This lesson teaches children that God is good and stays close to His people, even when unfair things seem to happen. Children ages 5 to 11 can learn it in about 20 to 30 minutes, and the story works well for a Sunday school class or a family devotion.
Big Idea
God is always good, and He never leaves the people who trust Him. Even when we feel confused or jealous, we can run to God and find Him close by.
Memory Verse
Psalm 73:28
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord the LORD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
(WEB)
Put your hands on your heart when you say “God is good.” Then reach both arms up high, as if you are running into God’s arms. Do the motion together three times so the words stay with you.
The Story: Psalm 73 for Kids
Long ago, a man named Asaph wrote a song about something that bothered him. He looked around and saw bad people doing bad things and getting rich and comfortable. He felt angry and jealous, and his feet almost slipped. He began to wonder if being good was even worth it.
Asaph noticed that the wicked people seemed to have no trouble at all. They were proud, they said mean things, and they acted as if God did not even see them. “Does God even know what is happening?” they asked. Asaph felt sad and confused, and he could not understand why things looked so unfair.
Then Asaph went into God’s house, the place where people come to worship Him. There he began to think about the future. He saw that those who are far from God are set on slippery places and will not stand firm forever. God does not let anyone get away with doing wrong forever.
Asaph realized something important. He said to God, “I was like a foolish animal, but you still hold my right hand.” God had been with him the whole time. God would guide him and take him to a good place in the end. Asaph learned that God was all he really needed.
So Asaph made a happy decision. He said, “It is good for me to come close to God.” He chose to stay near God, to trust Him, and to tell everyone about all the wonderful things God has done. That is the choice Asaph made, and it is a choice we can make too.
Read It Together
Psalm 73:1
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
(WEB)
Point out that God is good to those who are pure in heart. Ask the children what it means to have a pure heart, and explain that it means wanting to love and follow God with all of our hearts.
Psalm 73:23-24
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. 24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
(WEB)
Show the children that God holds our hand, even when we feel lost. Explain that God guides us with His wise counsel and welcomes us into His glory at the end. Let them hold their own hand and talk about how God holds ours.
Psalm 73:25-26
25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(WEB)
Point out that God is the strength of our hearts when our bodies and feelings get tired. Ask the children what they want most in the world, and remind them that Asaph said God was the thing he wanted most.
Talk About It
- What made Asaph feel jealous when he looked at the people around him?
- How do you think Asaph felt when he went into God’s house, and what helped him feel better?
- What did God do for Asaph even when Asaph was foolish and confused?
- Why do you think it is good to stay close to God, even when it is hard to be good?
- What is one way you can tell someone about the good things God has done for you this week?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Hand Holding God’s Hand
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Have each child trace their own hand on the paper, then draw a second hand reaching in from the side. Write Psalm 73:23 on the paper together with the children, and let them decorate the hands with bright colors. Explain that God is always holding on, just like the hand in their picture.
Slippery Feet and Solid Ground
You will need a large sheet of paper, a marker, and a few pieces of tape. Draw a path of slippery spots on one side of the room and firm ground on the other. Have the children walk across the room while you call out “slippery” or “firm,” and encourage them to hop safely onto the firm spots. Remind them that the firm ground is where people who stay close to God are standing.
Take-Home Prayer Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper strips, and a pen. Ask each child to write one thing they want to tell God about or thank Him for, then fold it and place it in the jar. Encourage the family to pull out one paper each evening and pray about it together. This helps children remember that God is close to them every day.
Teacher Notes
Psalm 73 is honest about how it feels to watch unfair things happen and to wonder whether faithfulness pays. Asaph does not pretend to feel calm at first. Adults can see that God meets people in the middle of their confusion, and that worship and time with God bring clarity that rules and appearances cannot. The psalm points toward God’s faithfulness and a future that He holds.
With children, avoid promising that good people will always be rewarded with money, health, or easy lives in this life. The psalm speaks of God’s presence and His final justice, not guaranteed comfort now. Focus on the truth that God is with His people and guides them, and let the rest be something they will understand more deeply as they grow.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are good, and thank You that You hold our hands. When we feel jealous or confused, help us come close to You. Help us tell everyone about the wonderful things You have done. Amen.
