Trust the Next Step

Type: Movement / discussion activity
Time: 10–15 minutes
Group Size: 3+
Materials: None

Purpose

Help children experience the idea that sometimes we must take the next step without knowing everything that comes afterward.

Setup

Create a simple path through the room using chairs, paper, or other safe markers. The path does not need to be complicated. Choose one child to be the “traveler.” The traveler will be given instructions by the teacher such as:

“Take three steps forward.”
“Turn left.”
“Take two small steps.”

The traveler should focus on the teacher’s directions rather than trying to figure out the entire path in advance.

[!WARNING]
Important Safety Note: Keep the activity simple and safe. Children should walk, not run. Do not blindfold children.

Activity

After completing the path, ask:

“Did you know the whole path before you started?” (Usually the answer will be no.)
“What helped you know what to do?” (The answer should lead naturally to: You trusted the person giving you the instructions.)

Connect It to Noah

Say: “Noah couldn’t see everything that was going to happen. But God gave him instructions for the next step, and Noah obeyed.”

Then emphasize: “God doesn’t always show us the whole path. Sometimes He asks us to trust Him with the next step.”

Upper Elementary (Grades 4-6)

Older Child Variation

Give the child a more complicated sequence of directions. Afterward ask: “Was it harder when you didn’t know where you were going?” Discuss how uncertainty can make trust difficult.

Take-Home Connection