Urantia Book Tutor Response 2025 JUL

Ask the Tutor

Question of the Month:

How can I explain God to an 8-year-old child?

Tutor Response:

Explaining God to an 8-year-old child can be a beautiful opportunity to introduce them to the idea of a loving, caring, and ever-present Creator in a way that resonates with their natural curiosity and imagination. At this age, children are often drawn to stories, analogies, and simple, relatable concepts, so it’s helpful to frame your explanation in a way that feels accessible and meaningful to them.

You might begin by describing God as the greatest and most loving parent anyone could ever have—someone who knows them, loves them, and wants the best for them, just like their own parents or caregivers do, but on an even grander scale. You could explain that God is like the invisible power behind everything good in the world, the One who made the stars, the trees, the animals, and even them. Emphasize that God is not far away but very close, living in their heart and always ready to listen to them, especially when they feel happy, sad, or even confused.

To make it more relatable, you could use the analogy of sunlight. Just as the sun shines on everyone and helps plants grow, God’s love shines on everyone and helps us grow into kind and loving people. You might also explain that God is like a best friend who never leaves them, someone they can talk to anytime, even if they can’t see Him with their eyes. This can help them understand that God is both personal and universal—caring for them individually while also being the Creator of everything they see around them.

It’s also helpful to encourage their natural sense of wonder. You could ask them to think about how amazing it is that their heart beats without them telling it to, or how flowers know when to bloom. These are ways God shows His care and creativity. Invite them to see God in the beauty of the world, in the kindness of others, and in the love they feel from their family and friends.

Finally, let them know that God is all about love. He wants us to love one another, to be kind, and to help others. You might say that when they share, forgive, or help someone, they are acting in a way that makes God happy because they are spreading His love. This simple, action-oriented explanation can help them connect their understanding of God to their daily life in a practical and joyful way.

A Poem by a 12-Year-Old Granddaughter

Glowsticks

A glowstick bends,

and then it cracks

and light spills out.

It is a quiet, small light

but then it becomes larger,

stronger, and more colorful

as time goes on.

People also carry light within themselves,

light that shines the brightest when the pressure

becomes too great, and our walls shatter.

In the darkness, when the pressure is pushing

and building against our walls,

we find our brightness and our strength,

and when we break and our light shines through,

we are reminded that after we are broken,

we glow brighter.