God, I Feel SadSample

You Are Not Alone

When sadness slips—or storms—into our lives, it can make us feel isolated, can’t it? We might feel as if no one else could experience this feeling. As if no one else could understand. As if we are all alone. But difficult times can cause our emotions to override our logic—and make things seem real and true when they aren’t.

The truth is God is always with us. It’s a promise that spans from the Old Testament (Joshua 1:9) to the New Testament (Matthew 28:20) to today (Hebrews 13:8). His omnipresence—His constant nearness—is wonderful and amazing and can be a source of great comfort. But it can be hard to fully experience His nearness during times of darkness. Even as adults, we can struggle to understand and to remember that He never leaves us to face anything all on our own. How much more difficult, then, is it to explain to little ones that His presence goes with us wherever we go? How can we help them “see” that God really is with them every moment of their lives when our oh-so-literal littles can’t see His face?

One way is to make a habit of pointing out the “messages” of hope that God plants in each and every day. Things like the rainbow after the rain, that friend who comes along at just the right moment, the stars that twinkle in the skies (Psalm 19:1), or that flower stretching up to bloom through the sidewalk cracks. These little messages are powerful reminders of God’s presence and promises, especially when we are sad.

For Little Ones:

Did you know that God is always with you? He is! Even though you can’t see Him with your eyes or hear Him with your ears, He is right here with you, right this second. And He is sending you little “messages” every day to help you remember that He’s with you. Like the sunshine on your face, the stars that twinkle in the sky, and the people who love you.

Let’s look for some of God’s little messages today. Then, the next time you’re feeling sad, those same little messages will help you remember God’s promise to be with you always. And don’t forget, God keeps every promise He makes (Psalm 145:13)!

In moments of sadness:

• Help your child look around their world and find three of God’s little “messages” of hope.
• Talk about how these things remind us of God. For example, God made the sun, He gave the flowers their pretty colors, or He sometimes uses other people to love and help us.
• Help your child finish this sentence: When I’m sad, I might feel all alone, but God is always...