This lesson teaches children that they can talk to God honestly, even when they feel sad, worried, or confused, because God listens. It is best for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God wants to hear the real feelings in our hearts, even the hard ones. We can be honest with Him because He always listens, and He is always faithful to us.
Memory Verse
Psalm 39:7
Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.
(WEB)
Have children cup both hands together in front of their chest, like holding something precious, and then lift them up toward the ceiling as they say the verse. Do this together a few times so the words and the motion stay together in their minds.
The Story: Psalm 39 for Kids
There was a man named David who loved God very much. One day he was surrounded by people who did not follow God, and he decided to be careful about what he said. He told himself, “I will watch my words so I do not sin with my mouth.” So he stayed quiet, even about good things, and he kept his feelings locked inside.
But the quiet did not help him feel better. His heart grew hot inside him, and his sadness got bigger and bigger. Finally, he could not hold it in anymore, and he began to speak. He said, “Lord, show me how short my life is and how weak I am.” He felt like his days were only a few handprints long, and that he was like a breath that disappears.
David felt tired and small. He saw people chasing things that never last, like shadows that run away when the sun moves. He felt sad that they worked so hard for things that would not matter forever. Then David turned his heart back to God and said, “Lord, what am I waiting for? My hope is in You.”
He asked God to forgive his wrongs and to help him when people were unkind. He also told God how heavy his heart felt, saying in his own way that he felt crushed and could not stand up under the trouble. He admitted that God was the one who had allowed these hard things to come, and he felt the weight of that.
At the end, David cried out, “Hear my prayer, Lord! Do not stay silent when I cry.” He told God that he felt like a stranger in the world, just passing through, the way his family had before him. He asked God for strength to keep going, because he did not want to give up.
Read It Together
Psalm 39:1-2
1 I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.” 2 I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good. My sorrow was stirred.
(WEB)
Point out that David first tried to be quiet and careful with his words. Explain that trying to hide our feelings from God does not make the feelings go away, and that God already knows what is in our hearts.
Psalm 39:4
“The LORD, show me my end, what is the measure of my days. Let me know how frail I am.
(WEB)
Show children that David talked to God about how short and fragile life feels. Explain that bringing big questions to God is a way of trusting that He is near and that He cares about us.
Psalm 39:12
“Hear my prayer, the LORD, and give ear to my cry. Don’t be silent at my tears. For I am a stranger with you, a foreigner, as all my fathers were.
(WEB)
Point out the words where David asks God not to stay silent when he cries. Remind children that God hears them when they cry, and that they never have to pretend they are fine when they are not.
Talk About It
- What is one thing that makes you feel sad or worried sometimes?
- Why do you think David decided to stay quiet at first?
- What did David do when his heart got too heavy to keep inside?
- How can you tell God something that is hard for you to say?
- What does it feel like to know that God listens to you every time?
Activity Ideas
Heart Feelings Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a big heart and fill it with colors or shapes that show a feeling they have had, whether happy, sad, or worried. Let them share one picture with the group and say a short sentence like, “God hears me when I feel this way.” Hang the hearts on the wall as a reminder.
Hand Widths Game
You will need a piece of string or yarn about two feet long and a few chairs. Have children stand in a line and take turns measuring a short length of the string with their hand widths, one hand after another. Talk about how David said his days were like hand widths, and remind them that life is short but God is always with us. Then let children move around the room and stop when you say “breath,” to act out how a breath comes and goes.
Prayer Card to Take Home
You will need index cards, a marker, and a rubber band. Have each child write or draw one honest thing they want to tell God on one side of the card, and the words “God hears me” on the other. Encourage them to keep the card in a pocket or a backpack and read it at bedtime. Explain that they can tell God anything, even the hard things, just as David did.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 39 shows that honest prayer includes lament, the raw expression of grief, frustration, and fear before God. David does not hide his despair, yet he returns again and again to hope in the Lord. The psalm models a faith that is not afraid to bring pain into the presence of God.
With children, avoid overstating that God will always remove our sadness immediately. The psalm does not promise a quick fix, and David still feels heavy at the end. Focus instead on the truth that God hears us and stays near us through the hard times.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that we can tell You everything in our hearts. Help us to be honest with You when we feel sad, worried, or confused. Thank You that You always hear us and that You are with us every day. We trust You, and we love You. Amen.
