One of the first things kids learn in church is that God made the world. The Bible starts with the story of creation, and it’s right that we start with it too. Children need to understand that this world isn’t the product of time plus chance.
But as kids grow older, the significance that we ourselves are made by God takes on new importance. They start to ask why they’re here, a question that’s impossible to answer unless you know who made you.
Children become more aware of their own limitations as their bodies and minds grow. They may be frustrated that they lack the athletic talent of other children in their class or that reading is harder for them than for their siblings. They’ll be more aware of their strengths, at times becoming inordinately proud of the things that are easy for them and hard for others.
One antidote to counteract both frustration and pride is a growing understanding that we are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). If God made you short, he has work for you that a short person can do. If he made you tall, your height will not prevent his plans for you from being accomplished.
The playlist below is meant to help you and your children meditate on what it means to be made in the image of God, by God and for his glory. Although we live in a fallen world, God keeps treasures in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7), and he’s able to make his strength perfect in our weakness.
Find the playlist on Spotify or Apple Music and see the tracklist below.
- “Just the Way God Wanted Us to Be,” Sovereign Grace Music, Bob Kauflin
- “God Made Me and You,” Shai Linne
- “You Knit Me Together,” Steve Green
- “Made for This,” GroupMusic
- “Made by God 4 God Alone (Live),” Colin Buchanan
- “You Are Lovingly Made,” Michael J. Tinker
- “God Made Everything,” Awesome Cutlery
- “All Creatures of Our God and King,” Keith and Kristyn Getty
- “Made in the Image (feat. Erskin Anavitarte),” Yancy, Little Praise Party
- “Q4 & Q5 How and Why Did God Create Us?” The Gospel Coalition
- “Birds Were Made for Flying,” Colin Buchanan
- “My God Is All I Need / My God Is So Big,” CityAlight
- “God Is So Good – Rejoice in the Lord Always,” Quiz Worx
- “Who I Am,” Awesome Cutlery
- “Is He Worthy?” Keith and Kristyn Getty, The Getty Girls
- “God Made You Special,” Slugs & Bugs
- “If I Were a Butterfly,” City Kids, Little Parade
Read more from Betsy Childs Howard in her new book, Arlo Takes Off (Crossway/TGC). Purchase through the TGC Bookstore or Amazon.
