This lesson teaches children that they can bring their hardest feelings honestly to God, because God hears them even when they are sad or hurt. It works well for ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God wants to hear the truth about how we feel, even when we are sad, scared, or hurt. We can talk to him about it, and he is always listening.
Memory Verse
Job 16:20
My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God…
(WEB)
Have the children cup their hands together in front of their chest, as if holding tears, then lift their hands up toward the sky slowly. Say the verse together while lifting. This shows that we can bring our sad feelings up to God.
The Story: Job 16 for Kids
Job was a man who loved God very much. He had a big family, lots of animals, and many good things. But then terrible things started to happen to him, and he became very sick and very sad. Job lost almost everything he had.
Three of Job’s friends came to visit him. They sat with him for many days, and they did not say a word at first. But then they started to talk, and they said many things about why Job was suffering. Job did not feel comforted by their words at all. He said to them, “You are all miserable comforters!”
Job told his friends how much his heart hurt. He did not pretend to feel fine. He said that his body was weak, his face was red from crying, and his eyes were dark with tiredness. Job felt that God had worn him out and that his life felt broken into pieces.
Even though Job was hurting so much, he did something important. He did not hide his feelings from God. He cried out to God and asked God to hear him. Job said, “Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.” He wanted someone to hear his pain, and he trusted that God was watching over him from heaven.
Job’s story shows us that it is okay to be honest with God. God does not turn away when we feel sad or angry. Job kept talking to God, and he kept trusting that God knew the truth about him.
Read It Together
Job 16:19
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
(WEB)
Point out that Job believed someone in heaven was watching over him, even though he could not see God with his eyes. Ask the children how it might feel to know that someone who loves them is always watching and listening.
Job 16:16
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
(WEB)
Show the children how Job described his body when he was sad, with a red face and tired eyes. Explain that crying and feeling tired are normal ways our bodies show that our hearts are hurting, and God knows about those feelings too.
Job 16:21
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
(WEB)
Point out that Job wanted someone to stand up for him and help him. Talk about how God is the one who takes care of us and who can help us when people are unkind or when we feel alone.
Talk About It
- What is one feeling you have had that made you want to cry?
- How did Job’s friends make him feel, and what could they have done differently?
- What do you think Job wanted God to do for him?
- Where can you go to talk to God when you feel sad or scared?
- Why do you think God wants to hear about our feelings, even the hard ones?
Activity Ideas
Tear Drop Prayer Card
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child draw a face showing a feeling they have had, like sad, worried, or hurt. Then have them cut out a small paper teardrop and glue it to the face. Talk together about how we can bring these feelings to God in prayer.
Stand Up and Speak Up
Ask the children to stand in a circle. Call out feelings like “sad,” “tired,” or “scared,” and have the children act out each feeling with their body. After each feeling, have them put their hands on their heart and say, “God hears me.” This game helps children learn that God listens to all of their feelings.
Feelings Jar at Home
You will need a clean jar or cup and some small slips of paper. Place the jar in a special spot in your home. Each day for a week, invite your child to write or draw one feeling on a slip of paper and drop it into the jar. At the end of the week, read the notes together and pray over each feeling, reminding your child that God knows every one of them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Job 16 shows a man in deep grief who is frustrated with friends who offer hollow explanations. Job speaks with raw honesty to God and does not hide his pain, which teaches us that faith can include lament and hard questions. Adults can take comfort that God welcomes honest speech in the middle of suffering.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that they should always feel happy or that every sad moment is caused by sin or by a specific cause. Keep the focus on the simple truth that God hears us, without trying to explain all the reasons for hard things.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for listening to us when we feel sad, tired, or scared. Help us to tell you the truth about our hearts, just like Job did. Thank you that you are always near and always ready to hear us. Amen.
