This is an object lesson using 2 sticks to share with the children that God always keeps his promises and they should do what’s right and not lose hope. The Bible verses used to reinforce the teaching is Romans 12:12 and Deuteronomy 6:18.
Lesson:
Show the 2 sticks and tell the children you’re going to make a promise. The promise is that you will put these two rulers about 2 feet apart and then jump over both of them. (Place the rulers as described and jump over them.) Move them a little farther apart and promise again that you will jump over both with one jump. (Make sure that you can keep that promise.)
Spread the rulers wide enough so it is obvious you can’t jump over both with one jump. This time, don’t promise to jump over them in one jump, but ask the children what they would think if you made that promise. Would they be able to trust you to fulfill that promise? (Show that you can’t jump that far in one attempt.)
Application:
When I made the promise and the rulers were close together, you had no problem trusting me to keep the promise. When the rulers were too far apart, it would be foolish for me to make a promise to jump both in one jump. Even if I did, you wouldn’t trust me to keep that promise. It makes sense to only promise things that you know you can do. Even then, we sometimes fail to keep some promises. When God makes a promise, though, you can count on it. He will never break a promise, because he can always do what he says he will do.
One of his promises is that God is not against you; he is on your side! He sometimes allows you to go through difficult situations to teach you how to trust him more. He may not always make problems stop, but can give you power to get through them. God says in Romans 12:12 that when problems arise, you and I are to rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation; and continue in prayer.
If you know Jesus as Savior, do what’s right; don’t lose hope. God can give you power to do what’s right just like Deuteronomy 6:18 says. (Read the verse.) When things seem hopeless, trust God and do what’s right. Follow these four steps.
First think: God is on my side! He wants to help me.
Second say: “I will rejoice and be patient through this hopeless situation.”
Next pray: ask God to help you trust in him.
Finally obey: patiently wait for God to work things out.
God always keeps his promises, so you can depend on him to help you.
