This lesson teaches children that God is a good guide who shows us the right way and forgives us when we ask. It is written for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is good, and He will show us the way to go. When we make mistakes, we can ask Him to forgive us, and He will help us learn to follow Him.
Memory Verse
Psalm 25:4
Show me your ways, the LORD. Teach me your paths.
(WEB)
Put one hand flat on your heart, then point forward with your finger, as if you are following a path. Say the verse together while you point, and ask children to do the same each time they hear it.
The Story: Psalm 25 for Kids
King David wrote this song to God. He felt lost and worried, and he had enemies who were being mean to him. David did not want to be tricked or made to feel ashamed, so he turned to God and said, “I trust you.”
David knew he needed help. He told God, “Show me your ways. Teach me your paths.” He was asking God to be his guide, the way a good leader shows a child the right road home. David knew that God is kind and fair, and that He teaches people who are humble.
David also knew that he had done wrong things in his life. He asked God not to remember the sins of his younger days. He said, “Forgive me, for I need you.” David did not pretend he was perfect. He simply trusted that God is loving and would forgive him if he asked.
David felt heavy and sad. His heart was full of troubles, and he cried out, “Turn to me and have mercy on me.” He was tired and afraid, but he kept saying, “I wait for you.” Even in hard times, David kept looking to God, the way a child keeps looking for a parent in a crowd.
At the end of the song, David remembered that God was not only his friend but also the rescuer of all of God’s people. He prayed, “Redeem Israel, God, out of all his troubles.” David ended his song by trusting God to help everyone who needed Him.
Read It Together
Psalm 25:8-9
8 Good and upright is the LORD, therefore he will instruct sinners in the way. 9 He will guide the humble in justice. He will teach the humble his way.
(WEB)
Point out that God is described as good and upright. Explain that He teaches people who are humble, meaning people who know they need help. Ask children what it feels like to be taught by someone who is kind.
Psalm 25:16-18
16 Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses. 18 Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.
(WEB)
Show children that David was honest about feeling lonely, afraid, and sad. Explain that God wants to hear our honest feelings and that He cares when we are hurting.
Psalm 25:6-7
6 The LORD, remember your tender mercies and your loving kindness, for they are from old times. 7 Don’t remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions. Remember me according to your loving kindness, for your goodness’ sake, the LORD.
(WEB)
Point out the words “tender mercies” and “loving kindness.” Explain that God remembers His love for us, and that when we ask Him to forgive us, He does not hold our past mistakes against us.
Talk About It
- What is one way God shows us the right path?
- How do you feel when someone is willing to teach you something new?
- What do you think David was feeling when he wrote, “Turn to me, and have mercy on me”?
- Why is it good to say sorry to God when we make a mistake?
- Who is someone in your life who helps guide you, and how can you thank them?
Activity Ideas
Path Maze Drawing
You will need paper, crayons, and a pencil. Have each child draw a winding path from the bottom of the page to a house or tree at the top. Along the path, have them draw small pictures of ways God guides us, like a Bible, a friend, or a helper. Talk together about how God leads us step by step.
Follow the Leader Walk
Clear a space in your room or yard. Choose one child to be the leader, and have everyone else follow closely, copying their movements. Pause the game now and then to say, “God shows us the way, and we follow Him.” Switch leaders several times so every child gets a turn.
Guide Card for Home
You will need an index card, markers, and a hole punch with a piece of yarn. Help each child write “Show me your ways, Lord” on one side and draw a footprint on the other. Punch a hole in the corner, tie on the yarn, and encourage them to hang it on their bedroom door as a reminder to ask God for guidance each morning.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 25 is a prayer of trust in the middle of hardship. David acknowledges his sins, asks for guidance, and affirms that God’s character is faithful and merciful. The psalm is also an acrostic poem in the original Hebrew, which shows that the writer was carefully expressing his whole life before God.
With children, avoid overstating the idea that God only guides people who never make mistakes. The psalm is about humble people who need help and who ask for forgiveness, so keep the focus on God’s kindness rather than on how good we are.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we trust you to show us the way. Teach us your paths, forgive us when we do wrong, and help us wait for you each day. Thank you for being kind and good to us. Amen.
