Thousands of children across America will attend church camps or Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer where they will be taught Bible stories and many faith-based concepts.
As Christian parents, we want to lay a strong foundation of spiritual education in the beliefs, attitudes, and actions of our kids. But how can we teach young children such large, abstract concepts—such as God’s faithfulness?
Children are concrete thinkers. This means reality to them is based more on what they experience through their senses than that of abstract thinking.
When we teach younger kids intangible concepts—such as faithfulness—it helps to connect them to real, physical occurrences they’ve seen, touched, tasted, etc…
I’ve listed a few examples below, but feel free to substitute these with circumstances from your own home life:
God is faithful to care for our daily needs.
You might communicate this concept to nature, which young children love to be part of. Talk about a Bible verse from Matthew chapter six—relating to God’s provision—such as, “Look at the birds of the air, that do not . . . gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they” (Matt. 6:26)? God provides food and shelter even for birds that live outdoors; He certainly will take care of our needs, too!
God is faithful to calm our fears.
The next time your daughter expresses anxiety about something, discuss a previous experience with this type of concern. What was she afraid of last time? Were her fears confirmed? This type of conversation will give her a reference point to think about as you try calming her down. A great Bible verse that could help in this situation is: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You” (Ps. 56:3). This verse gives us the promise that when we’re afraid, we can believe with certainty that the Lord will help us in our fearfulness.
God is faithful to help with our family life.
Sometimes kids get caught up worrying about situations happening at home—with issues between parents, or other relatives. They may overhear parents talking about financial or marital concerns, and then take those issues on for themselves. A Bible verse that brings comfort and hope to children is found in 1 Peter 5:7 where it explains: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” Casting our anxiety is like throwing a big, heavy saddle over the back of a strong horse. The horse can take that load plus more with no problem; he’s ready and willing to hold it! It’s similar with God; He promises to carry our daily concerns so we don’t have to. Children need reminded that they can pray silently to God anytime they, or family members, need help—through the nighttime, daytime, or even when they’re apart.
Remember to share your own experiences of trusting in God’s faithfulness with your children. They’ll enjoy hearing your personal stories of challenge, and how excited you are that God is helping you through every situation!