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

Read: Acts 4:1-12

How about you? Have you received the antidote for sin? The Bible says everyone has sinned by doing wrong things, and sin leads to death. There’s nothing we can do to save ourselves—the only way to be saved is through Jesus, God’s Son. Trust Him to save you from sin and death and give you eternal life with Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus is the antidote for sin

Read: Psalm 20:6-7; Romans 8:38-39

Editor’s note: This story may not be suitable for some children.

“Almost time for school,” Mom said as she picked up Rhea’s backpack. “Rhea! What do you have in here? Feels like a bag full of rocks!” She unzipped the top.

Rhea’s eyes grew round. “No, Mom, don’t—”

But Mom was already pulling out a can of hairspray, a camouflage jacket that belonged to Rhea’s brother, a bicycle helmet, and indeed, one large rock. “Is this for some kind of project at school?”

Rhea looked down. “No. I was just…” She sighed. “Scared.”

Mom sat down with her on the sofa. “Scared? Of school?”

“I’ve been watching the news.” Rhea leaned her head against her mom. “There was another shooting at a school. And we did a drill at school so we’d know what to do if it wasn’t safe.”

Mom had a sad look in her eyes. But then they twinkled a bit. “So if someone dangerous comes in, you’re going to…do his hair? Or send him away on a bicycle?” Mom grinned softly, and Rhea smiled too.

“I thought I could spray hairspray in his eyes. The bicycle helmet is for me, to protect my head. The camo is so he wouldn’t see me. And I could throw the rock at him. I’ve been practicing.”

“Oh, honey.” Mom pulled Rhea onto her lap. “I hate that you feel afraid. But think of the story of David and Goliath in the Bible. Was it the rock that kept David safe?”

Rhea nodded. “He killed Goliath with it.”

Mom shook her head. “It might seem that way, but that’s not what happened. It wasn’t something that kept David safe, but someone.”

Rhea’s eyes brightened. “Oh! You mean God.”

“That’s right,” said Mom. “He’s the one who truly keeps us safe, but that doesn’t always mean He’ll keep us from harm. Remember, when Jesus died on the cross, He was right where God wanted Him to be. He was fulfilling God’s good plan for salvation.”

“Yeah,” said Rhea, “saving us was a really good plan.”

Mom nodded. “And because of that good plan, we know nothing can ever separate us from Jesus, even when bad stuff happens and we feel afraid. He promises to always be with us. And”—she tickled Rhea lightly—“I trust Him a lot more than hairspray!”

–Janel Breitenstein

How about you? Are you relying on something to keep you safe? It’s good to be prepared and take precautions, but remember where your safety really comes from. No matter what scary situations you face, you’re always safe with Jesus because He died and rose again to save you from sin and give you eternal life. Even when terrible things happen, nothing can separate you from Him. Trust Him to always be with you and keep you safe.

Today’s key verse: Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus keeps you safe

Read: Genesis 41:46-57

“Guess what Joseph is doing?” exclaimed Ellie as she burst into the kitchen. “He’s burying acorns near the apple tree!”

“Who’s Joseph?” asked Mom. “The new boy next door?”

Ellie laughed. “No, Mom! Joseph is the squirrel who comes to our garden. But why would he bury acorns instead of eating them?”

Ellie’s brother Michael answered her question. “He’s storing them away to eat in the winter.”

Mom nodded. “While the weather is good, squirrels collect acorns and hide them,” she explained. “Then when winter comes and food is hard to find, they have their secret supply.”

“That sounds like Joseph in the Bible,” said Michael. “God told him to collect grain for seven years so that when a famine came, the people would have plenty to eat.”

“You’re right,” said Mom. “We can learn something from both Josephs.”

“You mean we need to store up food in case there’s a famine here?” asked Ellie.

Mom smiled. “I was thinking of a different kind of food—spiritual food. When difficult times come, we often realize we need God’s help, but we don’t always remember to use the good times to store up spiritual food that will help us trust and depend on Him when things get tough.”

“How do we store up spiritual food?” asked Ellie.

“When things are going well for us, we should be faithful in learning more about Jesus and what He did to save us so we can grow in our relationship with Him,” replied Mom. “Some of the ways we can do that is by reading the Bible, memorizing verses, meeting with other Christians, and hearing God’s Word explained by pastors and teachers.”

“I get it,” said Michael. “If we do those things to store up spiritual food, it will help us remember He’s with us when hard times come.”

“Right,” said Mom. “For example, there have been times when I needed wise advice or encouragement, and a verse just popped into my head—one I learned when I was a little girl and hadn’t even thought about for years. We can draw spiritual strength from all the things we’ve learned about Jesus from God’s Word in the past and know our future is safe in His hands.”

–Tanya Ferdinandusz

How about you? Are things going well for you right now? Then use this time to thank Jesus and learn all you can about Him. But maybe things aren’t going so well and you’re dealing with difficulties in your life. Then remember that Jesus gave His life for you and promises to always be with you, and ask Him to comfort and encourage you. Remember that He helped Joseph in his time of trouble, and He’ll do the same for you.

Today’s key verse: Our ancestors trusted in you; they trusted, and you rescued them. Psalm 22:4 (CSB)

Today’s key thought: Store up spiritual food

Read: Lamentations 3:25-26; Romans 5:1-5

Hudson cast his line into the water. The bait landed with a small plop. On the other end of the boat, his grandfather quietly held his fishing pole. All was silent except for the sound of crickets chirping.

Suddenly, a loud squawk split the misty air. The sound came again, and Grandpa pointed across the bayou to an owl perched on the top branch of a tall tree. A large crow circled him, squawking.

“What’s that crow’s problem?” asked Hudson.

Grandpa shrugged. “The owl might be sitting too close to the crow’s nest. Or maybe the crow is just pestering the owl and keeping him from sleeping. Crows do that kind of thing sometimes.”

Hudson watched as the black bird swooped again and again, its harsh cries filling the swamp. Only the owl’s head moved as it turned to watch the crow. “I wish that crow would go away,” he said. “Can it hurt the owl?”

Grandpa shook his head. “Not likely. God gave owls what they need to protect themselves—strong wings and sharp talons. If the crow gets too close, he’ll be in trouble, and he knows it. See how he stays at a safe distance?”

“Yeah, but if I were the owl, I’d fight or fly away,” said Hudson.

Grandpa chuckled. “Maybe the owl knows the crow will get tired and go away after a while.” He pulled up his line and cast it out again. “You know, we could learn a lesson from that owl. Instead of getting flustered and upset when things happen that trouble us, we can quietly look to Jesus and trust Him. We can ask Him to show us if there’s something we should do to change the situation or if we just need to patiently wait for Him to work things out.”

“Because Jesus promises to work everything out for good, right?” said Hudson.

Grandpa nodded. “He died and rose again to save us, and that means we can trust Him. Even when our problems don’t go away, He’s still with us, and He promises to come again one day and end all our troubles forever.”

Hudson turned his attention back to his fishing line. A little later, he realized it was quiet again. “Hey, Grandpa,” he said with a smile, “the crow is gone!”

–Debra W. Smith

How about you? Are you troubled by something happening in your life or in the world? Life can be scary and hard at times, but you can rest knowing that God is in control of every situation. Trust Jesus to help you act wisely and show others His love in times of trouble. Remember that He is with you even in the hardest situations and trust Him to give you peace.

Today’s key verse: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Be patient and trust Jesus

Read: Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 11:33-36

“I think we’re going in circles,” Troy said as he and his dad and sister tried to make their way out of a corn maze. “I think we’ve been down this path before.”

“How can you tell?” Elinor asked. She looked up at cornstalks that were twice as tall as she was.

“Everything looks the same. Do you know the way out, Dad?”

Dad laughed. “At the moment, I’m not quite sure.”

“Hey, look!” shouted Troy. “There’s a platform-thing. We can climb up there and see where we are!” Sure enough, in the middle of the path was a high platform.

Troy and Elinor ran up the steps, and Dad followed them. Standing above the stalks, they could see the whole field. Elinor pointed. “There’s the orange flag at the end of the maze. We gotta go that way!”

“And look how far we’ve come,” said Troy. “With this a-maze-ing view, we can see we’re not going in circles after all.” They laughed at Troy’s joke.

When they had found their way out of the maze, Dad bought warm cinnamon doughnuts and hot apple cider. They settled down on hay bales to enjoy their snack. “Dad,” Troy said, “why do you think God is having us move to another state for your job? I like it here!”

“Yeah,” said Elinor after a sip of cider. “We have so many friends here—and we like our church so much! Why would God want us to move?”

“I don’t know,” Dad replied. “We don’t always understand the way He leads, but you know what? Our lives are something like a corn maze. Remember when we stood on that platform? We saw the whole maze—where we’d been and where we needed to go. That’s how God sees us—He has an a-maze-ing view too! He sees our lives from beginning to end. The way God leads us may not make sense to us, but He has a different view.”

“I guess that’s why He tells us to trust Him,” said Troy.

“Exactly,” said Dad. “We don’t see all that will happen, but God does. And He loves us so much that He sent Jesus to save us so we could have eternal life with Him. We can trust Him and accept this move as part of His plan for our family.”

–Jennifer Quackenbush

How about you? Is there something in your life that doesn’t make sense to you right now? Do you feel all alone? Turn to God for comfort and peace. You may not understand the things that are happening, but He does. He sees things more clearly than you do, and He’s working in your life. He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for you, and He will be with you no matter what. You can trust Him.

Today’s key verse: Trust in the Lord with all your heart…In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Trust God with your life

Read: James 1:13-16

Mitchell sniffed the air as he walked into the house. “Mmm, cookies! Can I have one, Mom?”

“Not right now,” said Mom. “They need to cool, and we’re going to be having dinner soon. You can have one for dessert after we eat.”

“Okay,” said Mitchell, but he looked longingly at the cookies as they cooled on the counter. They smelled so good, and he knew they tasted even better. He was still standing there, looking at them, when his mother took another cookie sheet from the oven. “The more I smell these cookies, the more I want one,” he said. “Can’t I just have a small one?”

Mom shook her head. “It would be easier to wait if you went somewhere else instead of standing there where you can see them and smell them,” she said. “Remember the Bible verse you learned last week?”

“You mean the one about God always providing a way to escape temptation so we don’t have to give in to it?” asked Mitchell.

“That’s the one,” said Mom. “And I think the way to escape this temptation is to go outside and play.”

“But cookies aren’t bad,” said Mitchell. “It’s not a sin to eat a cookie.”

“True,” said Mom, “but if you stay around the cookies long enough, you might give in to the temptation to eat one. And then you’d be disobeying me, which is a sin.”

Mitchell sighed. “Okay, I’ll go outside.” He left the kitchen and went out the door to the garage.

He was shooting baskets in the driveway when his mother called him to come in for dinner. “You were right, Mom,” he said as he sat down at the table. “The cookies quit bothering me after I got away from them. When I got busy doing something else, I forgot all about them.”

Mom nodded. “As Christians, we can always say no when we’re tempted to sin because Jesus freed us from sin, and it has no power over us anymore. But it’s still a good idea to get away from things that we know will tempt us. Sometimes that’s the best way to avoid giving in!”

–Pamela J. Kuhn

How about you? Is it hard for you to say no to sin? When you’re tempted to do something wrong, remember that if you trust in Jesus, He has freed you from sin, and you don’t ever have to give in to it. But it’s still a good idea to avoid putting yourself in situations where you know you’ll be tempted. Ask God for guidance in knowing when to stay away from something. When you do find yourself in a tempting situation, trust Him to show you a way out.

Today’s key verse: But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ERV)

Today’s key thought: Avoid temptation

Read: John 11:32-35; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

“Mom?” Libby stepped into the apartment kitchen. She had heard movement; she knew someone was up.

“What’s going on, sweetie? It’s early.” Mom sat at the island with a steaming mug in front of her.

“I can’t stop thinking about BJ,” Libby said. “I miss him, Mom.”

Mom held out an arm, pulling Libby close when she walked over to her. “I was thinking about him this morning too.”

Libby’s eyes filled. “He’s been gone for months. When am I going to stop crying?”

“We can’t rush the grieving,” Mom said. “Your brother was very important to us.”

“Allie said that her dad doesn’t want her crying anymore,” Libby said. She and her best friend were dealing with the same thing. Their older brothers had both lost their lives on the same day, in the same crash. “She said he told her that she’s cried enough and needs to get over it.”

“Poor Allie,” Mom said quietly.

Libby looked down at the floor. “Is that what Jesus thinks?” she asked. “That I need to stop crying about it?”

“Jesus? No.” Mom rubbed her shoulder. “Jesus understands your pain. He’s not going to rush your grieving or get upset when you cry.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Mom said confidently. “There’s actually a time in the Bible where we see Jesus in a situation that we can relate to,” she said. “Mary had lost her brother Lazarus, who was Jesus’s friend, and she was upset about it. When Jesus saw her weeping, He cried too. He had lost His friend, and He also felt the pain of the sister who had lost her brother. He didn’t try to stop Mary from grieving. He grieved with her.”

“Do you think Jesus cares about me and the pain I’m feeling?” Libby asked.

“I know that He does,” Mom said. “He loves you, and it hurts Him to see you hurting.” She squeezed Libby’s shoulder. “Why don’t we talk with Him now while I make you some hot chocolate?”

“With marshmallows, the way BJ loved it?” Libby asked.

Mom smiled and wiped her eyes. “With marshmallows,” she said.

–Emily Acker

How about you? Have you lost someone you were close to? Maybe your grandparent passed away, or maybe a parent left. Did you feel guilty for grieving? Did you feel like you could only cry about it for so long and then you had to get over it? There is no time limit on grief. Losing a loved one hurts, and Jesus understands that. He sees your tears and is with you in your grief.

Today’s key verse: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus sees your pain

Read: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Ian picked up a crumpled piece of paper from the ground and opened it up. It was a flyer advertising a sale at one of the local stores. He crumpled it back up and threw it on the ground.

“Why did you do that?” Mom called to Ian from the porch.

“It’s nothing important,” Ian said. “Besides, that’s how I found it. Someone else left it there like that.” He kicked the paper to the side of the sidewalk.

“Ian, pick it up and throw it away, please. I know you’re not the one who put it there in the first place, but we all need to do our share in keeping our neighborhood looking nice, even if that means picking up trash that belongs to someone else.”

Ian sighed and picked up the paper. “This is the second time this week I got stuck with the consequences for something someone else did,” he said, thinking of the day before when his younger twin brothers were acting up at the park and Mom had taken them all home early. He threw the crumpled paper in the trash and sat down on the porch next to his mother.

“I know it seems like you’ve been suffering the consequences for other people’s behavior lately,” said Mom, “but remember there have been times when others have picked up your trash. In fact, I often pick up your candy wrappers around the house. And I seem to recall that the last time I had to take everyone home early from a fun outing was because of something you did. There is only one person who was completely innocent and suffered the consequences for those who were at fault. Do you know who that was?”

Ian thought it over. “Was it Jesus?”

Mom nodded. “Jesus never sinned, but He died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. He suffered the consequences we deserved so we could have eternal life with Him.”

Ian kicked at a leaf that had blown onto the porch. “I’m really glad He did that,” he said. “When I have to deal with the consequences of what other people do, I’ll remember what Jesus did for me.”

–Melissa Yeagle

How about you? Have you suffered consequences for something someone else did? Even though you may not have done anything wrong then, you’ve done plenty of other wrong things. We’re all sinners who deserve to suffer the consequences of our sin, which is eternal death, or being separated from God forever. But Jesus died so we wouldn’t have to. He suffered the consequences you deserve so you could have eternal life with Him. (To learn more, go to Have You Heard the Good News?)

Today’s key verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)

Today’s key thought: Jesus suffered the consequences of our sin

Read: Genesis 2:1-3; Mark 4:35-38; 6:30-32

Lilia pulled her paddle into the canoe and laid it over her lap. Spencer followed her direction and did the same. After a few moments of floating down the river confused, Spencer spoke up. “Hey, Lilia,” he asked his sister, “why did we stop paddling?”

“Well, we’ve been paddling down this river for close to an hour, and I think it’s time we took a rest,” said Lilia.

“But I’m not tired! I don’t think we need a rest. Let’s keep going!”

“Sometimes we need to rest even when we don’t feel like we need it. Plus, we need to rest up to paddle all the way back,” Lilia reasoned. Spencer groaned, still not convinced. “You know, I’m not the only one who tells you to rest,” Lilia said.

“I know,” Spencer huffed. “Mom and Dad do too.”

“And God tells you to rest too!” Lilia added, splashing a little water toward Spencer.

“He does?” Spencer asked, splashing water right back at his sister.

“Yes. God set aside a day after creation to rest.”

“But why?” Spencer asked. “God didn’t really need to rest after making the world, did He?”

“No, but He knows we need to rest, so He set an example for us to follow. Jesus also showed us the importance of rest. He took breaks from teaching to rest and spend time with God, and once He even took a nap on a boat during a storm. When we take time to rest, it helps us remember to trust Him instead of relying on ourselves. We can rest knowing that He saved us by dying on the cross and promises to take care of us.”

Spencer tucked his paddle next to his leg. “I guess that makes sense. Okay, we can rest for a little while.”

“Oh, and there’s one other reason I wanted to take a break from paddling.” Lilia smiled slyly. “Look up.”

Spencer looked up and gasped at the beautiful trees along the river. They arched along the riverbank and made a bright tunnel of autumn colors for the canoe to float through.

“When we rest, it’s easier to appreciate the beauty of God’s creation,” said Lilia. “We might have missed this spot if we were focused on paddling.”

Spencer just nodded, not able to take his eyes off the beautiful trees all around him.

–Naomi Zylstra

How about you? Have you ever been told to take a break even when you didn’t want to? Or maybe bedtime came around but you weren’t tired yet. Rest is important, even when we don’t feel like we need it. We often think we should keep going without a break, but Jesus tells us to rest because it helps us learn to trust Him and enjoy His blessings around us. Schedule rest into your daily life so you can be refreshed body, mind, and soul.

Today’s key verse: [Jesus] said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Today’s key thought: Rest in Jesus

Read: Psalm 119:102-105

Jalen finished his Bible reading, then checked off the corresponding reference on his sheet. “There!” he said. “I’m all done with this week’s youth group challenge. We had to read a different passage from the Bible every day this week.”

“That’s great,” said Mom. “It’s always good when others encourage you to read the Bible every day. Now it will be easier for you to keep doing it on your own.”

“Oh, I’m not planning to do that,” Jalen said.

Mom raised her eyebrows. “You’re not?”

Jalen shook his head. “I just did it to complete the challenge. I go to church and youth group every week, and we read and talk about the Bible there. I feel like that’s enough.”

That evening, as Mom walked past Jalen’s room, she reached in and turned off the light.

“Hey, Mom!” Jalen called out. “I’m in here!”

“I know,” Mom said, returning to his door. “But you had the light on quite a while, so I figured you’d had enough and it was time to turn it off.”

Jalen gave his mom a curious look as he reached for the switch. “But it’s way too dark with the light off. I’m working on my science project, and I need the light on so I can put my solar system model together.”

“But couldn’t you do that with the light off?” Mom asked. “I mean, you know the rough size of each planet, right? Can’t you just feel around for them?”

Jalen stared at her. “Well, I guess I could, but it wouldn’t turn out well!”

Mom smiled. “It’d be a lot easier to do with the light on, wouldn’t it?”

“Yeah!”

“Well, God refers to His Word—the Bible—as light,” Mom said. “It shows us how much we need Jesus to save us and helps us see the path we’re walking with Him more clearly. Even though you get that light in church and youth group, it’s also good to spend time in God’s Word on your own. I think that’s why your youth group did that challenge in the first place—to help you get in the habit of shining God’s light on your life every day.”

After a moment’s pause, Jalen nodded. “I guess that’s a light we always need to have on.”

–Deborah S. Marett

How about you? Do you spend time in God’s Word every day? It’s great to read and talk about the Bible with others at church, but it’s important to read it on your own too. That will help you learn more about Jesus and shine His light on your life every day. Get in the habit of taking a few minutes to read His Word each day, and ask God to use that time to speak to your heart.

Today’s key verse: The teaching of your word gives light. Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

Today’s key thought: Read God’s Word every day