Jesus said in Mark 10 that we must become like a child to enter heaven.
Lately when I have watched my children that verse comes flooding back to my mind. Usually when we think of that verse we only think of it in terms of blind faith – such as faith that God will heal someone. I think He meant it in a broader sense.
I was talking to a friend on the sidewalk and our daughters were playing nearby. All of a sudden my 5 year old daughter was holding my leg and she wasn’t saying a word. I bent down and realized that she had twisted her ankle and she was silently crying into my leg. All she wanted was the comfort of her “Mama” and she knew she would be ok. How many times do we go running to our Abba Father when we are hurt or do we turn elsewhere thinking that something or someone will do a better job of comforting us?
We were all heading back to our cars. Our seven year old son was behind us and following him was his grandparents. As he was walking toward our van, our son started running through the parking lot – a car was about 30 feet away and pulling out. He got in the van and said “I beat the car.” My husband and I knew that the only way he “beat the car” was because that car “let him win.” But there is a sense of invincibleness that a child has. As adults we lose that as we are too afraid that God isn’t big enough for us.
Our daughter, for quite some time, when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up would say “A Princess”. She had no doubt that this was attainable. The adults would smirk – laughing on the inside at her dreams. Somehow as we grow older we lose our ability to dream and believe that the dream is possible.
So are you childlike when you have an “ouchie” and go to your Abba Father? Do you believe that you are invincible with God’s power and act on it? Do you dream big dreams and pursue them?
Being child-like makes us step outside of our comfort zone. That sounds just like the Jesus I know, to make us a little bit uncomfortable – to draw us closer to Him.
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I always thought that as I got older my faith would get “easier” so to speak. While in a way this is true (as I have more experiences to look back on and see how God worked through them) I still find faith to be “hard.” Satan likes to creep up and present the message that God isn’t big enough for x, y or z in my life so maybe I should just “handle” the matter on my own. I hate that I buy into Satan’s lies at times. Thank you for this post. It is a good reminder of why having a child like faith is important for our personal adult growth in Christ. Such great encouragement this morning.
This reminded me of the classic song, The Warrior is a Child, by Twila Paris. I can hear it now! Thanks for the reminder that we don’t alwua have to be strong because our Abba loves us.
Um, typo! That should have been “always”! 🙂
Even before I had children of my own, I was blown away by how much the Lord taught me about His character through little ones. Now as a mom of 3, I am in many ways learning and growing just as much as they are!
Wonderful, thoughtful post!
My heart and mind have been filled with doubt lately. What a great reminder this is! I know He is stirring my heart so that I seek Him because I have too tight of a grip on the reigns. I need to let Him take control. Thank you!
They say after a certain age we revert back to being like a child. At 64 I can attest to that….for I cry easier….. need to enlist more prayer as I walk around in this frail body, (I don’t leap anymore). Still dream big and pray I live to see at least one of them fulfilled. I agree with Brittnie, faith has not got easier..unlike a child I do understand more of the risk. There are times I find my self folding my arms, giving God that hard look like a stubborn child would do when ask to do something they don’t want to do. My prayer is I don’t revert back to the diaper isle in Walmart. Looking for the finisher of my faith to call me home before then.