For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
Sometimes God asks His messengers to do something a little surprising so people will really pay attention.
Today's Story
God gave Jeremiah a strange job. “Make a yoke,” God said. A yoke is a wooden bar that farmers lay across an ox's neck so it can pull a heavy load.
God told Jeremiah to wear it on his own shoulders, right out in front of everybody.
People stared. “Why are you wearing that?” they asked.
Jeremiah said, “It is a picture from God. A hard time is coming. The softest, safest way through it is to trust God and not fight against His plan. If you fight it, it will only feel heavier.”
Other men were telling the people, “Don't worry! Everything will be just fine, easy-peasy!” But that was not true. They were saying happy words that God had not given them.
Jeremiah loved the people too much to tell them a story that was not real. So he wore the heavy wooden yoke, and he kept saying the same gentle thing: “Trust God. His way is the best way, even when it is hard.”
A Big Word
Talk About It
- When something feels hard for you — like cleaning up or learning something new — does fighting it make it feel lighter or heavier?
- Some men told the people only the happy words they wanted to hear. Why is it kinder, in the end, to tell someone the truth?
- What is one hard thing you could ask God to help you trust Him with this week?