Strong and Courageous

Strong and Courageous

by Elizabeth Rocha

Stories for Kids Christianity

Season 1

Episode 28: The Boy Who Shared His Lunch

Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today’s story comes from the time when Jesus fed thousands of people. One day, a huge crowd was following Jesus. Everyone was hungry, but no one had food—except one little boy. He had five loaves of bread and two small fish. That’s not enough to feed thousands of people! But he gave his lunch to Jesus. And when Jesus blessed it, the food multiplied until everyone had more than enough to eat. Here’s what we can learn: Sometimes what we have seems small—a little bit of time, a little bit of talent, a little bit of kindness. But when we give it to Jesus, He can use it to do something amazing. Here’s your challenge: Share something today. Maybe it’s your snack, your seat at the lunch table, or even your smile. You might think it’s small, but God can use it in a big way. When you give to Jesus, little becomes much.

Episode 27: Paul And Silas

Good morning, friends! It’s time for another Strong and Courageous devotional. Today’s story is about two men named Paul and Silas. Paul and Silas loved telling people about Jesus, but not everyone was happy about it. In one city, they were beaten, arrested, and thrown into prison. Now, if you or I were in jail for doing the right thing, we’d probably feel sad, scared, or even angry. But Paul and Silas did something surprising—they started singing hymns and praising God! Imagine that—two men in a dark, cold jail cell, with chains on their feet, singing songs of joy to God. And as they sang, the other prisoners listened. Then suddenly, around midnight, an earthquake shook the prison. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose! Paul and Silas were free! But instead of running away, they stayed and ended up leading the jailer and his whole family to believe in Jesus. Here’s what we can learn: Joy is powerful. It doesn’t come from everything going perfectly. Real joy comes from knowing Jesus is with us—even when life is hard. Paul and Silas chose joy, and their joy pointed people to God. Here’s your challenge: When something happens today that makes you feel upset or frustrated, instead of complaining, try praising God. You might even sing a song or hum a hymn. Joy can change your heart—and maybe even someone else’s, too.

Episode 26: Esther's Courage

Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today we’re talking about one of my favorite heroes in the Bible—a young woman named Esther. Esther was an ordinary girl, but God made her queen of Persia. That sounds exciting, right? But then she faced a very scary situation. An evil man named Haman wanted to destroy Esther’s people, the Jews. The only person who could stop it was the king—but no one was allowed to go to the king unless he called for them. If someone did, they could be put to death! Esther’s cousin Mordecai told her, 'Maybe you were made queen for such a time as this.' In other words, maybe God put Esther in that exact place at that exact time to save her people. Esther had to choose—stay silent and stay safe, or be brave and speak up. And you know what she did? She said, 'I will go to the king. And if I perish, I perish.' That’s real courage! God used Esther to save her people because she was willing to be brave. Here’s your challenge: Be brave today in one small way. Stand up for someone, or speak up for what’s right, even if it feels scary. Remember, God can use your courage to make a difference. This isStrong and Courageous. Like Esther, you were made for such a time as this.

Episode 25: Gideon's Small Army

Good morning, friends, and welcome back to Strong and Courageous! I’m so glad you’re listening today. Let’s jump into our story from the book of Judges. There was a man named Gideon. He wasn’t a famous warrior. In fact, he felt pretty weak and unimportant. But God called Gideon to lead an army to fight against the Midianites, who were hurting God’s people. At first Gideon had a big army—32,000 soldiers! But God told Gideon, 'That’s too many.' So Gideon sent home anyone who was afraid. Now there were only 10,000 left. But God said again, 'That’s still too many.' Finally, God had Gideon keep just 300 soldiers. Three hundred soldiers to fight an entire army! That sounds impossible, right? But God wanted everyone to know the victory came from Him, not from human strength. And guess what? With God’s help, Gideon and his tiny army won the battle! Here’s what we can learn: Sometimes we think we’re too small, too weak, or too ordinary for God to use. But God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It’s not about how big or strong we are—it’s about how big and strong our God is. Here’s your challenge: If you feel small or not good enough today—maybe in sports, school, or even when you’re trying to be a good friend—remember Gideon. Say to yourself, 'With God’s help, I can do big things.' This isStrong and Courageous. Be brave today, because God is with you.

Episode 24: When You Don't Feel Good Enough

When You Don't Feel Good Enough It's easy to feel like you're not good enough. But on today’s episode we'll explore what the Bible says about overcoming feelings of inadequacy. 1 Timothy 1:7, we'll discover that God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. This verse reminds us that we don’t have to rely on our own strength alone. God gives us the power to do things we might think are too hard. Whenever you face a challenge, remember you can do it with Jesus by your side. When you feel weak or scared, ask Jesus for strength, because He can help you do anything. Join us for an encouraging conversation about finding confidence in God's strength, not our own.

Episode 23: Pray Always

Hello Everyone! Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today I want to remind you that you can pray any time about anything. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says: 'Pray continually'. This verse is a good reminder that prayer is not only for your really big problems, you can pray to God about everything and anything at any time of the day. God is that friend that you can call on anytime of the day.

Episode 22: God's Love Never Ends

Hello friends! Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today, we’re talking about the greatest love—God’s love. Have you ever loved someone so much you could never stop caring about them? God’s love for us is even bigger! It never ends and never fails. Romans 8:38-39 says: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ No matter what happens, God loves you. His love never runs out, and nothing can take it away. You can always rely on His love to guide and comfort you. Remember, God’s love is endless and always with you.

Episode 21: Be Honest

Hello friends! Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today’s lesson is about honesty. Have you ever been tempted to tell a little lie, like saying you finished your homework when you didn’t? Being honest isn’t always easy, but it’s always right. Proverbs 12:22 says: ‘The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.’ God wants us to be truthful. Honesty builds trust with our friends, family, and with God. Even when it’s hard, telling the truth shows courage and integrity. Always be honest, even when it’s hard.

Episode 20: God's Plans Are Good

Hi friends! Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today we’re learning about God’s plans. Sometimes we make plans, and things don’t go the way we hoped. Maybe a game got canceled or a fun trip didn’t happen. God’s plans are even better than ours! Jeremiah 29:11 says: ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ God has amazing plans for your life. Even when things don’t make sense now, you can trust that He is guiding you and taking care of you. God’s plans are always good, so trust Him even when things seem uncertain.

Episode 19: Be Thankful

Hey friends! Welcome back to Strong and Courageous! Today, we’re learning about gratitude. Have you ever gotten a gift or a treat and felt really happy? Being thankful is about noticing and appreciating the good things God gives us every day. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says: ‘Give thanks in all circumstances.’ Being thankful isn’t just about saying ‘thanks’ when you get something. It’s about having a heart that notices God’s blessings, even on hard days. Gratitude makes our hearts joyful and helps us see God at work everywhere. Practice thankfulness every day, even for small things.

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