How to Answer Kids' Questions About God Honestly
To answer kids' questions about God, say what the Bible says, admit it plainly when you do not know, and point your child to Jesus Christ. You do not have to answer every question on the spot, and a parent who says “let us look at the Bible together” gives a better answer than one who guesses.
Children ask big questions at odd times, in the car, at bedtime or in the middle of dinner. Why can't we see God? Who made God? Why do bad things happen? Here is a way to answer calmly, five questions children often ask, with short true answers, and what to do on the days when you are stuck. Peter says to “always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
It is all right to say you do not know
Moses wrote, “The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever” (Deuteronomy 29:29). There are things God has not told us, and a parent can say so. Then go to what He has told us. Say, “I do not know the whole answer, but here is what the Bible says.”
Go to the Bible together
When a question comes, find a passage that speaks to it, and read it with your child. If you cannot find one at once, write the question down and come back tomorrow. Ask your pastor or an elder when you need help. This teaches a child that God's Word is where answers are found.
How to answer kids' questions about God, five examples
Why can't we see God?
God is spirit, and He is everywhere. Jesus said, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). “No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him” (John 1:18). We see Him most clearly in Jesus, who came as a man.
Who made God?
Nobody made God. “Before the mountains were born, before you had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God” (Psalm 90:2). This is beyond us, and it is all right to say so.
Why do bad things happen?
The world is broken because of sin, and God is good and rules over all. Abraham asked, “Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25), and we can trust that He does. Jesus came into this broken world to deal with sin, and He will one day put everything right.
Why did Jesus have to die?
Paul writes, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3 to 4). Jesus took the punishment of sinners who trust Him, and God raised Him to life.
How do I know God is real?
“The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), and “the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen” (Romans 1:20). The greatest sign is Jesus Christ. Read a Gospel with your child and ask what they notice about Him.
Stay calm when the question is hard
A child who asks a hard question is not being rude. Thank them for asking. Keep your voice gentle, and keep your face open. If a child is afraid, hold them and pray first, and answer afterwards.
Point every answer to Christ
The best answer to most questions about God is Jesus. The session for 1 John chapter 4 speaks of the love of God shown in His Son, and is a good chapter to read after a hard conversation. Tell your child the gospel again, that Christ died for sinners and rose again, and call them to turn from sin and trust Him. Do not treat a child's good questions as a sign of faith, or a doubt as a sign of its absence. Pray that the Lord would give them a heart that seeks Him.
Try it this week. When your child asks the next question, say, “Let us look at the Bible.” You can start on the worship page, and if the site helps your family you can give here. May the Lord make your answers gentle and true.