This lesson teaches children that God is a safe place to run to when they are scared or in trouble, and that He is faithful from the very beginning of their lives until the end. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, with time for a story, a verse, a discussion and one simple activity.
Big Idea
God is our safe place. We can run to Him when we are scared, and He will never leave us, even when we grow up or grow old.
Memory Verse
Psalm 71:3
Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
(WEB)
Place both hands on your chest, then hold them out in front of you like a strong wall. Say the verse slowly while you make the wall, then bring your hands back to your chest to show that God keeps you close.
The Story: Psalm 71 for Kids
A man named David wrote this song to God a long time ago. He was not sure what would happen next, because enemies were talking about him and wanted to hurt him. Some of them said that God had forgotten him.
David knew better. He had trusted God since he was a little boy, and God had been there the whole time. So David ran to God like a child runs to a parent for help. He said, “God, please hurry and help me!”
David remembered how God had cared for him from the very start of his life. He remembered the good things God had done. Those memories made him feel brave, so he decided he would keep trusting God no matter what.
Even when David grew old and his strength got weak, he still wanted to tell others about God. He wanted children and grandchildren to know how good God is. David said he would keep singing and praising God all day long.
Ask the children, “Where do you go when you feel scared?” Then tell them that David went to God, and God was his strong place to hide. David sang songs with his harp so that everyone could hear how thankful he was.
Read It Together
Psalm 71:1-3
1 In you, the LORD, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed. 2 Deliver me in your righteousness, and rescue me. Turn your ear to me, and save me. 3 Be to me a rock of refuge to which I may always go. Give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.
(WEB)
Point out the words “refuge” and “rock.” Ask the children what a refuge is, and explain that David was saying God is like a safe hiding place, strong enough to keep him from harm.
Psalm 71:5-6
5 For you are my hope, Lord the LORD; my confidence from my youth. 6 I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you.
(WEB)
Show how David says God has been his hope since he was young, and even since before he was born. Let the children hear that God has been with them for their whole life too.
Psalm 71:17
God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works.
(WEB)
Point out that David says God taught him when he was young. Explain that children can learn about God now, and that God is ready to teach them too.
Talk About It
- What is something that makes you feel safe when you are scared?
- How can you tell that God is your safe place even when you cannot see Him?
- Who has helped you learn about God, and what did they teach you?
- What is one thing you can tell someone about how good God has been to you?
- Why do you think God wants us to keep trusting Him as we grow up and grow old?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Safe Place
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a picture of a place where they feel safe, such as a fort, a tree or a cozy bed. Then write or draw a small heart on the picture to show that God is their safe place. Let the children tell the group about their picture.
Rock Fortress Game
You will need a few soft pillows or a blanket and an open space. Set the pillows up as a fort in the middle of the room. Call out “Run to the rock!” and have the children run into the fort. Each time they arrive, have them say, “God is my rock and my fortress.” Repeat the game a few times so the children learn to run to God when they are scared.
Safe Place Card
You will need an index card, a marker and a small piece of tape or a magnet. Help each child write “God is my safe place” on the card and draw a small rock or house. Encourage them to put the card somewhere they will see each day, such as on the refrigerator or by their bed. This reminds the whole family that God is always near.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Psalm 71 is a prayer of an older person who has trusted God for a lifetime and asks for continued help. It shows that faith is not only for times of strength but also for times of weakness and aging. The psalm also reminds us to keep telling the next generation about God’s faithfulness.
Avoid promising children that God will always remove every trouble from their lives. David faced real enemies and real pain, and the psalm points to God’s presence and help within trouble rather than a guarantee that trouble will never come.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You are our safe place and our strong rock. When we feel scared, help us run to You. Thank You for being with us since we were little, and help us keep trusting You as we grow. Help us tell others how good You are. Amen.
