Weight on the Lord | Object Lesson

This is an object lesson that can help you teach your class about how we need to wait for God’s perfect timing and don’t try to rush life!

Needed:

• Two Newton’s Tubes (also called “Newton’s Nightmare” tubes)—one regular metal and one magnetic version
• Optional: A small tray or table for demonstration

Begin by introducing the idea that patience changes everything about how we experience life. Tell your students you’re going to show them two people who look exactly the same on the outside—like identical twins—but live very differently on the inside.

Hold up both Newton’s tubes. Explain that these tubes look identical, just like two people who might grow up in the same family, go to the same school, or even attend the same church. But what’s inside each tube makes a big difference, just like what’s inside our hearts makes a big difference in how we live.

Pick up the regular metal tube and tilt it so the magnet drops quickly from one end to the other. Point out how fast it moves—rushing down without any hesitation. Compare this to someone who’s always in a hurry, impatient, and never content. Some people race through life like this, always chasing the next thing, never stopping long enough to appreciate what God is doing in their lives. They rush from one moment to the next and miss the peace that comes from waiting on the Lord.

Then hold up the magnetic Newton’s tube. When you drop the magnet through, it moves much more slowly, gliding gracefully down. Explain that this represents someone who has learned to wait on God. They take time to pray, to listen, and to rest in His presence. Their life may move a little slower, but it’s filled with calm and peace instead of stress and anxiety.

Use the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38–42 as a clear example. Martha was busy and distracted—constantly moving, worried about tasks, and frustrated with her sister. Mary, on the other hand, chose to sit quietly at Jesus’ feet, listening and learning. Martha had activity, but Mary had peace. Both loved Jesus, but only one was truly still enough to enjoy His presence.

Guide your students to think about which kind of person they want to be. God calls us to trust His timing, to rest in Him, and to slow down enough to hear His voice. When we rush through life, we often make mistakes or miss what God wants to show us. But when we live with patience and trust, He fills us with a peace that lasts.

Finish by holding up both tubes one last time and letting the kids see the difference again. The lesson is simple but powerful: patience allows God’s presence to work in us. Just like the magnet moves slowly through the tube, a patient person moves through life with grace, peace, and purpose—no matter what’s happening around them.

*Tags: God’s time, God’s timing, slow down, they that wait upon the Lord, Only God can unfold the rose