Bible verses for children
God’s timing is not our timetable.
2 Peter 3:8
But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:8 · World English Bible Classic (WEB)
In simple words
What does this verse mean?
A day and a thousand years are compared to challenge narrow expectations of time. The point is God’s different perspective, not a mathematical formula for predicting dates or calculating the world’s age.
Remember that waiting feels different from different viewpoints, and practise patience with uncertainty.
Talk about it
How could a wider perspective change your experience of waiting?
A little more to explore
Bible context & readings +
Second Peter 3 answers questions about the apparent delay of the Lord’s coming. The next verse explains patience, so the time comparison should not be turned into a code for setting a date.
Full readings at eBible.org · World English Bible Classic. Read with an adult.A simple prayer +
God, help us wait patiently without pretending to know your timetable. Amen.
A suggested prayer, written for this guide.