Big Feelings: Taking Them to God · Lesson 3
Big Feelings: Sadness
Genesis 21:8-21; Genesis 16:7-13; Psalm 34:18; John 4:13-14 Old Testament PrincipleCompassion
Hagar and her son Ishmael had to leave Abraham's family. They wandered in the desert until their water ran out. Hagar sat down and cried. But God heard! He called to her, "Don't be afraid." Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. Years before, Hagar had called God "the God who sees me." Sadness is a big feeling we can take to God. He sees us, hears us and comes close when we're hurting.
God sees and hears us when we're sad. He comes close to the brokenhearted, and He helps us care for others who are hurting.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 BSB
Christ Connection · God’s character
Hagar called God "the God who sees me." In Jesus, the God who sees came near. When Jesus "saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them" (Matthew 9:36). He sat by another well and offered a hurting woman "living water" that would never run dry (John 4:13-14). He is a High Priest who can "sympathize with our weaknesses" (Hebrews 4:15), and one day He will "wipe away every tear" (Revelation 21:4).
Matthew 9:36; John 4:13-14; Hebrews 4:15; Revelation 21:4
The Big Story · Redemption
God saw and cared for a hurting mother and son outside the family of promise, showing His compassion for all people, which shines fully in Jesus.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Empty and full
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): Wells in the desert
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: God sees you
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
God sees me when I'm sad.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Feelings faces, Color the hug
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Hagar and her son Ishmael had to leave Abraham's family. In the desert, their water ran out. Hagar sat down and cried. But God heard Ishmael's voice! He told Hagar not to be afraid, and He opened her eyes to see a well of water. Sadness is a big feeling we can take to God. He sees us, hears us and comes close.
Memory verse
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted.”
Adapted from Psalm 34:18
Start here
Ask, "What makes you feel sad?" Let kids share. Say, "Today's big feeling is sadness. Let's meet a mom who cried in the desert, and the God who saw her."
Bible story 6 min
Hagar was a servant in Abraham's house. Her son's name was Ishmael. His name means "God hears."
One day there was trouble in Abraham's family. Hagar and Ishmael had to leave. Abraham gave them bread and a bag of water. They walked out into the hot desert.
They walked and walked. Then the water was all gone. Ishmael was so thirsty. Hagar put him in the shade of a bush. Then she sat down a little way off and cried.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Find the well 8 min
You’ll need: A full water bottle
- One child is Hagar and covers their eyes. Hide the water bottle somewhere in plain sight.
- Hagar opens their eyes and looks. The class says "warmer" or "colder." When Hagar finds it, everyone says, "God sees you!"
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3rd – 4th grade
Hagar and her son Ishmael were sent away from Abraham's household into the desert. When their water ran out, Hagar sat down and wept. But God heard the boy, called to Hagar and opened her eyes to see a well that had been there all along. Ishmael's name means "God hears," and Hagar had named God "the God who sees me." Sadness is a big feeling we can bring to God. He sees, He hears and He comes close to the brokenhearted.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The God who sees, My lament
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, with friends, at school
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Hagar, an Egyptian servant sent away from Abraham's household, sat in the desert and wept because she couldn't bear to watch her son die. God heard the boy whose name means "God hears," called to her and opened her eyes to a well that had been there all along. She had already named Him El Roi, "the God who sees me." Sadness is a God-given feeling, not a failure of faith. God meets the brokenhearted in it, gives us words to lament and opens our eyes to His comfort.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The shape of lament, My lament
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Compassion
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Do Not Weep: Jesus and the Widow of NainLuke 7:11-17; 1 Kings 17:17-24; Numbers 19:11; John 11:25Jesus and His disciples, with a big crowd, came near the town of Nain. At the town gate they met a funeral. A widow's only son had died, and she was walking behind his coffin, crying. No one asked Jesus for help. But when the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her. "Do not weep," He said. He touched the coffin and said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. Everyone praised God – "God has visited His people!" Compassion means seeing someone's hurt, caring and coming close to help, the way Jesus does.New TestamentCompassion
Kings and ProphetsJonah Runs from GodJonah 1:1-17; Jonah 2:1-10; Jonah 3:1-10; Jonah 4:1-11Jonah ran from God's call to Nineveh, but God chased him, rescued him with a big fish, and showed His great compassion to a whole city that turned from evil.Old TestamentCompassion
Jesus the KingThe Good SamaritanLuke 10:25-37; 2 Chronicles 28:8-15When an expert in the law asked, "Who is my neighbor?", Jesus told a story about a Samaritan who stopped to care for a hurt stranger, and said, "Go and do likewise."New TestamentCompassion