Helping Kids Find Jesus’ Hope in a Broken World
Bible Verse
38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord! Romans 8:38-39
Sometimes we want to make everything seem “okay.” When our kids get hurt on the playground or bump their heads, when finances are tight and we don’t feel like we can afford birthday gifts, and when our children have accidents, we tend to jump straight to the conclusion that everything is “okay.” And sometimes we slip into ignoring problems altogether! But it’s essential to help our kids understand the Biblical view of our broken world and discover the forever hope we, as believers, have in Jesus.
Use these Bible passages and discussion guides while discussing forever hope with your kids.
Acknowledge brokenness Read John 11:1-44. Can you imagine Jesus' sadness when his friend, Lazarus, died? He was so heartbroken that he wept. There are times in our lives when we cry too. Jesus said that in this world, we will face suffering (John 16:33), and that’s a guarantee. Ever since sin entered the world, it has been sick and broken. We see sickness, sin, and death everywhere we go. But we can cheer up because we have one more promise: Jesus has defeated the world! Jesus gave us a glimpse of his power when he miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead, and he showed his ultimate power and authority over sin and death when he rose from the grave.
Building hope Read Romans 5:3-5. If God is good, why do bad things happen? If God could make sickness go away, why are people still sick? If God could make them better, why do loved ones pass away? It’s a challenge for kids and adults to ponder those big questions. The truth is, we don’t know everything. But we do know this: God is good. He is in control. And when we go through challenging times, we can trust that God is helping us build endurance, character, and hope in Jesus that will never disappoint us.
The Promise of Forever Read Revelation 21:1-7. Can you imagine how incredible and beautiful it will be when God lives with us when he wipes away all tears, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain? What will it be like when God makes all things new? Maybe you want to draw what you think it might look like or journal about it. What will it be like? Imagine what it would be like for your family! What will it be like for our world? It’s so amazing that it’s even better than our imaginations!
As parents, it can be challenging to watch our children get frustrated, confused, and heartbroken by the world's sickness, sadness, and heartache. But we can remind them—and ourselves—to “turn our eyes upon Jesus” in those times. As the hymn says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.”
Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article From Hosanna to Crucify Him.
Areo Keller-Donahue
As soon as Areo could pick up a popsicle stick, she was making puppets and putting on plays that shared her faith with her neighbors. Areo grew up with a strong interest in musical theatre and earned her BFA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Areo was led to use artistic gifts to share the gospel with young ones, and she became involved in ministry. She has worked in children's ministry at Redeemer Upper West Side and North Way Christian Community and is currently developing a musical live-action series that celebrates faith and fun. Areo and her husband live in Pittsburgh, where they enjoy spending time with their families and adorable cat, Daisy.
