In this lesson, children learn that God hears us when we cry for help and lifts us up when we wait on Him. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God hears when we call to Him, and He lifts us out of trouble. We can wait for Him, sing to Him, and trust Him every day.
Memory Verse
Psalm 40:1
I waited patiently for the LORD. He turned to me, and heard my cry.
(WEB)
Ask the children to cup one hand behind their ear, as if listening, and then bring both hands together in front of their chest. Say the verse together while they do the motions, then do it again with louder voices.
The Story: Psalm 40 for Kids
King David wrote a song about a time when he felt very stuck. He had been in a deep, muddy pit, and he could not climb out by himself. Every day he waited, and he kept asking God for help. David knew God was listening, even when he felt alone.
Then God heard David’s cry and reached down to help him. God lifted David out of the mud and set his feet on solid rock. Suddenly, David had a firm place to stand. Before long, God put a brand new song in David’s mouth, and he began to sing and praise God. David said, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.”
David wanted everyone to know what God had done. He told the people gathered together that God is faithful and kind. He said that God’s good plans for us are more than we can count. David knew he could not do everything God wanted from him, but God was always ready to help.
David also prayed that God would not hold back His kindness. He asked God to help him quickly, because he felt surrounded by trouble. Some people wanted to hurt David, but David trusted that God would be his helper and his rescuer. David ended by asking God not to wait too long to help him.
Read It Together
Psalm 40:2
He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He set my feet on a rock, and gave me a firm place to stand.
(WEB)
Point out the three pictures in this verse: a pit, mud, and a rock. Ask the children to act out climbing out of a pit and standing on a rock, so they see how God lifts us up step by step.
Psalm 40:4
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, and doesn’t respect the proud, nor such as turn away to lies.
(WEB)
Show the children that this verse says trusting God makes us happy. Explain that trusting God means we ask Him for help and believe He will take care of us, even when we cannot see the answer yet.
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do your will, my God. Yes, your law is within my heart.”
(WEB)
Point out that David says he delights to do God’s will. Explain that delight means happiness and joy. Help the children see that following God can be something we enjoy, not just something we have to do.
Talk About It
- What did David do when he was stuck in the mud and could not get out?
- How do you think David felt when God lifted him up onto solid rock?
- What is something that you can sing or say to thank God today?
- Who is someone you can tell about the good things God has done for you?
- When you feel scared or alone, what is one thing you can ask God for help with?
Activity Ideas
Rock and Mud Painting
You will need paper, brown and gray paint or crayons, and a few small stones or pebbles. Have each child paint a brown mud pit on one half of the paper and draw a big gray rock on the other half. Let them glue a real pebble onto the rock and talk about how God gave David a firm place to stand.
Lift Me Up Game
Choose one child to be David and have them stand in the middle of the room in a pretend pit made from a folded blanket or a line of tape on the floor. The other children gently call out “Lord, hear us!” while they take turns pretending to reach down and help David stand on a rock made from a cushion. Let each child have a turn to be David so everyone has a chance to feel rescued.
New Song Card
You will need index cards, markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to write or draw one reason they want to praise God, such as a favorite food or a family member. Let them take the card home and sing a short song about that reason at dinner or bedtime, just as David sang a new song to God.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 40 shows that God hears the cries of His people and rescues them in their hardest moments. David moves from waiting, to rescue, to praise, and then back to asking God for help again. The psalm also shows that real faith includes honesty about our needs and our weakness.
Avoid telling children that God will always remove every trouble quickly, because David still had enemies and asked God not to delay. Instead, teach that God is faithful and near to us while we wait, even when the answer takes longer than we would like.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You for hearing us when we call to You. Help us to wait for You with patience and trust. Thank You for lifting us out of hard places and giving us a firm place to stand. Give us new songs to sing about how good You are. Amen.
