Quiet Strength

Frozen Decisions

This is a fun, fast-paced game that gets everyone laughing—and thinking about what it’s like to stop and choose carefully. Have everyone spread out and stand up. You will be the caller. Call out a series of actions, like “scratch your head,” “pat your stomach,” “clap three times,” “do a dance move.” But when you say “Freeze,” everyone must stop immediately and hold whatever pose they’re in. The last person to freeze has to stay that way for the rest of the game. Keep playing until you have a few people left unfrozen. Then enjoy the funny scene.

Throw in a few surprise commands, like “jump while waving,” or “hug yourself,” just to keep them guessing. The goal is fun, not winning.

Follow-up questions:

• What made it hard to freeze quickly?
• Did you ever get stuck in a silly pose?
• How do we decide when to stop and think before acting?

That game was all about quick decisions—but sometimes, in life, we need to stop and think before we act. We need to listen. We need to pay attention.

Today we’re going to hear about someone who faced a big moment in his life. Joseph had every reason to act quickly and walk away. But instead, he paused. He listened. He chose to trust God.

Let’s read his story together. As you hear it, think about what it means to stop, listen to God, and follow Him—even when it’s not easy.

Read Matthew 1:18-24 (Joseph and the Angel), the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Advent Year A.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.

When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.

Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

Today we’re going to talk about someone who doesn’t say a single word in the Bible, but who still teaches us a lot through his actions. That person is St. Joseph. He’s often in the background of the story, quiet and calm. But his choices speak louder than words. He shows us what real strength, faith, and love look like.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear the story of how Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant. They were engaged to be married. Back then, that was already a serious commitment. So when Joseph hears that Mary is going to have a baby, and he knows the child isn’t his, he must have felt confused, hurt, maybe even heartbroken. That kind of news would shake anyone up.

But look at what Joseph does. He doesn’t yell. He doesn’t shame Mary. He doesn’t try to get even. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a just man. That means he wanted to do the right thing. He decided to quietly end the engagement. He thought that would protect Mary from embarrassment or worse. That shows us a man who cared about doing good, even when he was hurting. He chose kindness over revenge. He chose mercy over pride.

Then something happens that changes everything. An angel appears to Joseph in a dream. The angel tells him that the baby is from the Holy Spirit. The angel says, “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Joseph could have brushed it off. He could have doubted the dream. But he didn’t. He trusted God. He got up and did exactly what the angel told him to do.

That’s not easy. Think about it. Everyone around Joseph probably thought he was crazy for staying with Mary. People might have judged him. But Joseph didn’t care about what others thought. He cared about doing God’s will. He protected Mary. He took care of Jesus. He gave them a safe home. He followed the path God gave him, even when it was hard.

Joseph never tried to be famous. He didn’t need attention. He wasn’t loud. But he was strong in a different way. He was strong in faith. He was strong in love. And he was strong in doing what was right. That kind of strength doesn’t show off. It doesn’t brag. It just shows up every day and does what needs to be done.

That’s the kind of strength we’re called to have. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be brave. You don’t have to be perfect to be faithful. What matters is choosing to trust God, even when things are confusing or scary. What matters is standing up for what’s right, even when no one else sees it.

So here’s something to think about: Can we be like Joseph? Can we listen to God and do what He asks, even when it’s not easy? Can we be kind when we’ve been hurt? Can we choose quiet strength instead of anger or pride?

With God’s help, the answer is yes. We can be people of faith like Joseph. We can trust God with our lives. And we can let our actions speak louder than our words. That’s what Joseph did. And we can too.

Small group time is a chance for teens to share their thoughts and hear from others. Encourage everyone to speak, but no one should be forced to share. Remind them that what is said in the group should stay in the group, unless someone is in danger or needs help. The goal is to listen with respect and reflect on how the story of St. Joseph connects to their own lives. Let the Holy Spirit guide the conversation.

• What part of St. Joseph’s story stood out to you the most? Why?
• How do you think Joseph felt when he first found out that Mary was going to have a baby?
• What does Joseph teach us about handling difficult situations?
• Have you ever had to trust God when something in your life didn’t make sense? What happened?
• What does “quiet strength” mean to you? Can you think of someone in your life who shows that?
• How can we be more like Joseph in our own families or schools?
• Is it hard to listen to God today? What gets in the way?
• Why do you think God chose Joseph for such an important role?
• What does this story show us about doing the right thing even when it’s hard?
• How can we support each other in being faithful like Joseph?

This week, your challenge is to live like St. Joseph by showing quiet strength. That means doing the right thing, even if no one notices. You don’t have to say a lot—just act with kindness, honesty, and faith. Look for one moment each day when you can choose to do something good, even if it’s small. Maybe that means staying calm when you’re upset or choosing not to join in on gossip.

Here are a few ways to live this out: First, do one quiet act of kindness for someone at home or school—something helpful without expecting thanks. Second, take five minutes each day to sit in silence and talk to God like Joseph listened in silence. And third, if something hard happens, try to trust God and ask Him what He wants you to do, instead of reacting right away. Let Joseph’s example guide you this week.

Let’s close with a prayer. Take a deep breath. Quiet your heart. Let’s speak to God together.

Loving God,
Thank you for giving us the example of St. Joseph.
He listened to You, trusted You, and followed You, even when it was hard.
Help us to be like him.
Teach us to be kind, even when we’re hurt.
Teach us to be strong, even when we feel weak.
Help us to trust You, even when we don’t understand.

St. Joseph, pray for us.
Walk with us as we try to follow your example.
Help us to listen for God’s voice and say yes to His plan.
Help us to protect others, serve with love, and stay faithful.

We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord,
Amen.

Themes for the Quiet Strength of Saint Joseph Lesson Plan

• Quiet strength matters: St. Joseph shows that you don’t need to be loud to be strong. He acted with courage and faith without saying a word. God works through quiet people too.
• Faith in hard times: Joseph trusted God even when things didn’t make sense. He believed what the angel told him in a dream. He followed God with no clear answers.
• Obedience to God: Joseph did what God asked without arguing. He listened and acted right away. Obedience shows trust in God’s plan.
• Mercy over judgment: Joseph chose not to shame Mary. He cared more about her than his own pride. This teaches us to be kind even when we are hurt.
• Family is sacred: Joseph protected Mary and Jesus. He said yes to a difficult family situation. God works through family life.
• Listening to God: Joseph paid attention to God’s message in a dream. He didn’t ignore it. We should listen for God’s voice in our lives too.
• Trust without control: Joseph couldn’t control the situation. But he let God lead him. We can learn to let go and trust God.
• Holiness in daily life: Joseph was a worker and a husband. His everyday life was part of God’s plan. Holiness doesn’t require fame or power.
• Courage in silence: Joseph was brave without making a scene. His quiet actions changed history. Courage often shows in small, steady choices.
• God chooses the humble: Joseph wasn’t rich or important. But God gave him a big mission. God often picks simple people to do great things.
• Being just and fair: The Bible calls Joseph a just man. He did what was right in a gentle way. Justice means doing right with love.

Background Material for the Quiet Strength of Saint Joseph Lesson Plan

St. Joseph is a quiet figure in the Gospels, but the Church holds him in great honor. In Matthew 1:18-24, Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant before they live together. At first, he plans to quietly divorce her, but then an angel appears to him in a dream. The angel tells him that the child is from the Holy Spirit and that he should not be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Joseph obeys without hesitation. This passage shows his faith, his obedience, and his quiet strength.

The Church teaches that Joseph was a just man. This means he followed God’s law and treated others with fairness and mercy. He cared for Mary and protected her dignity. Even before the angel came, Joseph did not want to shame her. After the angel’s message, Joseph trusted God and accepted a new role as the earthly father of Jesus. His actions show deep faith and courage.

Joseph’s life reflects many important parts of Catholic teaching. He models what it means to listen to God and act with trust. He shows that real strength does not have to be loud or showy. Strength can be quiet, patient, and steady. Joseph’s choices were not easy, but he followed God anyway.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights St. Joseph’s role in God’s plan of salvation. It states: “God called Joseph to ‘take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit,’ so that Jesus, ‘who is called Christ,’ should be born of Joseph’s spouse into the messianic lineage of David” (CCC 437). This shows that Joseph’s obedience was crucial in fulfilling God’s promise.

Joseph also shows the value of family. He became the protector of Mary and Jesus. He took them to Egypt to keep them safe from Herod. He worked as a carpenter and provided for them. The Holy Family is a model for all families. Through Joseph, we see that caring for our family is part of our faith.

The Church celebrates Joseph as the patron of the universal Church. He is also the patron of fathers, workers, and a happy death. His life reminds us that God works through everyday people. Joseph was not a king or a priest. He was a husband, a father, and a worker. But his faith and actions played a key role in God’s plan.

In this lesson, youth can see that faith is not always dramatic. It is often lived in small choices, in quiet trust, and in steady obedience. St. Joseph shows that holiness is possible in daily life. He is a strong example for young people who want to follow God but may not feel important or bold. His life reminds us that God sees and values every faithful act.

Music Suggestions for the Quiet Strength of Saint Joseph Lesson Plan

• Father, Make Me Holy by John Michael Talbot
• Even So Come by Passion
• Servant Song by Donna Marie McGargill
• Love Has Come by Matt Maher

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

If you’re looking for more free lesson plans and reflections for youth ministry, visit our Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections page at Young Catholics. You’ll find a wide range of topics designed to help teens connect their faith to everyday life. Each lesson includes discussion questions, activities, and prayers to make learning engaging and meaningful.

These resources are perfect for catechists, youth ministers, and teachers seeking to inspire young people in their faith journey. Explore the collection and find the right lessons for your group. Keep youth inspired and growing in active faith with these free resources!