📖

Psalms of Lament: Honest Prayers

Psalms: Songs for Every Feeling

Day 88of 180
Week 18of 36
25Minutes
← Day 87Day 88 of 180Day 89 →
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that lament psalms are honest prayers expressing difficult emotions

2

Identify at least two emotions expressed in lament psalms

3

Learn that God welcomes our genuine feelings and struggles

📖 Scripture Connection

Psalm 13:1-2

“How long, Yahweh? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall my enemy triumph over me?”

— Psalm 13:1-2 (WEB)

Demonstrates honest emotional expression to God during difficult times

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • Emotion cards
  • Journal or writing paper
  • Colored pencils or markers
  • BibleMouse Psalms type chart
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

BibleMouse Emotion Check-In: Use emotion cards to discuss how we feel when we're sad, scared, or worried

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about different types of psalms in our last lesson?
2Teaching (8 min)

Exploring Lament Psalms: Understanding that it's okay to share our true feelings with God

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Lament psalms are honest prayers that show God understands our struggles
  • These psalms teach us that we can bring ALL our feelings to God
  • Even Jesus experienced deep emotions and cried out to God
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What are some feelings you find hard to talk about?
  • How might writing a prayer help when you're feeling sad?
3Activity: My Honest Prayer Journal (10 min)
lament exploration

Children create a safe space to express feelings through guided psalm writing

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a picture of something that makes you feel sad or worried
  2. Write or dictate a short prayer sharing those feelings
  3. Circle words that show how you're really feeling
  4. Remember: God wants to hear your true heart!
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use emotion cards to help choose feelings

Challenge: Write a full psalm following Psalm 13 structure

4Closing (3 min)

Sharing and reflecting on our honest prayers

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did we learn about talking to God?
  • Why is it important to be honest with God?
🙏 Prayer:

Invite children to share a short, honest prayer with God

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore wisdom psalms and how they teach us to live

💎 Memory Verse

Psalm 1:1-2

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

— Psalm 1:1-2 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Emotion Charades Memory Verse - Act out different emotions while reciting the verse, helping children connect feelings with God's word

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Lament psalms model emotional honesty and show that struggling is part of faith

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Create a safe, non-judgmental space for emotional expression
  • Validate your child's feelings while pointing them to God's comfort
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may feel uncomfortable sharing deep emotions

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Willingness to be vulnerable, understanding that God loves them unconditionally

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a 'Feelings and Faith' poster using BibleMouse Printables Library
  • Listen to worship music that expresses different emotions

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 89 →Back to Bible