Keys for Kids - daily devotions and Bible stories for kids and families

Read: Philippians 4:4-7 “What if I don’t make the team, Dad?” Felix asked as they hiked a rugged trail. He had spent most of their backpacking trip finding things to worry about. “Felix, all you’ve done today is worry,” Dad said. “I could understand your concerns if we were fending off mountain lions or something, but the most dangerous animal we’ve seen was the timid gray squirrel that scurried a...

Read: Psalm 25:6-7; 1 John 1:9 Jacki and Blake waited anxiously in line with their uncle at High Seas Tees—the best mini-golf course in the entire world. Blake stretched himself tall to see to the front of the line when he noticed a sign that read: Mulligans $2, all proceeds go toward field trip funds! “What’s a mulligan?” Blake asked Uncle Lee. “It’s a redo in golf,” Uncle Lee answered. “The firs...

Read: Psalm 139:3-12 “I’m scared, Mom,” River said. “What if Dad never comes back?” “I don’t know if he’s going to, River. I don’t know how things will work out.” River’s stomach hurt. It had been hurting a lot since his dad stormed out of their house weeks earlier. “It’s just you and me?” “You, me, and God.” Mom tapped her computer screen. “And I need to find a job.” Things went from bad to worse...

Read: John 3:13-17; Romans 6:23 “And I’m just so thankful God forgives and helps us, or else I’d be totally lost!” Mandy’s mom was saying as she talked on the phone. “What is she talking about? What does she mean God forgives us? For what?” Mandy’s friend Hailey asked as they sat coloring at the kitchen table. “God forgives us for our sins,” Mandy replied. “What does ‘sin’ mean? Why do we need to...

Read: John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:1-5 “All right!” Garrison exclaimed as Dad pulled the car into Grandma’s driveway. “We’re finally here!” Grandma lived so far away that they had been traveling for two days to get to her house. “Yay!” said Charis. “I’m tired of being in the car.” Dad grinned. “Me too. All I want to do right now is relax with a nice tall glass of iced tea.” Garrison laughed. “Well,...

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 Samantha sighed and slid in her earbuds. Sometimes being part of a blended family wasn’t easy. She now had three siblings instead of just one, and they were constantly arguing. “We always watch this game show on Mondays.” Tori stood in front of the TV with her hands on her hips. “It’s a tradition.” “Well, guess what?” said Reid. “Now you have a new tradition—watching spo...

Read: Mark 4:26-29; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 It was a beautiful spring morning, and Leah couldn’t wait to help her mom plant their garden. This was the first year she was big enough to help. “Morning, Mom!” Leah exclaimed as she entered the kitchen. “Well, look at you, up and ready to go.” Over breakfast, Mom and Leah talked about what to plant. Leah loved tomatoes, so they’d definitely plant some toma...

Read: Psalm 119:105 “I haven’t seen the stuff in this old trunk in years,” Gramps told Evan. “There’s no telling what we’re going to find today.” Digging through the trunk was like digging through a treasure chest. “Wow, is this a picture of you and Grandma on your wedding day?” “It is. We sure look different now, don’t we?” Gramps laughed. “Look at this.” He opened up a box with his first pocketk...

Read: Philippians 2:1-8; Hebrews 10:24-25 Max felt sad every time he and his family walked past anyone asking for money. Living in the city, it happened pretty much every day. He wished there was some way to help those people and change their lives. What do You want me to do, Lord? Max prayed as he followed his family on their walk to church one Sunday. As Pastor John started to talk, Max was surp...

Read: Isaiah 55:8-9; John 9:1-3 “Why, God?” murmured Jolene as she hugged her baby brother. They had recently learned that Jaiden was deaf. “Oh, Jolene,” Mom had said gently after they found out. “I don’t know why God allowed this to happen. His ways are not like ours, but He is good and loves us so much that He sent His own Son to save us from the mess sin made of us and our world. Even when we d...

Read: Proverbs 12:17-22 “There!” Isaac said as he finished pounding a nail. “This is the best tree house ever! When it’s really windy like this, you can feel the whole tree house move. It’s like being in a swaying castle! Let’s ask if we can sleep out here tonight.” “I know my dad won’t let me,” said Bryce. “He says he has to be sure it’s safe first.” “My dad said the same thing,” said Isaac. “I k...

Read: James 4:7-11 Harley’s cat jumped up on the desk and started batting at her pencil. “Mom, can you come get Sassy?” Harley called down the hallway. “I’m trying to do my homework.” Mom came to Harley’s door and laughed when she saw Sassy bat Harley’s pencil out of her hand and onto the floor. “Can you take her, please?” Harley asked. “She’s distracting me, and I need to get this done so I can m...

Read: Matthew 18:15, 23-35 “Dad, look at this sore on my arm.” Cole pulled up his sleeve to expose a weeping red gash on his forearm. “Is that where you got burned at the bonfire?” Dad asked. “It’s getting worse. Let’s see if Dr. Patel can look at it.” While Dad called the clinic, Cole scratched his arm. When Dad hung up the phone, he said, “They had a cancellation. If we hurry we can see the doct...

Read: Matthew 14:22-33; Hebrews 11:1-2 Callie turned down the final loop of the zoo. “Best day of school ever! I love animals!” “And I love that we’re both homeschooled and can go on field trips more often!” Callie’s best friend, Katie, grinned. “Hey, look at that cool-looking antelope!” Katie and Callie marveled at the antelope’s twisted horns that spiraled close to thirty-five inches high. “Mom,...

Read: Matthew 7:7-8; 11:27-30 “Grandpa, I think Grandma needs hearing aids,” said Kelsey. “Someone knocked at the door this morning and Grandma didn’t hear it. By the time I got to the door, the person was gone.” “That’s odd,” said Grandpa. “I haven’t noticed a problem, but I’ll try to pay more attention.” Kelsey had been living with her grandparents for a few weeks while her mother was away on mi...

Read: John 1:35-45 “This is the best pizza I’ve ever eaten!” Jonah pumped a fist in the air. “I can’t believe this place is here to stay. I’m going to tell my friends about it.” Mom smiled. “I think our family will be eating here often.” As soon as he got home, Jonah started a video conversation with a couple of his friends. He was quick to tell them about the pizza he’d just had and where they co...

Read: Matthew 21:12-13; John 11:35; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Dad?” Madison opened the door to her dad’s workshop. “My favorite girl! How was art class?” Dad asked. Madison ran to hug him. “The art part was good.” She paused as she bit her lip. “What part wasn’t?” Dad asked her, looking concerned. He took off his gloves and set them on the bench. “Well, Mia told me that I’m too happy. She said I ne...

Read: 1 John 4:7-16 Ella was pouting when she and her mother returned home from shopping. “What’s the matter, grumpy face?” asked her brother, Jax. Ella scowled. “Mom gets you everything you want, but she wouldn’t buy anything for me. All I wanted was a smiling flower shirt.” Jax laughed. “A smiling flower shirt on you? That would be a joke! The way you whine?” Using a high-pitched tone, he imitat...

Read: Isaiah 1:16-20 The school bus was expected any minute, so Ethan shoveled his cereal into his mouth. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw his baby sister, Addy, pick up his tablet. He dropped his spoon, darted across the kitchen, and snatched it from her hands. “Don’t touch that!” he yelled. “I told you not to touch my stuff. You break everything!” Addy burst into tears, and Mom came hu...

Editor’s note: This story’s subject matter may not be suitable for young children. Read: Ephesians 6:1-3 It’s not fair , Ruth typed into her phone. Mom lets Jubilee go out with her friends after school all the time . Three little dots floated in a pale blue bubble as Ben typed back. She just doesn’t want to admit you’re old enough to start making your own decisions. Ruth stared at Ben’s profile pi...

Read: 1 John 3:1-3 Elsa was eager to find Maggie at school. “Remember how much fun it was to pretend we were princesses?” she asked her friend. “Well, guess what? My dad says I really am one! I’m a child of God, so I’m a child of the King because God is King of everything!” “I’ve never heard that before,” Maggie said doubtfully. “It’s what the Bible says,” Elsa replied. “Anyone who trusts in Jesus...

Read: Psalm 24 “Want to come over to my house for a while?” Elsa asked as she and Maggie got off the school bus. “Okay,” said Maggie. “I’ll just have to make sure it’s okay with my mom.” After checking with Maggie’s mother, the girls had a snack and then went to Elsa’s room. “My mom gave me some of her old dresses,” Elsa said. “We could put them on and pretend to be princesses.” “Yeah! That would...

Read: Matthew 6:25-34 Jacob’s throat tightened as he peered out the kitchen window. I wish we didn’t have to move , he thought. I miss my friends and my old school . After wiping his blurry eyes, he heard something chirping outside. “Look, Mom!” Jacob called. “There’s a nest under the roof over there, and a mother robin is sitting over four babies!” Mom came in from the other room. “You’re right,...

Read: Philippians 2:1-4 Chase stomped his feet to warm them while he waited at the edge of the woods for his grandpa and sister. When they caught up with him, Iris pointed. “What animal made these tracks, Grandpa?” Grandpa crouched in the fresh snow to peer at the tracks. “Let’s see. Four toes and a heel. And see what a straight line he left? I’d say a fox was here. A fox’s narrow chest lets him p...

Read: Matthew 7:7-11 Snow was starting to fall from the sky as Nick looked out his bedroom window, and he let out a sigh of frustration. His cousins were supposed to come that weekend, but if the roads were snowy and slippery, they wouldn’t be able to make it. Nick missed his cousins and looked forward to their visits a few times each year. He had all kinds of plans for when they arrived, and he e...