What do you think of when you hear the term ‘child like faith’?
The first thought that pops in my head is this picture I had in my children’s bible: Jesus sitting on a rock holding a lamb, surrounded by 6 year old children raptly listening to him speak. They’re quiet, mouths shut. I think one of them may have been smiling?
Does this sound right to you? Kids sitting there silently?
Let’s think of how kids truly are: rambunctious, fearless, faithful, trusting, welcoming. They are open to whatever comes their way. They are curious about the wonders of the world, seen and unseen. They ask ALL. THE. QUESTIONS. I don’t think Jesus is afraid of our questions or rambunctious nature.
In a healthy family, children trust their parents with everything. They know they are loved, protected, and cared for. They aren’t left wondering if their parent or guardian will be there for them - they just know. Have you ever had a child jump in to your arms without giving you a warning, and you just thank God you were paying attention enough to catch them? They are so trusting, they don’t even think that you not catching them is in the realm of possibility.
Or how about this one: have you ever lost your child in a mall?
When I was about three or four years old, I was at a shopping centre with my mom and grandma. It was a really big mall, maybe the largest one around at the time. We were in a store, and I was standing beside my mom, who was looking at a wall of items. At this time, I suppose I decided that this store was too boring, and wandered out in to the vast open spaces of the mall. I was lost for a while, and I can just imagine my mother and grandma frantically looking for me. While I was wandering about, I had a very kind family help me and stay with me, and I eventually was reunited with my mother.
Not once while I was lost did I worry about anything. It never occurred to me to be afraid, and it never entered my mind to wonder if my mom would find me again. In my mind, my mom knew where I was at all times.
As adults, it’s so easy for us to become cynical and see our Father’s love through a filter. Many of us have been betrayed, abused, swindled, abandoned, and cheated. At the very least, at some point in our lives, we have all felt the crushing feeling of being disappointed. So, we filter our trust in God through these experiences. Trust me, I have done this, and sometimes I catch myself doing it.
In Matthew 19, some parents brought their kids to be blessed by Jesus, but his disciples tried to shoo them away. In verse 14, it says “…but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop [hinder] them,because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these children [ meaning humble and dependent].” (EXB)
Let’s return to the time in our life when our love for God knew no filters, before we learned that people were imperfect and made mistakes, and were capable of hurting and disappointing us. Let’s depend on God and trust him, kind of like how I depended and trusted that my mom knew where I was (even though I am sure she was frantic!). And, although my mother was probably freaking out, God isn’t. He wants us to come to him like kids do, fully dependant and reliant on him.
BRANDI-LEE DOUCETTE
