Curious Faith Like a Child

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

 

Reflections for Father’s Day

He quickly kisses his wife’s cheek, whispering, “I love you, beautiful.” And just as he is about to leave, his kids eagerly pull on his sleeve. “Daddy, can you please play with us a little longer? Dance with me, Daddy. Read to me, Daddy. Shoot hoops with me, Daddy.” And the “Daddy” requests continue…

“Come on — please?”

Begging won’t work — even though it makes Daddy’s heart melt. They’ve tried this countless times before but haven’t figured out that it doesn’t always work. They simply want more of his attention. Why? Because they love him like crazy and can’t seem to get enough. And you know what? He loves them too. But life gets crazy hectic. And sometimes there simply isn’t enough time to love back. Right?

“Sorry kids, I wish I could, it’s time to go to work now.”

Hours pass.

Finally, the garage door goes up. Anticipation is over. The children race to the door. “Daddy is home! Daddy is home!”

It’s been a long day. He’s exhausted (and so is Mom) — but they love their bundles of joy.

He kisses his wife on the cheek again.

She responds, “How did your day go, dear?”

“Busy!”

He attempts to give her his undivided attention and love her back. He wants to give her another hug, but the kids are lovingly challenging this endeavor. “How did your….”

Question interrupted.

He’s wanted by the kids again. She needs a break anyway.

As our children have gotten older… “Daddy” has turned into “Dad.”

“Hey Dad, Can I borrow your car? Hey Dad, wanna go out and get something for dinner? Wanna wrestle?”

Wrestling is not a good idea. Our sons may take him down. So much has changed since they came into this world and he got to count their ten little fingers and ten little toes.

But it’s been a long day at work and he wants to wrestle anyway. A little pushing and shoving is fun. Right? But our boys are over six feet tall now and BIG!

I stand back watching and gasping for air — but the smiles on my husband’s and our boy’s faces make me giggle.

My husband’s filled these shoes for years. The soles are worn. The tie is tattered and a little old-fashioned. The camera’s out-dated but the memories captured are still amazing. His pen runs out of ink. But he’s thankful for the love notes and honey-do lists. Dollars are rolled up and tied with a rubber band. His credit card sometimes feels like it’s melting. By God’s grace, he’s doing his best. He wants to be a good dad.

The hurry, the scurry. The stress, the worry. Is this all? There has to be more to life than this. The house, the car, the status, the success… He often wonders. Am I focused on what really matters? Am I a good dad?

He’s a provider, a listener, a director, a coach, and a leader. He’s stayed up countless nights with our kids. Listening. Wrestling. Laughing. Advice giving. Sometimes stern. Always doing his best to be — God-fearing. He’s an amazing dad.

When he held our first child, she mesmerized him. Awestruck, he looked at the twinkle in her eyes, then thought, Now what? Twenty-five years later, he walked our daughter down the aisle, giving her away.

I’ll never forget the question he asked me that night. “Was I a good dad?”

“Yes, you were and still are. God taught you how to love and you know how to put Him first,” I whispered.

Every night he’s said a prayer for each of our three blessings. He still does today — because he knows simply striving to be “their hero” isn’t enough. It won’t work. Those shoes are impossible to fill anyhow.

Showing God’s love means more.

Our children are blessed to call my husband “Dad.” And he’s blessed to hear it.

But being a father isn’t always easy. Gratitude doesn’t always make itself known. And sometimes it hurts when he doesn’t feel it. A father loves to hear his children say, “Dad, I love you.” If he doesn’t hear it enough, inadequacy can fill his heart. When the void starts expanding, though, if he chooses to listen to his Heavenly Father say, “I love you child,” his heart will overflow with God’s love — again.

On a grander scale, I can only imagine how much it pains our Heavenly Father when we don’t love Him back or grasp how much He loves us. We don’t need to beg for His affection or tug on His shirt — He gives it freely. We simply need to follow Him.

“For God so loved the world, He sent and gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). His love and compassion are unmatched. Now, that’s one amazing Fatherly love.

So for every father out there, know this. In God’s presence you are always blessed. Always loved. Always forgiven. And always understood. You simply need to listen to your Heavenly Father say, “I love you, child.” And if you forget how much He loves you, ask Him to repeat it and you will hear Him say once again, “I love you, child.”

Ever wondered what it takes to be a strong and loving dad? One who equips his children to face the world with confidence, faith, integrity, trust, and strength? The legacy most dads want to pass down is quite admirable. But where do they draw their strength from? I think a father’s pillar of strength is found in authentic faith — real faith in our Heavenly Father, the One who instructs.

A good father…

Listens to His Heavenly Father. Repeatedly.

Humbles himself before God — letting God make him stronger.

Recognizes that he isn’t perfect — and unmistakably knows that when he stays in his Father’s grip, he is loved and forgiven. He chooses to do his best to honor, esteem, and follow God first.

Esteems his wife — showing his children how to love. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it.” (Ephesians 5:25).

Loves his children and points them in God’s direction, reminding them that they are always loved. Always embraced. Eternally forgiven and redeemed. “Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26); “As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him…” (Psalm 103:13).

He ponders: I am not perfect at loving, but I know the One who loves perfectly. “Dear God, help me show my wife and children how much I adore them. I miss them throughout the chatter and busyness of my days. Life is hectic. The business meetings are long. Negotiations aren’t always simple. But I know You love me. Keep me in Your grip. On this Father’s Day, and every day, I will choose to honor and follow You, returning Your authentic love first. I will not settle for less. You are my amazing Father. You are my fortress. The legacy I hope to leave behind is that I followed your footsteps. You led the way. You showed me right from wrong. You never hid Your love from me. Sometimes I turned away, but You called me back. See, I did my best because I wanted to be a good dad. Thank you God, for Your unmerited favor and grace.” Amen.

This is the man my children are blessed to call “Dad.” His hair is turning grey and he’s got wrinkles on his forehead, reminding us to be thankful for him and every day he is with us. He has and continues to teach us that God is our pillar of strength and Father who loves perfectly. And so today, we will appreciate him and above all thank our Heavenly Father for His love, provision, and eternal promise.

To all you fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day. To those who’ve lost your dad or never met him, I am so sorry. I am keeping you in prayer. Sons and daughters, love your dads. Wives, love your husbands, and mothers, love your sons. Today’s and tomorrow’s dads need our love and prayers.

Happy Father’s Day!

Helo