Young grandchild is questioning her Faith
Q: My young granddaughter is questioning her faith. How can I help to guide her?
Here are some ways you could walk with her through this:
1. Normalize Her Questions
Let her know that she’s not the first to wrestle with these thoughts. Many strong believers in Scripture asked the same: Thomas wanted to see Jesus’ hands (John 20:24–29). The psalmists often cried, “Where are you, Lord?”
Reassure her that questioning doesn’t mean she’s losing faith—it can mean she’s beginning to make it her own.
2. Point to Scripture That Speaks to the Unseen
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him…” (1 Peter 1:8)
Share stories of believers in the Bible who trusted God without seeing the full picture (Abraham, Moses, Rahab, etc.).
3. Practical Illustrations
Wind or Gravity Analogy: She can’t see the wind, but she sees the trees move. She can’t see gravity, but she knows it’s real because it holds her to the ground. In the same way, she sees God’s fingerprints in creation, love, beauty, and His Word.
Seeds in the Soil: When you plant a seed, you don’t see what’s happening underground, but life is growing. Faith is like that—often unseen, but real.
4. Resources for Her Age
Books:
Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel
Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science by Louie Giglio
The Ology by Marty Machowski (beautiful theology book for children)
Activities:
Read through the Gospel of John together, noting every time someone “believes” or “struggles to believe.”
Keep a “Faith Journal” where she can write questions and prayers—and later, note ways she sees God answer.
Go outside together and talk about God’s handiwork in creation (Psalm 19).
5. Encouraging Words You Might Share
“It’s okay to ask hard questions—God isn’t afraid of them.”
“Faith is not about pretending—it’s about trusting a God who has shown Himself, and proved to be faithful. We can see this in the whole Bible and in believers lives today.”
“You may not see Him with your eyes right now, but one day, you will see Him face to face. Until then, He gives us His Word, His Spirit, and His people.”
More resources:
Is there a God
Can we see God?
God is unseen (Spirit)
A: That’s such a tender and important question. It sounds like your granddaughter is reaching the age where she’s beginning to think more deeply about what she believes, which is a healthy part of growing up in the faith. Doubt isn’t something to panic about—it can actually be the soil where real, lasting faith grows if she is guided with love, patience, and truth.
Here are some ways you could walk with her through this:
1. Normalize Her Questions
Let her know that she’s not the first to wrestle with these thoughts. Many strong believers in Scripture asked the same: Thomas wanted to see Jesus’ hands (John 20:24–29). The psalmists often cried, “Where are you, Lord?”
Reassure her that questioning doesn’t mean she’s losing faith—it can mean she’s beginning to make it her own.
2. Point to Scripture That Speaks to the Unseen
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him…” (1 Peter 1:8)
Share stories of believers in the Bible who trusted God without seeing the full picture (Abraham, Moses, Rahab, etc.).
3. Practical Illustrations
Wind or Gravity Analogy: She can’t see the wind, but she sees the trees move. She can’t see gravity, but she knows it’s real because it holds her to the ground. In the same way, she sees God’s fingerprints in creation, love, beauty, and His Word.
Seeds in the Soil: When you plant a seed, you don’t see what’s happening underground, but life is growing. Faith is like that—often unseen, but real.
4. Resources for Her Age
Books:
Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel
Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science by Louie Giglio
The Ology by Marty Machowski (beautiful theology book for children)
Activities:
Read through the Gospel of John together, noting every time someone “believes” or “struggles to believe.”
Keep a “Faith Journal” where she can write questions and prayers—and later, note ways she sees God answer.
Go outside together and talk about God’s handiwork in creation (Psalm 19).
5. Encouraging Words You Might Share
“It’s okay to ask hard questions—God isn’t afraid of them.”
“Faith is not about pretending—it’s about trusting a God who has shown Himself, and proved to be faithful. We can see this in the whole Bible and in believers lives today.”
“You may not see Him with your eyes right now, but one day, you will see Him face to face. Until then, He gives us His Word, His Spirit, and His people.”
More resources:
Is there a God
Can we see God?
God is unseen (Spirit)
4 Ways God Reveals Himself to Us
What is Faith
Are we like God
How can I know God
About Jesus love for us (Gospel)
All FAQ about God
6. Your Role as a Grandparent
Sometimes, more than arguments or resources, what a child needs most is to see a steady, joyful, prayerful faith lived out. Keep sharing Scripture, praying with her, and reminding her of God’s promises.
Keep planting truth seeds.
Heres a short devotional plan (1–2 weeks) you could go through with her—pairing Bible passages, short reflections, and questions she could journal or talk through with you. That way it gives you both something structured to walk through together. If you only see her once a week, you could either do one per week, or if shes allowed device access or texting/facr chat, you could do this once a day with her, if she doesnt live nearby or you dont go to her house daily.
📖 Devotional Plan
Week 1: Who God Is & How We Know Him
Day 1 – Who made you?
• Catechism Q. 6: Who made you?
God made me.
• Read: Genesis 1:27
• Talk: God made you special in His image. That’s why you’re valuable, loved, and known.
• Activity: Draw a picture of yourself and write “Made in God’s Image” at the top.
Day 2 – What else did God make?
• Catechism Q. 7: What else did God make?
God made all things.
• Read: Psalm 19:1
• Talk: We can’t see God directly, but we see His fingerprints everywhere in creation.
• Activity: Go outside and make a list of five things you see that show God’s beauty and power.
Day 3 – Why did God make you and all things?
• Catechism Q. 8: For His own glory.
• Read: Revelation 4:11
• Talk: We were made to know God, love Him, and bring Him glory.
• Activity: Write or draw one way you can glorify God today (helping, praying, singing, etc.).
Day 4 – How can we know there is a God if we can’t see Him?
• Catechism Q. 3 (adapted): The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only can fully reveal Him.
• Read: Romans 1:19–20; Hebrews 11:1
• Talk: Just like we know the wind is real by what it does, we know God is real by His Word, creation, and how His Spirit changes hearts.
• Activity: Blow up a balloon, then let the air out. Ask: Can you see the air? No—but you see what it does.
Day 5 – Where do we learn to know and love God best?
• Catechism Q. 4: The Word of God, which is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.
• Read: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
• Talk: The Bible is God speaking to us, showing us who He is and how we can trust Him.
• Activity: Start a “Faith Journal”—write one verse you love and decorate the page.
Week 2: Trusting God Even When We Can’t See Him
Day 6 – Who is God?
• Catechism Q. 2: God is the first and best of beings.
• Read: Exodus 34:6–7
• Talk: God is holy, loving, merciful, and just.
• Activity: Write three words that describe who God is.
Day 7 – Can we see God?
• Catechism Q. 10 (adapted): God is a Spirit, and has not a body like men.
• Read: John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17
• Talk: We can’t see God with our eyes now, but one day believers will see Him face to face.
• Activity: Look in a mirror and remind yourself, “God sees me, even if I can’t see Him.”
Day 8 – Who came to show us God?
• Catechism Q. 22 (shortened): Christ the Son of God became man to show us God and save us.
• Read: John 14:9
• Talk: Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. When we look at Jesus, we see what God is like.
• Activity: Look at a Gospel story (like Jesus calming the storm) and ask: What does this show us about God?
Day 9 – What is faith?
• Catechism Q. 91 (simplified): Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, by which we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation.
• Read: Hebrews 11:6
• Talk: Faith isn’t pretending—it’s trusting Jesus even when we don’t see everything clearly.
• Activity: Close your eyes and let someone you trust lead you across the room. Ask: Was it scary? That’s what faith is like—trusting someone you know is good.
•
Day 10 – Why can we trust God?
• Catechism Q. 11: Because He is truth and never changes.
• Read: James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8
• Talk: People change, feelings change, but God never does.
• Activity: Write: “God never changes” and decorate it for her room.
Day 11 – What did Jesus promise those who believe?
• Catechism Q. 38 (simplified): Eternal life and joy with Him forever.
• Read: John 11:25–26
• Talk: Even though we don’t see Him now, Jesus promises we will be with Him one day forever.
• Activity: Talk about what she looks forward to in heaven.
Day 12 – Putting it all together
• Read: John 20:29 (Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.)
• Review: Ask her to share one thing she’s learned about God in the past two weeks.
• Activity: End with prayer together—thanking God for revealing Himself through His Word and asking for stronger faith.
What is Faith
Are we like God
How can I know God
About Jesus love for us (Gospel)
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 John 4:9 – “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.”
All FAQ about God
6. Your Role as a Grandparent
Sometimes, more than arguments or resources, what a child needs most is to see a steady, joyful, prayerful faith lived out. Keep sharing Scripture, praying with her, and reminding her of God’s promises.
Keep planting truth seeds.
Heres a short devotional plan (1–2 weeks) you could go through with her—pairing Bible passages, short reflections, and questions she could journal or talk through with you. That way it gives you both something structured to walk through together. If you only see her once a week, you could either do one per week, or if shes allowed device access or texting/facr chat, you could do this once a day with her, if she doesnt live nearby or you dont go to her house daily.
📖 Devotional Plan
Week 1: Who God Is & How We Know Him
Day 1 – Who made you?
• Catechism Q. 6: Who made you?
God made me.
• Read: Genesis 1:27
• Talk: God made you special in His image. That’s why you’re valuable, loved, and known.
• Activity: Draw a picture of yourself and write “Made in God’s Image” at the top.
Day 2 – What else did God make?
• Catechism Q. 7: What else did God make?
God made all things.
• Read: Psalm 19:1
• Talk: We can’t see God directly, but we see His fingerprints everywhere in creation.
• Activity: Go outside and make a list of five things you see that show God’s beauty and power.
Day 3 – Why did God make you and all things?
• Catechism Q. 8: For His own glory.
• Read: Revelation 4:11
• Talk: We were made to know God, love Him, and bring Him glory.
• Activity: Write or draw one way you can glorify God today (helping, praying, singing, etc.).
Day 4 – How can we know there is a God if we can’t see Him?
• Catechism Q. 3 (adapted): The light of nature in man, and the works of God, plainly declare there is a God; but His Word and Spirit only can fully reveal Him.
• Read: Romans 1:19–20; Hebrews 11:1
• Talk: Just like we know the wind is real by what it does, we know God is real by His Word, creation, and how His Spirit changes hearts.
• Activity: Blow up a balloon, then let the air out. Ask: Can you see the air? No—but you see what it does.
Day 5 – Where do we learn to know and love God best?
• Catechism Q. 4: The Word of God, which is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy Him.
• Read: 2 Timothy 3:16–17
• Talk: The Bible is God speaking to us, showing us who He is and how we can trust Him.
• Activity: Start a “Faith Journal”—write one verse you love and decorate the page.
Week 2: Trusting God Even When We Can’t See Him
Day 6 – Who is God?
• Catechism Q. 2: God is the first and best of beings.
• Read: Exodus 34:6–7
• Talk: God is holy, loving, merciful, and just.
• Activity: Write three words that describe who God is.
Day 7 – Can we see God?
• Catechism Q. 10 (adapted): God is a Spirit, and has not a body like men.
• Read: John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17
• Talk: We can’t see God with our eyes now, but one day believers will see Him face to face.
• Activity: Look in a mirror and remind yourself, “God sees me, even if I can’t see Him.”
Day 8 – Who came to show us God?
• Catechism Q. 22 (shortened): Christ the Son of God became man to show us God and save us.
• Read: John 14:9
• Talk: Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. When we look at Jesus, we see what God is like.
• Activity: Look at a Gospel story (like Jesus calming the storm) and ask: What does this show us about God?
Day 9 – What is faith?
• Catechism Q. 91 (simplified): Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, by which we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation.
• Read: Hebrews 11:6
• Talk: Faith isn’t pretending—it’s trusting Jesus even when we don’t see everything clearly.
• Activity: Close your eyes and let someone you trust lead you across the room. Ask: Was it scary? That’s what faith is like—trusting someone you know is good.
•
Day 10 – Why can we trust God?
• Catechism Q. 11: Because He is truth and never changes.
• Read: James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8
• Talk: People change, feelings change, but God never does.
• Activity: Write: “God never changes” and decorate it for her room.
Day 11 – What did Jesus promise those who believe?
• Catechism Q. 38 (simplified): Eternal life and joy with Him forever.
• Read: John 11:25–26
• Talk: Even though we don’t see Him now, Jesus promises we will be with Him one day forever.
• Activity: Talk about what she looks forward to in heaven.
Day 12 – Putting it all together
• Read: John 20:29 (Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.)
• Review: Ask her to share one thing she’s learned about God in the past two weeks.
• Activity: End with prayer together—thanking God for revealing Himself through His Word and asking for stronger faith.
God bless
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