Big Feelings
WELCOME TO WEEK 2
What emotions do you often experience? Happiness? Sorrow? Sadness? Joy? Safety? Disappointment? Some of these emotions can be deep and heavy things to feel. We may not always want to share all of these feelings with every person we know, but we can always share our feelings and emotions with God. He is big enough to handle even your biggest emotions. This week we will see Job share his emotions with God.
BIBLE STORY
Hold up an emoji card and have your child come up with a sentence that matches the emoji’s emotion.
Those were a lot of emotions for those emoji’s! Some of those statements are ones we’ve used in our really life too. Maybe we’ve been sad we weren’t picked first. Maybe we were excited to see a friend we haven’t seen in a long time. We all have big and strong emotions that God created in us. We sometimes think God only wants to know about our happy feelings and not when we are sad or angry. But God is big enough to handle our big emotions. God can handle our cries, our sorrow, and even when we are angry! Job had a lot of feelings after he lost everything including his health. He had a lot of emotions and a lot of things to say. God listened to all Job had to say and did not get angry with the emotions Job displayed. Let’s read on in the Bible to see what Job had to say about his situation that God listened to.Read or listen to the scripture I Kings 10:1-9
Let’s read the Bible story for the week Job 23:1-7
What was Job’s complain of God’s hand? (It was heavy)
What was Job doing? (Groaning to God)
Did Job say he knew where to find God? (No)
Where did Job want to go to find God? (To God’s dwelling place)
What did Job want to do with God? (State his case argument)
What did Job want to hear from God? (Hear God’s answer and consider what God would say)
How did Job think God would respond to him? (God would not press charges on Job)
What did Job hope to establish before God? (His innocence)
What did Job know God would do for him? (Be delivered forever from his judge)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Pretend you are Job and you are going before a judge to state your case of why you shouldn’t suffer any longer. The parent is the judge and the child is Job, additional children can be the jury or witnesses to Job. Have Job present his case and state the reasons why his suffering should end. Job wants his suffering to end and wants to state his innocence before the judge, He knows he will be heard and delivered but the judge. Job knows that God is his judge and will listen to him and deliver.
Materials:
Alternate
Bag of Jelly Beans and a jar such as a mason jar. God created us with feelings and emotions. Listen to these scenarios and if you would have any emotion in this situation, good or bad, place a jelly bean in the jar.
Listening to music on a rainy day
Losing your basketball game
Sitting around the table with your family for a holiday dinner
Leaving your wallet with all your money at the store and it gets stolen
A family member dies
Getting a really bad stomach virus that makes you isolate in your room for 5 days
Having all your close friends come over to watch a movie
Continue with other scenarios…
Look at how full our jar of jelly beans are! We have a lot of emotions, some are joyful and some are sad, but God can handle all of them. When we are frustrated we can all out to God and He will hear us. We when are rejoicing, He wants to hear our praises as well. God listens to us and wants to be with us through all of our emotions.He is big enough to handle all of our feelings.
Materials: Jelly beans, jar (mason jar)
Independent activity:
Create a banner with large words sayin what your big words would beee to God in times when your emotions are big with praise or sadness. Decorate your your banner and remember that God can handle all of our emotions and wants to listen and be there for us through our good and difficult times. God doesn’t leave us to feel big emotions alone but is there with us through it all.
Materials: Large sheet of construction paper, markers and crayons
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Hebrews 4:15-16
Who do you share your feelings with? Who can you confide in to share your hurts, your joys, your sorrows and your deepest feelings? Jesus can walk with us and understand our deepest emotions because He has experienced it all while here on earth. Our verse in Hebrews says He was tempted in every way. We can find mercy and grace at the throne of God because Jesus is able to empathize with our weakness. Even though we may sin, Jesus did not sin in all that he experienced.
What temptations did Jesus face on earth?
How does knowing Jesus experienced similar situations help you share your big feelings with God?
Does Jesus empathize with your experience?
How can we approach the throne of God?
Do we need to worry that God will not understand our feelings of hurt, anger or disappointment?
How did Job share his feelings with God and not sin?
How can we share our big feelings with God and be sure not to sin against God?
Materials:
Practical Application at Home
We can empathize with others as we know Jesus can empathize with us. Jesus has been through what we have been through and experience every type of suffering as us. Jesus knows how we feel because He is fully man and fully God. We can then extend that same empathy for others through their suffering and pain by being the hands and feet of Jesus.
Think of a friend or family member you know that may be going through a difficult time. Or think of a classmate who may not be accepted by most of their classmates. Think of how they may feel as they go through this difficult time and empathize with their feelings. What are some things you would want someone to do for your? What words would you like to hear? Be the hands and feet of Jesus by doing something for the person you’ve thought about. Then find a way to carry out your plan with the help of a parent if needed.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. As your family hikes, count your blessings. Talk about the blessings God has given your family as well as the blessings God created in nature. How can You show gratitude for your blessings?