Trusting God During Hard Times
Explore the story of Elijah, the drought, and the widow in 1 Kings 17. Teach kids how to trust God in difficult times using creative activities and printable resources.
Learning Objectives
- Understand how God provided for Elijah during a time of drought.
- Learn how God used a poor widow to show His faithfulness.
- Discover the importance of trusting and obeying God even when it’s hard.
Introductory Activity
Start by asking the children: “What would you do if there was no rain for a whole year?” Discuss how life would be without water. Then say: “Today we’ll learn how God took care of a prophet during a long drought, and how He used a very unlikely person to do something amazing.”
Memory Verse
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Let children decorate jars or clay pots with this verse to remember that God always provides.
Bible Story Summary: Elijah, the Drought, and the Widow (1 Kings 17)
God sent the prophet Elijah to speak to King Ahab of Israel, a king who had led the people into worshiping the false god Baal. Elijah boldly declared that there would be no rain or dew in the land for years, until God said it would return.
To protect Elijah from danger, God told him to hide by the Cherith Brook, where he could drink from the stream. But what about food? God did something amazing, He sent ravens to bring Elijah bread and meat every morning and evening! Even in the middle of a drought, God cared for His prophet.
Eventually, the brook dried up. Then God told Elijah to go to a town called Zarephath, where he would meet a widow who would provide for him. When Elijah found her, she was gathering sticks to cook what she believed would be her last meal for herself and her son. She only had a handful of flour and a little oil left.
Elijah asked her for a little bread and promised that God would not let her flour or oil run out. Even though it seemed impossible, the widow believed Elijah and obeyed. And just like God promised, her jar of flour and jug of oil never ran out during the entire drought.
Later, the widow’s son became sick and died. She was heartbroken. Elijah cried out to God and prayed for the boy’s life to return, and God brought the boy back to life! This miracle helped the widow see that Elijah truly was a man of God.
Lessons from the Story
- God provides for His people in miraculous ways.
- Faith and obedience can bring blessing even in hard times.
- God uses ordinary people, like the widow, to do extraordinary things.
- Prayer matters: Elijah prayed, and God responded with power.
Creative Teaching Ideas
- Fun and engaging worksheets: Use worksheets that promote learning and independent work.
- Raven Delivery Game: Have kids act like ravens flying to deliver “bread” to Elijah (use play food or paper cutouts).
- Oil and Flour Craft: Let children make cards and glue in pieces of “flour” and “oil” to remember God’s provision.
- Raven Bookmark: Make raven bookmarks to remember the miraculous way God provides.
- Story Drama: Act out the widow scene and the miracle of the endless flour and oil.
Closing Encouragement
The story of Elijah reminds us that God is always with us, even in the most difficult times. He sees every need, listens to every prayer, and uses both big and small people to fulfill His plans. Encourage your students to trust God just like Elijah and the widow did, and remind them that God’s promises never fail.
Featured Resource
Make the story come alive with the Elijah, the Drought, and the Widow Bible Lesson Activity Pack!
This resource includes fun worksheets, storytelling activities, crafts, coloring pages, and more—all in English and Spanish.
