This lesson teaches children that they can tell God exactly how they feel, even when they are sad or confused, because God is still listening. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the memory verse and one activity.
Big Idea
God wants us to be honest with Him. We can tell Him when we feel hurt, tired, or scared, and He still loves us and listens.
Memory Verse
Job 6:24
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands together in front of their chest, like they are holding a little bowl, then slowly open their hands outward as they say the words. This shows that we can open our hearts and tell God what is in them.
The Story: Job 6 for Kids
Job was a good man who had lost almost everything. His animals, his children, and his health were all gone, and he felt very sad. His friends came to sit with him, but they did not understand why this had happened. Job was tired and hurting, and he did not know what to say.
In this chapter, Job talked out loud about how heavy his sadness was. He said his pain felt bigger than the sand at the seashore. He said it felt like poison from arrows shot at him, and he felt like food with no salt, which tastes terrible. Job was not pretending to be fine. He told God and his friends the truth about how he felt.
Job’s friends had tried to help, but their words did not make him feel better. Job wished they would be kind to him and listen. He said that when someone is weak and hurting, a friend should show kindness. Job wanted his friends to understand that he was not trying to be rude. He was just hurting and wanted to be heard.
Job asked his friends to teach him and help him understand what he had done wrong, if he had done something wrong. He wanted them to be fair and kind. He even said, “Teach me, and I will hold my peace,” which means he would be quiet and listen if they helped him understand. Job spoke honestly about his feelings, even when they were hard to say.
This chapter shows us that Job did not hide his feelings from God. He brought his sadness, his questions, and his fear right into the open. God knew how Job felt the whole time, and God was still with him even in the middle of the hard story.
Read It Together
Job 6:2-3
2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.
(WEB)
Point out that Job told the truth about how heavy his pain felt. Explain that it is okay to say when something feels too big for us, and that we can tell God the same way.
Job 6:14
“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
(WEB)
Help the children notice that Job wanted kindness from his friends when he was weak. Talk about how we can be kind to someone who is sad or tired, even when we do not know exactly what to say.
Job 6:28-29
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face. 29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
(WEB)
Show the children that Job asked his friends to look at him and be fair. Explain that even when we feel upset, we can ask others to listen to us and treat us with fairness and care.
Talk About It
- What is one thing that made Job feel very sad in this story?
- How do you think it helped Job to say his feelings out loud to God and his friends?
- What is a feeling you have had that was hard to talk about?
- How could you show kindness to a friend who is feeling sad or tired?
- Why do you think God wants us to bring our real feelings to Him?
Activity Ideas
Feelings Heart Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child draw a large heart and write or draw one feeling inside it that they have had before. Let them share their heart with the group and talk about how they could tell God about that feeling. Hang the hearts on a wall or door as a reminder that God wants to hear everything.
Honest Words Movement Game
You need an open space and a small object like a ball or a folded paper. Stand the children in a circle and pass the ball around. When someone gets the ball, they say one true feeling in a whisper, and then the group says together, “God hears you.” This game helps children practice saying their feelings out loud in a safe way.
Take-Home Prayer Jar
You need a clean jar or cup, paper strips, and a pencil. Give each child a few strips and ask them to write or draw a feeling or worry on each one. Encourage them to put the strips in the jar at home and talk to God about one each night. This gives families a simple, fun way to keep being honest with God throughout the week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Job 6 shows that honest lament is a real and faithful way to speak to God. Job does not hide his anguish or pretend he is fine, and the book as a whole shows that God is present with those who speak truthfully in suffering. Adults can learn that bringing raw emotion to God is part of trusting Him, not a sign of lacking faith.
Be careful not to suggest to children that Job’s sadness was caused by any specific wrong they might do or that suffering always has a clear reason we can see. Keep the focus on the comfort of God’s presence and the freedom to be honest with Him.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that we can tell You how we really feel. Help us be honest with You when we are sad, tired, or scared. Thank You that You always listen and always love us. Help us be kind to our friends too. Amen.
