He never stops loving His people.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 16:19
The LORD, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations will come to you from the ends of the earth, and will say, “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, vanity and things in which there is no profit.
(WEB)
Put one hand on your heart, then stretch both arms out wide like a big strong fort. Hold that pose while you say the verse together, and let the children build the fort with their arms each time.
The Story: Jeremiah 16 for Kids
Long ago, God gave a man named Jeremiah a special job. He was a prophet, which means he spoke God’s messages to the people of Judah. The people had turned away from God and were worshiping idols made of wood and stone.
God told Jeremiah not to get married and not to have children. He also told him not to go to funerals or to parties. This was not because God wanted to be mean. God was showing the people that a hard time was coming because they had chosen to ignore Him.
The people began to ask Jeremiah, “Why is God doing this to us?” God told Jeremiah to answer them honestly. The people had forsaken God and followed other gods, and they had not kept His law. Their hearts were stubborn.
But God did not stop caring about His people. He promised that one day He would bring them back home. He said, “I will bring them again into their land.” God knows exactly where every person is, and nothing can be hidden from Him.
Jeremiah also spoke about a time when people from every nation would come to God. They would see that the idols were empty and worthless. Only the LORD is truly strong and is a safe refuge for His people.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 16:17
For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from my face. Their iniquity isn’t concealed from my eyes.
(WEB)
Point out that God sees everything, even the things people try to hide. Explain that this can be comforting, because God knows us completely and still loves us.
Jeremiah 16:14-15
14 “Therefore behold, the days come,” says the LORD, “that it will no more be said, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;’ 15 but, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries where he had driven them.’ I will bring them again into their land that I gave to their fathers.
(WEB)
Show the children that God always keeps His promises. Even when He sends the people away, He promises to bring them back home again.
Jeremiah 16:20
Should a man make to himself gods, which yet are no gods?”
(WEB)
Ask the children to think about what a real god would be like. Help them see that idols cannot help us, but the living God can.
Talk About It
- What is something that makes you feel safe when you are scared?
- How does it feel to know that God sees everything we do?
- Why do you think the people in the story chose to follow idols instead of God?
- What can we do when we feel like we have made a mistake?
- How can we remind our friends that God is our strong place to run to?
Activity Ideas
Build a Strong Tower Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a tall tower with a door and a window. Then have them write or draw the words “God is my strength” on the tower. Hang the drawings where the children can see them during the week.
The Refuge Game
Use a blanket or a sheet as a “fortress” on the floor or grass. Have the children stand a few steps away. When you call out “The LORD is my refuge,” everyone runs to stand under the blanket. Play a few rounds, then talk about how God is always ready to welcome us close.
Take-Home Strength Jar
Give each child a clean jar and some small slips of paper. Ask them to write one way God has helped them, or one time they felt safe with Him, and place the slip inside. Encourage the family to read the notes together at dinner each week and thank God for His strength.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God takes sin seriously, yet He never stops being faithful to His people. Jeremiah’s strange commands were a sign of the coming judgment, and the chapter ends with the hope that God’s name and power will be known throughout the world. Adults can rest in the truth that God is both just and merciful.
With children, avoid overstating the judgment part of the story. Focus on God’s care, His promises, and His nearness, rather than making the sadness the main message. Keep the tone gentle and let the children feel the comfort of God being their strong place.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You for being our strong place to run to. Thank You that You see everything and still love us. Help us trust You when we feel scared, and help us remember that You are always with us. Amen.
