With the Faith of a Child

Have you ever noticed how children are just accepting?  They have an ability to adapt to nearly every situation, take things in stride, accept all people no matter the color, and love - simply love - others.  They look to most all adults as though they exist only for the safety and well being of the children.  Adults kiss their boo boos and they are magically better.  Give them a hug and the child is just ready to go off on their way as though nothing at all has occurred.  Somewhere along the time the child starts school, they become a little more jaded and it continues along that path until adulthood.  When we become teenagers and then adults, we have suddenly become aware of the anger, distrust, and lack of faith in the world we have as opposed to the rosy colored with which we view the world as young children.

Matthew 18:2-4 says, "2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Why is it we can no longer see the world with that utter love and trust any more? Is it because the world is truly a bitter place or is it because we have become bitter ourselves?

There are many things that can jade a child's point of view.  Sometimes it's a sudden occurrence, sometimes it's gradual, and sometimes it's been going on for a long time completely unbeknownst to anyone.  The world has indeed become jaded, tainted and a "bad place" as opposed to the viewpoint of or early childhood.  It is filled with miserable people, robbers and thieves and murderers and cheaters and men and women who do terrible things to each other and children.  We may or may not have experienced, or at least been touched by, these behaviors as a child in some way.  Immediately it begins to change our perception and perspective and little bit by little bit, our childlike faith begins to change.  We grow further and further away from His word, our faith in the world shaken, our foundation cracks and shifts.

It is so very difficult to remain unshaken by this shift in the world.  To be able to continue to love unconditionally; to be accepting; to know that despite the events that transpire in our lives, we will always know health, wealth, well being, courage, strength and most of all love takes a tremendous amount of faith.  Being gifted with that "blessing" of freewill doesn't always feel like a gift.  We feel burdened by the need to exercise our freedom of choices knowing that the end result of many of them is all about controlling situations to achieve a certain goal.  In essence, giving up our control and living in faith is probably the hardest choice we have to make as adults.

Does that mean we don't have an obligation to make good choices?  Certainly not.  It means that we must step always in faith.  It means we pray, listen for the answers (and ears have little to do with listening here), and make decisions based on the biblical, ethereal, historical and spirit filled answers we receive.   It means we must live in  faith that He will show you the way.  Have faith that He will help you through even adverse situations that occur.  Have faith that He can bring you through anything.  He will kiss your boo boos and you will get better, even if there is a tough lesson to learn.  He will heal your worst illnesses, even if bring you home is the answer.  He will take care of your finances, even if that means you might have a tough time for a while until suddenly, you realize, you're set!  He will supply your every need.  "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

There will be times it will seem there are no answers.  We pray and pray and get nothing.  And sometimes, that's the answer - to wait. There is something far greater, something we need to learn, something we need to achieve first, something we need to experience, before we can receive the blessing we have asked for. Sometimes we need to develop patience or tolerance or even persistence in order to truly receive that for which we ask. It doesn't mean never, it means wait a while. Romans 5:2-5 gives us, "through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." We will be richly blessed by our obedience, our waiting, our patience.  It is by that faith, by His grace we receive.

And how does all that relate to having a childlike faith?  It is by believing that God, our Father, can and will always take care of us.  He will always provide for us.  If we believe in Him the way we believed or mommas and daddys took care of our boo-boos, that all children were our best new friends, that there is not reason to dislike anyone who was different, that there would always be food on the table, clothes in the closet or drawer and we would always be loved, we will also be blessed beyond our dreams.   If we seek God  the way we seek out our mothers when we are babes, so will He bless us.

Seek Ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be added onto you,
Alleu, Alleuia

Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Alleu, Alleuia

Ask and it shall be given unto you,
Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened onto you.
Alleu, Alleuia

 Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness
And all these things, shall be added onto you.
Alleu, Alleuia