I recently read an article by Boyd Matheson called “Hanging on by a Thread? A Thread is All the Savior Needs” that deeply touched me. His message centers on the woman who reached out and touched the hem of the Savior’s garment and reminds us that when our faith feels small or fragile, we don’t need to let go. Sometimes we feel like we’re hanging on by a thread, but a thread is all the Savior needs.
Inspired by that message, I put together a simple devotional outline that helps young women explore what it means to hold on to Christ during difficult times. This outline can be used as a Young Women’s activity or a girls camp devotional, or whatever you want! It’s interactive, encouraging, easy to prepare, and designed to help young women remember that even the smallest connection to Jesus Christ can bring strength, healing, and hope.
Young Women Devotional Outline
“A Thread Is All the Savior Needs”
Length: 20–30 minutes
Materials:
- Ball of string or embroidery thread
- Handout with the quote
- Optional: small piece of thread/yarn for each girl
- Scriptures
Opening Object Lesson (5 minutes)
Hold up a single piece of thread.
Ask:
“What could this tiny thread hold?”
Let the girls answer.
Then gently pull on it and show how weak it seems.
Say:
“Sometimes life feels like this. School, friendships, family struggles, anxiety, mistakes, loneliness, questions about the future. Sometimes we feel like we’re barely hanging on.”
Then share the quote:
“When you feel that you are hanging on by a thread, hold on. A thread is all the Savior needs.”
Ask:
“Have you ever felt like your faith was hanging by a thread?”
(No need for them to answer out loud unless they want to.)
Scripture Connection (5 minutes)
Read Matthew 9:20–22 together.
Invite someone to summarize the story.
Ask:
- What did the woman actually grab?
- Did she have perfect faith?
- Why do you think touching even the hem of His garment was enough?
Share:
The woman wasn’t holding onto the whole garment. She wasn’t standing face-to-face with Christ. She simply reached for what she could reach. And that was enough for the Savior to bless her.
Interactive Activity: The Threads That Connect Us (8–10 minutes)
Give each girl a piece of thread.
Ask:
“What are some ‘threads’ that connect us to Jesus Christ?”
Write answers on a board:
- Prayer
- Scripture study
- Temple attendance
- Sacrament
- Young Women leaders
- Parents
- Friends
- Patriarchal blessing
- Music
- General conference
- Personal revelation
Boyd Matheson teaches that prophets, apostles, scriptures, prayer, and temple worship are all threads the Lord gives us to hold onto during difficult times.
Ask:
“Which thread has helped you most recently?”
Allow a few girls to share.
Discussion: What If I Don’t Feel Strong? (5 minutes)
Ask:
“What do you think the adversary wants us to believe when we’re struggling?”
Possible answers:
- I’m not good enough.
- God is disappointed in me.
- My faith isn’t strong enough.
- Nobody understands.
Then ask:
“What does Jesus want us to believe instead?”
Emphasize:
- He doesn’t ask for perfect faith.
- He doesn’t require us to have everything figured out.
- He asks us to keep reaching.
- He asks us to keep holding on.
Sometimes faith looks less like moving mountains and more like:
- Saying one prayer.
- Reading one verse.
- Going to church when you don’t feel like it.
- Choosing not to give up.
Memorable Closing Activity (3 minutes)
Have everyone hold their thread.
Invite them to tie it around their wrist, around a water bottle, scripture case, journal, or keep it in their pocket.
Say:
“The next time you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, forgotten, or not enough, look at this thread and remember: The Savior is not asking you to hold onto a rope. He is only asking you not to let go of the thread.”
Bear testimony that Jesus Christ always holds His end of the thread, even when we cannot feel Him near. As long as we keep reaching for Him, He can strengthen, heal, and lead us forward.
Optional Camp Version
End around a campfire by having each girl complete the sentence:
“One thread I’m going to hold onto this week is _______.”
This simple sharing moment often becomes the most meaningful part of the devotional because it helps the girls identify one small connection to the Savior they can strengthen immediately.
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