Psalm 40:1-11
Your Story
Talk about a time when God answered your prayers.
My Story and the Bible Story
I had a tough year when I was in the sixth grade. One of the hardest parts, though, was not having any close friends at school. I prayed and I prayed for God to help me. And God heard my prayers. A girl moved to our town and ended up being in my class. Her name was also Jessica and we quickly became friends. We were very close and she helped me get through that year. After sixth grade, we graduated and went to middle school. We went to different schools and eventually we lost touch. But I will never forget when God answered my prayers and sent me a friend.
Read Psalm 40:1-11. From the NIV: I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, ‘Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’ I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.
Sometimes we feel left out and alone. It seems like nobody understand us and nobody hears us. But as the Psalmist reminds us, God hears us. God hears our cry and will lift us up. God gives us a firm place to stand. That doesn’t mean that a rock drops from the sky. But what it does mean is that God reminds us that we are God’s creation and God’s children, and we can trust that God will be there. God has so many plans for each one of us, and if we wait for God, God will show us the way. God is quick to show us mercy when we make a mistake, and God’s love is always with us. We can trust that God will hear us even when nobody else does. And if we wait for God, God always does what God promised.
Discussion
• Ask your children to talk about times when God has answered their prayers. What did they pray for? How did God answer them?
• Ask them if they’d like to share some things they are praying about so that you can pray for them as well.
Prayer
Thank God for always hearing us. Ask God to open your eyes to see God’s answers to your prayers.
Jessica Asbell is currently serving as the Minister to Children at First Baptist Church of Roswell, GA. She has worked with children in various capacities at several churches, including Winter Park Baptist in Wilmington, NC, First Baptist of Decatur, GA, and Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, GA. She has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology and a BBA from Mercer University. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, and of course spend time with her sweet kitty, Lucy.
