Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “Running the Race of Faith”

DAILY BREAD – DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN

EASTERN NIGERIA UNION CONFERENCE CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Title: Running the Race of Faith

How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? … If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? Jeremiah 12:4a-5

Have you ever felt tired or worn out from running or playing? Or have you ever had questions about why bad things happen? Maybe you’ve wondered why someone you love got sick, or why something sad happened to a friend. It can be tough to keep going when we’re tired, right? It’s okay to ask these questions, just like Jeremiah did.
Imagine this: a group of high school friends praying for their missing friend, hoping she would be safe. But then they found out she had been hurt and killed. They were heartbroken and asked, “Why didn’t God do something? If He loves us and has power, why does He let bad things happen?”

These are big questions that even grown-ups ask sometimes. And it’s okay to wonder about them. Jeremiah, a man in the Bible, asked similar questions to God. He wanted to know why bad things happened.

God’s answer to Jeremiah was interesting. He basically said, “Jeremiah, if this troubles you, what will you do when things get even tougher? If running with people makes you tired, how will you keep up when you have to race against horses? And if stumbling in an open field is hard, what will you do in a thick, tangled jungle?”

Sometimes life can feel like a race. We face challenges and tough times that make us wonder where God is and why He doesn’t fix everything. But just like running a race, we need to be prepared for even harder challenges.
We know that Jesus talked about tough times too. He said there would be difficult things like earthquakes, wars, and scary events in the world. But He also said these were just the beginnings of hard times.

So, what can we learn from this?

• Prepare for Challenges: Life can sometimes feel like a big challenge. It’s okay to feel tired or worn out. Just like preparing to run a race, we can prepare our hearts for tough times by trusting in God. Use small challenges as opportunities to practice trusting God. Each time you overcome a small obstacle, you’re preparing for the bigger ones.
• God’s Love and Power: When we face tough times, we can ask God for strength. He helps us keep going, even when things are hard or bad things happen, we can trust that God still loves us and has the power to help us through.
• Growing Stronger: When we face small challenges now, it helps us get ready for bigger ones later. It’s like practicing for a big race!

So, remember, just like runners need practice to run faster, we can practice trusting God in small challenges to be ready for bigger ones. Trusting God will help us keep going no matter what happens and with His strength, you can handle anything that comes your way!

Thought for Reflection :
When we face tough questions and challenges, it’s okay to wonder why things happen. Just like Jeremiah, we might feel confused or upset when bad things occur. But God’s response to Jeremiah reminds us to be prepared for even tougher times. We can trust that God is with us, even in the midst of difficulties and with God’s help, we can persevere and overcome.

Life Application :

• Prepare Our Hearts: Take time to strengthen your faith and trust in God. Read the Bible, pray, and talk to Him daily. When you feel tired or overwhelmed, take a moment to talk to God. Ask Him for the strength to keep going, just like asking for help to race with horses.
• Trust God’s Plan: Even when we don’t understand why bad things happen, we can trust that God has a plan and is working for our good. Remember that God is with you in every challenge. He knows the path ahead and will guide you through the thickest of forests, just like the Jordan River thickets mentioned in the verse.
• Support Each Other: Just like Jeremiah’s friends supported him, we can support our friends and family when they face tough times. Encourage each other and pray together. Additional Activity
• Journaling: Write down any questions or concerns you have about life or challenges you’ve faced. Then, write a prayer asking God for strength and guidance.
• Acts of Kindness: As you face challenges, look for ways to show kindness to others. It can help uplift your spirit and remind you of God’s love in action. Challenge yourself to do acts of kindness for others. Each kind act is like racing with horses, building your strength and helping others along the way. Song
  When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
  When sorrows like sea billows roll;
  Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
  It is well, it is well with my soul. Refrain
  It is well with my soul,
  It is well, it is well with my soul. Prayer
  “Dear God, thank You for being our strength when life gets tough. When we face tough questions and challenges, help us to remember that You are with us, guiding us through every challenge.. Help us to trust Your love and plan for us, even when we don’t understand why things happen. When we stumble, give us the strength to keep going. Give us strength to keep running the race of faith, knowing that You are our anchor. Help us support each other and find peace in Your presence. Thank You for Your love and support, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.”