It seemed like such a great idea.
To spice up my lesson on David and Goliath I handed kids slings and stale, rock-hard marshmallows. I then climbed up on a chair, asking kids to imagine how David felt facing a giant. Picture Goliath raising that huge spear and snarling in anger, I said. See the hatred in his eyes.
I then roared, daring kids to twirl their slings and let loose their sugary missiles. It takes hours of practice before someone can hit anything with a sling, so I wasn’t worried. As long as I stood still I was perfectly safe.
But apparently Dustin didn’t get the memo. He fired off a rocket that smacked me in one eye and knocked me off balance. I fell off the chair, landing in a world of watery-eyed hurt.
Later, nursing a black eye with a baggie of ice, I was at least grateful I hadn’t blurted out anything awful when I hit the floor. Maybe. I couldn’t quite remember.
It had been a disaster.
Except…
The next week I got extra hugs as kids bounced into the room. They’d loved the lesson and weren’t likely to ever forget that David and Goliath encounter. It was seared into their memories—especially Dustin’s.
You’ve experienced those twists and turns in life, too. And, when you’ve looked back at them, perhaps you’ve seen what I’ve seen: God was working…just not in a way I expected.
God Holds Even the Unexpected
God worked in an unexpected way that Sunday as He transformed my tumble into memorable learning. And He’s still working in ways that take me by surprise.
A sickness turns out to be a blessing as tests reveal a deeper problem that could have slipped by unnoticed. An unexpected bill prompts a friend to reconsider his priorities. The pandemic torpedoes another friend’s career but sets her on a new course that’s both rewarding and helpful to others.
You’ve experienced those twists and turns in life, too. And, when you’ve looked back at them, perhaps you’ve seen what I’ve seen: God was working…just not in a way I expected.
You’re about to help your kids discover God works in surprising ways, and it’s a discovery worth making. Why? Because when kids glimpse God at work in their lives and world they’re reminded that God is—and He’s with them. He’s interested and engaged. He’s paying attention to them and His love is real.
But several things get in the way of kids (and us tall people, too) seeing God at work—especially when He works in unexpected ways. Following are four of those roadblocks and how you can help kids see past them.
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
Roadblock 1: Focusing on rules, not relationship
When our lessons are all about character development or godly behavior, we rob kids of the chance to actually deepen their relationship with God. We spend our time talking about God and what He expects, but not with Him.
Yet until kids get to know God—really know Him—they won’t see His fingerprints on events in their lives.
So don’t let a lesson end without helping kids directly encounter God. Your Wonder Ink lessons always include prayer and worship—two opportunities to usher kids into a dynamic, growing friendship with God. Plus, there are questions that prompt reflection on who God is and what He’s about.
Give those God-encounter activities the time needed to turn kids’ hearts toward their creator. The Holy Spirit uses those moments to reveal God’s nature, and to build a desire to please God.
And once kids know and love God, we won’t have to worry about either their character or their behavior. They’ll be eager to please God and He’ll take it from there.
Roadblock 2: Younger kids often confuse fact and fiction
Let’s face it: a lot of what God does in the Bible is so unexpected it reads like fiction.
A talking donkey. Feeding thousands with a few fish sandwiches. Turning water into wine. Can we fault kids if they think the Bible has lifted a few plot elements from Shrek and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs?
Yet until kids get to know God—really know Him—they won’t see His fingerprints on events in their lives.
Unless we’re intentionally, specifically clear that those unexpected miracles actually happened, kids may assume they’re the work of Pixar, not God.
So do this: When you share something God has done that’s in the Bible, show kids it’s in the Bible. Literally read from a Bible or at minimum hold up a physical Bible. And explain that you consider the Bible to be both true and authoritative, that what you’re teaching is real.
Roadblock 3: We usually talk about God working in past tense
I’ve noticed when I tell kids about God’s working in unexpected ways it’s usually in past tense. Yes, He parted the Red Sea. And created the universe. And made Lazarus walk out of a tomb.
But, kids might wonder, what’s He been up to lately?
Kids might assume God’s retired since miracles all seem to be in the rear view mirror. Why should they expect He’ll show up in their lives now if He closed up shop a couple thousand years ago?
Here’s the fix: Frequently share what God is doing in your life right now. Model what it looks like to see God at work. Your testimony of God’s presence in your life gives kids permission to pay attention themselves.
And if they’re looking, God will show Himself to them.
Roadblock 4: We forget to follow up
God seldom works on our schedule, so kids can easily miss when God is at work in and around them. They ask for help today and if it doesn’t come thundering in within minutes they assume their prayers bounced off the ceiling and went unheard.
When a kid shares a prayer request, follow up in a week or two to see how the situation resolved. Help kids connect the dots so they can see for themselves that God may not have done what they expected when they expected it, but He was present.
Make a pocket notebook and a pen part of your teaching uniform. When you jot down prayer requests you can not only pray for your kids, but you can also help them see God showed up for them.
God will show Himself to them.
When kids see that, their faith takes root. They learn to trust God, to see Him as the loving, involved father He is.
And isn’t that ultimately what you want for them?
I’m past climbing on chairs to impersonate giants—a tumble like that now would probably kill me. But I’ll never be done with being amazed how God works in ways I could never anticipate. He seems to delight in taking me by surprise, find joy in sneaking past my expectations and assumptions.
He knows me well enough to reach me in ways I don’t see coming—and He knows you that well, too.
So watch for Him working in your life…and be ready for some surprises.
