Faith Like A Child

Matthew, our middle child, really wanted some new play equipment for the backyard. My husband and I had decided not to buy anything, so he took his request to the Lord. Very simply, he asked for a new play thing for outside. We went on with our day, never giving Matthew’s genuine request another thought. Later that evening, a neighbor a couple houses down the road put a beautiful play house by the road. My husband checked to see if they were giving it away, and he loaded it up in the van to surprise little Matthew. All the kids were so excited as we unloaded Matthew’s answer to prayer. Three years later, that play house sits in our backyard and is a reminder that God delights in child-like faith.

Something happens between the carefree childhood days and adulthood. It becomes harder to just believe, to just have faith. Matthew 18:2-4 says, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” You see, children easily believe what they are told. They accept fact without analyzing all the details. They simply believe. This is how the Lord wants us to come to Him - with faith like a child.

Oh, to embrace my prayers with faith like a child! Oh, to simply believe God's promises with faith like a child! Oh, to trust His perfect plan with faith like a child! Oh, to fearlessly go forth and proclaim God's Word with faith like a child! Oh, to go outside our comfort zones and do God's work with faith like a child!

It's time to stop fearing; it's time to start believing. It's humbling to learn from your children, but they sure can teach us something about faith. Matthew had a desire. He brought it to His Heavenly Father, simply believing, and his Heavenly Father delighted in granting Matthew's request.

“Do not fear, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)