Do Miracles Happen? Yes! Here’s How to Recognize Them and Teach Kids About Them

Do you ever feel like everywhere you turn, things are just broken?

Think about how many people are sick right now and living in unsafe environments without equal access to resources. Or consider the declining health of the many different ecosystems in the world God created for us.

It’s a lot. But what I really wrestle with is that God could work so many miracles and make all of it better—yet there’s still so much brokenness in the world. Then, I think about how I have to help my kids process the suffering they see and experience.

Have you ever felt like that and asked, “Do miracles happen?” Me too. But the answer is yes!  Here’s how to recognize them and teach kids about them.

1. Find out what your kids think about miracles.

Help your kids think about what a miracle is. You can ask your kids what they wish they knew about miracles or suggest a definition of the word miracle, such as “an unusual or wonderful event caused by the power of God to bring glory to His name.” Ask your kids what they think about that definition and whether it lines up with what they already believe about miracles.

Sometimes kids confuse miracles with magic or fantasy. Help them discover what the difference is—miracles are real and worked by God for a good purpose, while magical fantasy stories are fiction and focused on entertainment.

Sometimes kids confuse miracles with magic or fantasy. Help them discover what the difference is—miracles are real and worked by God for a good purpose, while magical fantasy stories are fiction and focused on entertainment. So, how can you help them tell the difference?

• Ask your kids to share how they think they can tell the difference between fantasy, fiction, magic, and miracles.
• Read about some miracles Jesus worked in the Bible (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are full of them!), or some that God worked through His people in the early church in the book of Acts.
• Talk about small miracles you’ve heard about or bigger ones you’ve read about and make a list, a chart, or a drawing if you and your kids like to get crafty.

2. Recognize that we live in a broken world.

When your kids have questions about the miracles they’ve asked God for, or why a good God would let bad things happen, don’t skirt the issue and pretend that everything works out great for everyone. Instead, be honest that God is powerful enough to work any miracle, and He is good, but suffering does still exist, even in the lives of people who are completely devoted to Jesus.  

This pain point can be the beginning of a meaningful conversation. Share with your kids how we, as humans, sometimes define what is good and what is not in a way that doesn’t line up with God’s definition. Then, talk about what impact that might have on others or on nature.

By helping your kids embrace their questions, you show that they don’t have to hide them to be a “good” Christian—and you’ll unearth specific things you can pray about together as a family.