God is Here
A lot of the “Sunday school songs” that are used with children, as well as the stories we read with them, are, well, happy. But children have the whole range of feelings that we adults do. They feel fear, nervousness, excitement, relief, anxiety, joy, and every other feeling we can think of. And they need to know that being happy isn’t the only way to please us and God. Their emotions are from God - God is always there, no matter what they feel. And the love of God is bigger than any situation they are in. God’s love is stronger than their fear. In this week’s Bible story, the disciples are afraid of the storm. Even during their fear, Jesus was there. And when he calmed the storm, the disciples were able to see that Jesus was even stronger, even bigger, than the storm.
Read It
Mark 4:35-41 35
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- NRSV
Mark 4:35-41 35
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- NRSV
Do It
1. “God was there”: Look at pictures of events for your family that represent a range of emotions - the birth of a baby, times of illness, storms, times of death, a family vacation, a church Christmas program. Talk about what is going on in the pictures, and how your family felt at those times. At the end of each, repeat the phrase, “God was there.”
2. Making Faces: Go to a big mirror in your house. Take turns naming emotions. Make faces (or use your whole body) to show those emotions. Holding the position/face, say together “When I’m (insert emotion) God is here!” This one can get pretty silly, and that’s okay!
3. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” - Do this old Sunday School favorite with a twist. Thanks to our 4-year-old’s Sunday school teacher, we have a new version of this song. Instead of “clap your hands,” she sings, “God is here.” Sing the song with any feeling you can think of - “If you’re scared and you know it, God is here,” etc.
1. “God was there”: Look at pictures of events for your family that represent a range of emotions - the birth of a baby, times of illness, storms, times of death, a family vacation, a church Christmas program. Talk about what is going on in the pictures, and how your family felt at those times. At the end of each, repeat the phrase, “God was there.”
2. Making Faces: Go to a big mirror in your house. Take turns naming emotions. Make faces (or use your whole body) to show those emotions. Holding the position/face, say together “When I’m (insert emotion) God is here!” This one can get pretty silly, and that’s okay!
3. “If You’re Happy and You Know It” - Do this old Sunday School favorite with a twist. Thanks to our 4-year-old’s Sunday school teacher, we have a new version of this song. Instead of “clap your hands,” she sings, “God is here.” Sing the song with any feeling you can think of - “If you’re scared and you know it, God is here,” etc.
Pray It
God, thank you for being so big, bigger than our fear, bigger than storms, bigger than the times that we’re sick, bigger even than our happiness. Thank you for always being here, loving us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God, thank you for being so big, bigger than our fear, bigger than storms, bigger than the times that we’re sick, bigger even than our happiness. Thank you for always being here, loving us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Extras
A helpful explanation of children’s fears
Talking with your children about feelings
A rather cheesy, but fun and surprisingly helpful youtube song about feelings
A helpful explanation of children’s fears
Talking with your children about feelings
A rather cheesy, but fun and surprisingly helpful youtube song about feelings
