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
Sometimes we have big things to celebrate and sometimes we may be sad or angry about difficult things. Listen to these scenarios and give a soft shout if it is something worth celebrating and give a soft cry if it is something we might be angry or sad about.
A birthday party
A ride on a pony
You lost your bike
A trip to your favorite amusement park
Your dog is lost
Going on a hike in the mountains
Seeing your new baby cousin
Seeing your grandmother get sick
Getting a bad grade at school
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.
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
We can sing our praises to God when we are happy and we can also share our big feelings when things aren’t going the way we thought they should. Play a game of emotions charades. Pick a charade card from the pile and then mime the emotion for your team to guess. We all have many emotions that we display all the time. God created us with these emotions, some are pleasant to others and some are not as pleasant to others. Although not all of our emotions are pleasant, God is big enough to handle all of our big emotions. God wants to hear us so that he can help us through the difficult times.
Materials: printed charade cards
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 scenario…
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: small jar, jelly beans
Independent activity:
Create your own emoji. Decorate the circle by adding a face that shows an emotion. It does’t matter what emotion we are having, God will listen to our feelings. He wants us to know that He is there and that we don’t have to stay angry, mad or sad because He has a plan for us. He wants to help us have the emotions of contentment and joy.
Materials: sheet of construction paper cut into a large circle, markers
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
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?
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?