Faith like a child. It starts when we’re little. We may be too young to know who God is, but we trust and believe just about everything. We’re innocent and naive.
He’s just two years old. He takes his hands and covers his face.
“I can’t see you, Mommy. I can’t see you, Daddy. Where did you go?”
He pulls his hands down and his eyes pop open. “Peekaboo, I see you!” The smile and joy on his face is contagious. Laughter and smiles abound.
“This is fun! I want to do it again!”
“Okay, son.”
He trusts that his parents wouldn’t leave even when he closes his eyes.
Later, he’ll play hide and go seek, counting, “One-one thousand, two-one thousand.” He hears footsteps and whispers to his brother loudly, “Be quiet! Mom and Dad are going to find us too fast!”
The parents now know where they are, but they want this to be fun, so they call out, “Where are you two? You are hiding so well, we can’t find you. But we will!”
Creak.
The door opens.
Dad says, “There you two are!”
Love from a father. Faith like a child.
They hid — not afraid — because they knew their parents would find them. They took them at their word. “Let’s play hide and go seek, we promise if you feel alone, we’ll find you.”
Fast forward.
They grow older and the innocent child-like trust dissipates. The world sets in. Children can easily be distracted, fooled, and led astray — following fantasies, myths, untruths and falsities, making the truth hide. We’ve all encountered this, right?
Time to follow God. Time to “unhide” His authentic love. Time to trust like a child.
God-loving, Heavenly Father-fearing parents do their best to show their children who God is, but ultimately it will be their child’s choice to follow God — or wander.
Ever noticed how those of us who love and follow God are called “His children?”
We are called His children because no matter how old we get, if we are two or seventy-two, in God’s eyes we are still His children.
Remind yourself. “He is my Father. I am His child.”
I think it is important, no matter where we are in our faith walks, to integrate a child-like faith.
Why?
Because trusting God with our every portion with a child-like curiosity and uninhibited love is where faith begins. And grows. Taking on child-like faith is when God gets real to us.
Get curious. Curious faith reveals our amazing God.
Look around you.
See what God has made.
Proof God is real is everywhere! Stand in awe — like His child. I confess at times I get too busy to slow down and notice.
Pray like His child.
Remember you are His. And He is yours. Talk to your Father. Continually. Pray because He listens! Sometime we forget this. “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24). God may not give us exactly what we want. He wisely doesn’t work that way. But He listens, answers, and provides in His timing. He is wise. And He knows how to give us joy!
Chase joy like a child.
Do your best to learn what faith really is.
Faith is an unbridled gift from God. We cannot come up with it on our own. It requires: authenticity, humbleness, honesty, and trust in our Heavenly Father. Faith is not a checkbox denomination. Instead it is chasing a relationship with Him. The requirement is simple. Spend time with God and ask Jesus to be your best friend.
Jesus encourages and promotes seeking an authentic faith with our Heavenly Father, emulating a childlike faith. He uses the example of a child. Remember a child, when still young, trusts his parents with innocence.
As we get older and think we’re wiser, we may question what faith is and if it truly is the only way to get to Heaven and live a beautiful life while we are preparing to leave.
Jesus’ disciples were young men when they asked Him, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?” (Matthew 18:1). I think they were asking if there was a ranking system in Heaven, perhaps questioning their own worthiness.
Jesus then called a child to sit next to Him and tenderly answered, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.” (Matthew 18:3-5).
So today, I will choose authentic, childlike faith. I will choose to trust God with my all. I want to receive God’s unmerited favor. I will humble myself in His presence. I will not hide. I believe He loves, never leaves, and will always find me. I am not lost. I am found.
Time to follow Him — here and now — with childlike faith
Hope in Him,
Helo