Mission Briefing
A Bible hero mission for kids about waiting with hope.
Hero: Sarah
Virtue: Patience
Best for: Ages 6-12
Time: 10-15 minutes
You need: jar or cup, paper strips, and pencil
Meet Sarah
Sarah had been unable to have children for many years.
God had promised Abraham that he would have many descendants. During the long wait, Sarah and Abraham tried to build a family through Hagar. Their decision caused pain and conflict, and Sarah later mistreated Hagar.
Sarah did not always wait patiently or make wise choices.
Later, God specifically promised that Sarah herself would have a son. God said the child would be born by that time the following year and would be named Isaac.
When Sarah heard this, she laughed because it seemed impossible. When God questioned her, Sarah became afraid and denied laughing.
At the time God had promised, Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Her doubtful laughter became joyful laughter.
Sarah’s story does not show someone who waited perfectly. It shows that God remained faithful even when Sarah struggled with doubt and tried to control the outcome.
Patience means responding faithfully while we wait, even when we cannot control the timing or outcome.
The Hagar account is recorded in Genesis 16, while the specific promise concerning Sarah and Isaac appears in Genesis 17:15-21.
Want to learn more about Sarah? Explore Sarah’s Bible Hero profile.
Hero Skill: Wait With Hope
Patience is not pretending that waiting feels easy. It is also not sitting passively when wise action or help is needed.
Waiting with hope can include:
- Being honest about disappointment
- Praying
- Completing today’s responsibilities
- Preparing or practising
- Asking for guidance
- Enjoying what is good today
- Accepting that we cannot control every outcome
God keeps every promise He makes. However, something we strongly want is not automatically a promise from God.
Your Mission Today: The Waiting Jar
You will use a jar to practise patience during safe, ordinary waiting situations.
Examples include:
- Waiting for a turn
- Waiting for a planned visit or activity
- Learning a skill that takes time
- Saving for something
- Waiting for an appropriate answer from a parent
Do not use the jar for bullying, illness, unsafe behaviour, frightening secrets or situations that require immediate adult help.
What You Need
- Jar or cup
- Paper strips
- Pencil
Step 1: Name the Wait
Write:
“I am waiting for…”
Then ask:
- Is this something God has promised in Scripture?
- Is it something another person has said will happen?
- Or is it something I hope will happen?
These are not always the same.
Step 2: Add True Hope Words
Add several strips:
- God is with me while I wait
- God keeps the promises He makes
- I can do today’s right thing
- I can ask for help
- I can be thankful today
- I do not have to control the outcome
Step 3: Choose a Wise Waiting Action
Choose one:
- Pray honestly
- Practise or prepare
- Ask politely for an update
- Complete another responsibility
- Help someone
- Enjoy something good today
- Speak to a trusted adult if the wait is worrying you
Say:
“I can wait faithfully without pretending I know the outcome.”
Talk About It
Ages 6-8: What did God promise Sarah, and what was her son’s name?
Ages 9-10: What shows that Sarah did not always wait patiently or trust perfectly?
Ages 11-12: What is the difference between a promise God has made and something we strongly hope will happen?
Patience Practice For This Week
During one safe waiting moment each day:
- Name: What are you waiting for?
- Tell the truth: Is it a promise, a plan or a hope?
- Check: Is there something wise you should do?
- Ask: Do you need help or guidance?
- Act: Choose one faithful action for today.
- Release: Accept that you cannot control every outcome.
Patience is not controlling tomorrow. It is choosing today’s right response.
Parent Note
Sarah’s story includes infertility, Hagar’s exploitation and mistreatment, family conflict and the consequences of trying to force an outcome. Explain these details according to your child’s age and sensitivity.
Do not present Sarah as someone who waited perfectly. Her story shows doubt, fear, harmful choices and God’s continued faithfulness.
Avoid promising children that God will eventually give them what they want if they pray or wait patiently enough. Isaac was the fulfilment of a specific promise God had made.
Some situations should not simply be endured. Medical concerns, developmental difficulties, bullying, unsafe behaviour, serious emotional distress and repeated broken promises require appropriate adult action.
Help your child distinguish between:
- An ordinary wait requiring patience
- A skill requiring practice
- A problem requiring wise action
- A situation requiring adult help
- A personal hope that may not happen
Biblical patience is faithful endurance, not passive acceptance of harm.
Mission Prayer
God, thank You that You are faithful and keep every promise You make. Help me be honest when waiting feels difficult. Give me wisdom to know when to wait, when to act and when to ask for help. Help me choose what is right today, even when I do not know the outcome. Amen.
Free Sarah Coloring Page
Keep the mission going with Sarah’s coloring page.
