Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: James 1:5-8

Minha sat on the beach watching the waves crash into the shore. It was a windy day, and the waves were huge. Minha had a lot on her mind, and watching the water calmed her.

Mom came and sat next to her. After a while of sitting in silence, Mom finally asked, “How are you doing?”

“I’m just so scared of making the wrong decision,” Minha said as she fought back tears. Minha and her mom had just come from the doctor, who had told them Minha’s test showed that she had cancer, and he had given them different options for treating it.

Mom put her arm around Minha. “Well, this is a huge decision, but we need to pray that God will give us wisdom and guide us in making the right choice.”

“But, Mom, all the treatment options could make me even sicker. How can we be sure God will help us make the right decision?”

The two sat in silence for a little while, watching the water. They watched as a big stick was thrown from one wave to another. Then a big wave heaved the piece of wood onto the shore, and it finally became still.

“Minha, we are definitely going through a struggle right now,” Mom said. “We can either let our emotions get the best of us and throw us around like the waves did that stick, or we can trust God to see us through this. It’s not going to be easy, but we have to remember that Jesus will be with us as we make these tough decisions—and He’s put doctors and other people in our lives who can help guide us in making wise choices. That doesn’t mean everything will go the way we want it to, but we need to remember that God is in control and will work everything out for good, no matter what decision we make. Jesus saved us, and He’ll always be with us, no matter what happens. It may be scary, but we can trust Him.”

Minha watched the water for a long time, thinking about what her mom had said. She then said a silent prayer asking God for wisdom and guidance as she and her family made the choices they needed to make.

–Melissa Yeagle

How about you? Are you going through a hard time right now? Do you have some tough decisions to make? Perhaps you’re dealing with something difficult in your family, at school, or with your health. No matter what it is, remember that Jesus saved you and will work everything out for good, even if things don’t go the way you hoped. Trust Him to be with you and guide you in whatever it is you’re facing.

Today’s key verse: We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God. Romans 8:28 (CSB)

Today’s key thought: Trust Jesus with tough choices

Read: Psalm 38:1-4

Grounded and bored, Mia slouched in the chair as she watched her baby sister play. Little Riley, growing tired of her blocks, made her way to Mia’s backpack that leaned heavily against the brick hearth. Riley picked up the straps and tried to lift the weight of Mia’s bag—an impossible feat, since Riley was barely able to walk on her own.

As Riley began to cry in frustration, Mia knelt down to help. Removing the books from her bag, Mia thought her sister would be relieved, but instead she grew angry. She cried harder and tried to return the books to their place.

Irritated with her sister, Mia huffed. “You can’t lift it, Riley!” She pulled the bag away, only to be met with an all-out tantrum from Riley.

Mom rushed into the room. “What is it now, Mia?”

“Why is it my fault?” Mia asked. “I was trying to help.”

Mom gathered up Riley in her arms. Once Riley was calm, Mia spoke up. “I don’t want to cause trouble, Mom, but I do. Even when I’m trying to help I end up in trouble.”

Mom sat Riley back down to play and turned to look at Mia. “Sometimes I put blame on you when I shouldn’t, Mia, and I’m sorry. I mess up too.”

Mia sighed. “I just want to be good enough so you and Jesus and everyone else will be happy with me, but I don’t know how to make that happen.”

“Oh, Mia,” Mom said. “Every time you try to be good enough on your own, you’re trying to lift a burden you can never carry.”

Mia looked down at her backpack and imagined herself as a baby trying to lift it. “Like Riley trying to lift a bag full of books?” she asked.

Mom nodded. “When you trusted Jesus to save you, He made you good in God’s eyes by giving you His righteousness, or goodness. You don’t have to try to be good enough. Instead, the good we do comes from a place of knowing that He loves us just as we are and gives us all we need to show His love to others. Because of Him, you’re always good enough.”

–Maggie J. Sifuentes

How about you? Do you ever feel like you can never be good enough? Does trying to do everything right feel like a burden you can’t carry? Let Jesus carry the weight for you. When you trust in Him, He gives you His goodness in exchange for your sin. As you rest in His love and depend on Him to help you show it to others, your efforts to help and serve will be a joy, not a burden. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Jesus makes you good enough

Read: Colossians 3:12-17

Jacob stepped off the bus and walked toward Dad.

“How was your day?” Dad asked as they began walking home.

Jacob shrugged. “It was all right,” he said quietly.

“Something wrong?” asked Dad.

Jacob kicked at a rock on the sidewalk. He was embarrassed to talk about what had happened, but he knew he could trust Dad. “That older kid pushed me around again. He’s picked me to bully instead of the other kids.”

“What did you do?” asked Dad as they turned a corner and walked down the gravel road toward their house.

“Yelled a lot, but that didn’t do much,” answered Jacob. “I want to get back at him for embarrassing me in front of my friends.”

As they approached their driveway, Dad pointed to the field next door. “Jacob, do you see how nobody cares for that field? Weeds have taken over because nobody has done anything to prevent them from growing where the grass should grow.”

“Yeah, I never want to play over there because the weeds get in the way.”

“Well, weeds and revenge are kind of similar,” said Dad. “Wanting to get revenge on someone is a sign that bitter weeds are growing in your heart. And when you’re filled with bitterness, it keeps you from being able to forgive.”

“But I don’t want to forgive him,” Jacob said, clenching his fists. “I want him to pay for what he did!”

“Did Jesus make you pay for all the bad things you’ve done?” Dad asked. “He paid for all your sins by dying on the cross and forgave you for them, and He wants you to forgive others. It’s not easy, but He’ll help you. He can get rid of the nasty weeds of bitterness growing in your heart.”

Dad put his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to someone at the school about the kid who’s been bothering you. But don’t let anger and bitterness take over and keep you from forgiving him. Ask Jesus to clear away the weeds in your heart so you can forgive others the way He’s forgiven you.”

Jacob knew Dad was right. As hard as it would be to forgive this bully, he didn’t want a heart full of weeds.

–Emily Saxe

How about you? Have you been bullied? Have you forgiven that person, or are you still angry? Jesus died on the cross so you could be forgiven for every one of your sins, and He will give you that same power so you can forgive others. Forgiving means putting the wrong that person did in God’s hands and depending on Him to help you love them instead. Who can you forgive today?

Today’s key verse: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Forgive others

If someone is bullying you, tell a trusted adult so they can help.

Read: Luke 21:9-19

Caden was lying on his bed with his head propped on his hands and a worried look on his face when his mom stopped at his door. “How was school, Caden?” she asked. “Did something happen?”

“Not really.” Caden hesitated. “We did have a discussion in social studies, though. One of the kids started talking about nuclear war and how the whole world is going to blow up and end soon. And it sounded like Mr. Morgan agreed with him.”

“He said that?” Mom asked.

“No. But it kinda seemed like he thought so. He said if everyone just stopped making nuclear weapons, the world would be at peace and no one would fight.”

“That sounds nice, but I’m afraid it’s not going to happen,” said Mom. “There were many, many wars long before we had nuclear weapons. People and nations want to be powerful and will often do anything to gain that power. It’s unrealistic to think they’ll all suddenly decide to stop fighting.”

“I guess so,” Caden said. “But thinking about it makes me feel scared. We talk about war at school, and it’s always on the news. It seems like we never stop hearing about scary things.” He paused. “Aren’t you afraid, Mom?”

Mom sighed. “This world is a messed-up place because of sin, Caden, and people do terrible things. But when I hear scary stories about violence in the world, I thank God that my future is in His hands. He’s in control of this world, and nothing happens unless He allows it to happen. We also know He loves and cares for us as His children. When we feel afraid because of what’s going on in the world, we need to remember that Jesus, God’s Son, died and rose again to rescue us from sin and evil. No matter what happens, He will always be with us.”

“I know,” Caden said. “I just wish things were different.”

“Me too,” said Mom. “But remember that things won’t be like this forever. One day, when Jesus returns, He will get rid of sin, evil, and death in this world once and for all. Until then, we can have peace knowing He’s in control and is always with us.”

–Lenora McWhorten

How about you? Are you afraid when you hear stories about war? Perhaps you’ve experienced terrible things like that firsthand. This world is a scary place, but if you trust Jesus as your Savior, you don’t have to be full of fear. Your future is in His hands. Trust Him to be with you through all the scary things you face in this world, and look forward to the day when He’ll end war and violence forever.

Today’s key verse: Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me [Jesus]. John 14:1 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Don’t be afraid—trust Jesus

Read: 1 Samuel 16:7; Romans 3:23

Isabella’s tummy grumbled as she grabbed the peanut butter from the pantry and the new jar of strawberry jam from the refrigerator. Mom laid bread out on two plates and handed her a butter knife.

“I’m so hungry, I could eat a rhinoceros!” said Isabella, unscrewing the lid from the jam jar. She started to stick her knife deep into the middle, then stopped. “Mom!” she cried. “Something’s wrong with this jam! It’s fuzzy and green in the middle.”

Mom took the jar and looked closer. “You’re right, honey. It’s bad.”

“But isn’t that the new jar you bought yesterday?” Isabella asked.

“Yes,” Mom said, looking the jar over carefully. “But I couldn’t tell from the outside that anything was wrong.”

Isabella looked at the jar too. From the outside, the jam looked fine.

“You know what this makes me think of?” asked Mom.

Isabella shook her head, disappointed she wasn’t going to get any jam on her peanut butter sandwich.

“This jar of jam is just like our hearts without Jesus.” Mom turned the jar slowly. “Everything looks fine on the outside, but when we look inside, the moldy decay of sin is eating away at us.” Mom peered at the moldy jam inside the jar. “God sees inside our hearts and knows about the sin that hides there. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. When we trust in Him, His blood covers our sins and our hearts are made new.”

Mom replaced the lid and screwed it down tight. “I’ll have to take this moldy jar of jam back to the store and exchange it for a new one. And when we put our faith in Jesus, God exchanges our moldy, sinful heart for a new one.”

Isabella thought about how she’d shoved her toys under her bed that morning and then lied when mom asked if she’d put them away. She imagined that lie growing like the green fuzz in the jar and knew she had sin in her heart. “Mom, can I pray and ask Jesus to exchange my heart for a new one? I—I’ve never done that before.”

Mom smiled. “You bet! And we don’t even have to drive to the store to do it!”

–Kelly Hollman

How about you? Do you think you’re a good person? Do you try to do what’s right, like obey your parents and be loving and kind to others? Even if you try your hardest, without Jesus, your heart is like that moldy jar of jam. We all have sin in our hearts, and only Jesus can take it away. Put your faith in Him and He will give you a new, clean heart. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus cleanses us from sin