** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 < August 20, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
God Is There
• Emily Acker • Psalm 118:5–14, Isaiah 26:4
I’ve watched people in my life struggle. I’ve watched them deal with health issues. I’ve watched them leave jobs, not knowing what was next. I’ve had my own struggles. Life isn’t always easy, and sometimes it’s hard to understand why things are happening the way they are.
God created the world good, but when the first humans sinned, the world became filled with death and sickness and conflict and pain. But God didn’t give up on us. He came to restore what we broke.
Jesus—God in flesh—took our sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. Then, He rose back to life, beating sin and death once and for all. Because of what Jesus has done, we can look forward to the day He will return to restore creation— then there will be no more health issues, no more struggles, no more heartache (Revelation 21:4). In the meantime, God does not leave us to fend for ourselves. He sends His Holy Spirit to be in everyone who has put their trust in Jesus.
We have a God who wants to be with us. We can try to make it through each day alone, or we can lean on God. We live on a planet where life is difficult, and we have to deal with things that are hard and weigh us down, but we can choose to rely on the One who is over everything and God of all.
Why do we sometimes forget—or even ignore—the fact that God is always there to support us? We don’t have to make plans without looking to God first. We don’t have to try to figure out what to do all on our own. When we need to go to the hospital, we don’t have to go by ourselves. We don’t have to walk a single step alone. Through it all, we can talk to God.
We can come to God at any time. He loves us, and He invites us to rely on Him for guidance and support. At the first sign of trouble, we can turn to God. • Emily Acker
• Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Why do you think God wants to be with us?
• Have you ever experienced God guiding or comforting you in some way? If so, consider taking a moment to thank Him. If not, you can come to God anytime and ask.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)
** Unlocked은 Keys for kids Ministries에서 지원받은 프로그램입니다. 원본으로 듣고 싶으신 분들은 홈페이지 Unlocked.org로 들어가시면 < August 19, 2022>에서 다시 들으실 수 있습니다.**
Perfect Timing
• Abby Ciona • Proverbs 3:5–6, Lamentations 3:25–26, 1 Peter 5:6
"Perfect timing!” I exclaim as my family walks in the door just as I finish baking cookies. Usually, “perfect timing” is what we say when things happen when we want them to, at our convenience, according to our planning and preferences. But what about when things don’t work out according to our timing or terms? When disappointments pile up, or we miss out on opportunities? What about when our prayers feel unanswered, or we feel stuck in life?
When we look at the Bible, we see that God’s timing often looks very different from the timing we have in mind. Take Abraham and Sarah, for example. God promised them a son when they were more than ninety years old! After years of waiting, even in their old age, God gave them a son, Isaac, and his descendants became the people of Israel (Genesis 21:1-7).
Then there’s Job. He faced immense suffering and lost wealth, health, and family, but he was patient and trusted God and once again experienced God’s overflowing blessing. Job’s story reveals that “the Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:10-11).
Finally, when Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, Jesus waited two days before starting the journey to Lazarus’s home in Bethany. By the time Jesus arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Everyone thought Jesus was too late to save him. But Jesus went to the tomb and shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And Lazarus came back to life (John 11:43-44)!
These stories remind us that God is always on time: never too early, never too late. Waiting isn’t easy for any of us, but God is with us in times of waiting, steadfastly loving us. And if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He helps us to become patient like He is patient (Galatians 5:22). Through the Holy Spirit, He teaches us, reminds us to surrender control, and helps us trust in Him. Through waiting, He helps us grow in faith and learn to live in the present, trusting God with our future because His plan is bigger than ours. We might think God is slow to fulfill His promises, but that isn’t the case; rather, God is patient with us, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9). He sees things from an eternal perspective, all part of His great story. • Abby Ciona
• Do you ever question God’s timing?
• In John 11:4-7, why did Jesus wait to go to Lazarus?
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
