Free Bible lessons for kids · 7 lessons
Bible lessons about patience and waiting on God for kids
God’s timing is always right. Abraham waited for Isaac, Joseph waited in prison, and the disciples waited and prayed for the Holy Spirit. Waiting on God is trusting Him.
7 Bible stories, one subject: patience and waiting on God. Teach them as a series or one at a time; each lesson has its film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and game, all free.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 7
- Passages
- Genesis 21:1–7, Genesis 40:1–23, Exodus 2:11–25, Judges 6:11–40, Luke 2:21–38, Acts 1:12–26, and more
- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Each lesson
- Story film (KJV), coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
- Cost
- Free: no subscription, no cost per child, no sign-up to teach
The lessons: 7 stories about patience and waiting on God
Isaac Is Born
Genesis 21:1–7 · story film
The LORD did for Sarah just as He had spoken: when Abraham was an hundred years old, Sarah bare him a son at the very time God had promised. Abraham named the baby Isaac, and Sarah said, “God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.” Isaac was the child of promise, and from his family Jesus would one day be born (Matthew 1:1–2).
Big idea: God always does what He says, right on time.
Memory verse:
The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
Psalm 126:3 (KJV)Ask: Did God keep His promise to Sarah? Yes. The LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken, and she bare Abraham a son at the set time (Genesis 21:1–2).
Game: The Laughing Game (about 8 minutes)
The Butler and the Baker
Genesis 40:1–23 · story film
In prison Joseph looked after Pharaoh’s chief butler and chief baker, and one morning they were sad because each had dreamed a dream. Joseph said, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” and God showed him what the dreams meant, and both came true just as Joseph said: in three days the butler was serving Pharaoh again. Joseph asked the butler to remember him, but the butler forgot him.
Big idea: People may forget us, but God never does, so we can wait on Him.
Memory verse:
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 (KJV)Ask: Why were the butler and the baker sad? They had dreamed dreams, and there was no interpreter (Genesis 40:8).
Game: Don’t Forget! (about 10 minutes)
Moses Runs to Midian
Exodus 2:11–25 · story film
When Moses was grown, he went out to see the hard burdens of his people, and when he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, he tried to help in his own way and killed the Egyptian. Pharaoh sought to slay him, so Moses fled to the land of Midian, where he stood up for seven sisters at a well, married Zipporah, and kept sheep as “a stranger in a strange land.” Meanwhile the children of Israel cried out in their bondage, and God heard them and remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Big idea: God hears the cry of His people, and He never forgets His promises.
Memory verse:
The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
Psalm 34:15 (KJV)Ask: Why did Moses run away to Midian? Because Pharaoh heard what Moses had done and sought to slay him (Exodus 2:15).
Game: Sheep Herding (about 10 minutes)
Gideon’s Fleece
Judges 6:11–40 · story film
The Midianites troubled Israel, and Gideon was secretly threshing wheat by the winepress when the angel of the LORD sat under an oak and said, “The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.” Gideon felt like the least in his father’s house, but God promised, “Surely I will be with thee.” Gideon asked for a sign with a fleece of wool, and God patiently made it wet one night and dry the next.
Big idea: God sees who we can be with Him, and He is patient with our small faith.
Memory verse:
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
Judges 6:12 (KJV)Ask: What was Gideon doing when the angel came? Threshing wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites (Judges 6:11).
Game: Mighty Warrior! (about 8 minutes)
Simeon and Anna See the Baby
Luke 2:21–38 · story film
When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple, old Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, and Anna the prophetess gave thanks and told others about Him.
Big idea: Jesus is the one God’s people were waiting for.
Memory verse:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Luke 2:30 (KJV)Ask: What had God promised Simeon? That he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
Game: Wait for It (about 8 minutes)
Waiting and Praying
Acts 1:12–26 · story film
The disciples went back to Jerusalem and prayed together in an upper room with the women and Jesus’ mother and brothers, waiting for the promise of the Holy Ghost.
Big idea: God’s people pray together while they wait.
Memory verse:
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:14 (KJV)Ask: Where did the disciples gather? In an upper room in Jerusalem.
Game: Prayer Stations (about 15 minutes)
Love Is Patient and Kind
1 Corinthians 13 · story film
Paul wrote that without love, even great gifts are nothing. Love (charity) is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, and it never fails.
Big idea: Love is the greatest gift.
Memory verse:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)Ask: What word does the King James Bible use for love in 1 Corinthians 13? Charity.
Game: Love Is… Charades (about 10 minutes)
How to teach patience and waiting on God to kids
- Preschool: Play a simple waiting game, then say, “God is never late.”
- Elementary: Ask how long people in these stories waited, and what God did in the meantime.
- Preteens: Read Isaiah 40:31 and talk about something you are waiting on God for.
7 weeks of lessons on patience and waiting on God
| Week 1 | Isaac Is Born (Genesis 21:1–7). God always does what He says, right on time. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | The Butler and the Baker (Genesis 40:1–23). People may forget us, but God never does, so we can wait on Him. |
| Week 3 | Moses Runs to Midian (Exodus 2:11–25). God hears the cry of His people, and He never forgets His promises. |
| Week 4 | Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:11–40). God sees who we can be with Him, and He is patient with our small faith. |
| Week 5 | Simeon and Anna See the Baby (Luke 2:21–38). Jesus is the one God’s people were waiting for. |
| Week 6 | Waiting and Praying (Acts 1:12–26). God’s people pray together while they wait. |
| Week 7 | Love Is Patient and Kind (1 Corinthians 13). Love is the greatest gift. |
Each week: welcome and pray, show the story film, talk through the questions, learn the memory verse, then color the page or do the class sheet.
Verses to learn: patience and waiting on God
“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”
Psalm 126:3 · Isaac Is Born
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Psalm 27:14 · The Butler and the Baker
“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
Psalm 34:15 · Moses Runs to Midian
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”
Judges 6:12 · Gideon’s Fleece
“For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,”
Luke 2:30 · Simeon and Anna See the Baby
“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
Acts 1:14 · Waiting and Praying
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”
1 Corinthians 13:4 · Love Is Patient and Kind
Questions people ask
What does the Bible teach kids about patience and waiting on God?
God’s timing is always right. Abraham waited for Isaac, Joseph waited in prison, and the disciples waited and prayed for the Holy Spirit. Waiting on God is trusting Him. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV)
Which Bible stories teach patience and waiting on God?
Isaac Is Born (Genesis 21:1–7), The Butler and the Baker (Genesis 40:1–23), Moses Runs to Midian (Exodus 2:11–25), Gideon’s Fleece (Judges 6:11–40), Simeon and Anna See the Baby (Luke 2:21–38), and 2 more on this page.
How do I teach kids patience from the Bible?
Show them people who waited on God, like Abraham, Joseph and Hannah, and how God kept His word right on time.
How do I teach patience and waiting on God to preschoolers?
Play a simple waiting game, then say, “God is never late.”
Are these lessons free?
Yes. Every lesson, film, coloring page, class sheet and game is free for churches, families and schools, with no subscription, no cost per child and no sign-up needed to teach.
Which Bible translation is used?
The films and memory verses show the King James Version word for word. In the lessons you can switch the verses to the Berean Standard Bible, the ESV or dozens of other English Bibles, every verse is labelled with its translation, and tapping a verse on the film opens its whole chapter.
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