Faith like a child

I've had two thoughts tumbling around in my heart and mind lately.

Abide. Dwelling in the presence of the Almighty. Taking shelter under His wings. Choosing to linger in His Truth.

Faith like a child. A love that isn't complicated. A trust that is unwavering.

I feel God pulling me toward Him. I know He wants me to deepen my understanding, but sometimes I'm slow. Fortunately, I have children. It is amazing how God uses my two sweet young ones to teach me. At their preschool, they learn weekly Bible verses. Last week my youngest came home every day and held up one finger for each word as she smilingly quoted, "Do not be afraid, God is with you!" And when she said the word "you" she pointed at me and grinned triumphantly. So, cute. But that wasn't the end of it. At the playground later in the week we were pretending to sail on a pirate ship and my son kept beckoning for my daughter and I to jump into the shark water with him. Of course, I pretended to be quite afraid to do this. She reached over and patted my leg and said quietly, "Don't worry, Mommy. Do not be afraid, God is with you." So,with no more protestations, I proceeded to jump into the shark water. It was as simple as that.

Somehow, though, faith doesn't seem that simple to us grown-ups. We question. We thrash. We resist. Releasing the control of our lives to God requires a humility and trust we struggle to obtain. Yet, He still beckons to us. "Come."

I reread a passage in Acts 27 the other day. If you ever have time, read it. Here is the nutshell. Paul is a prisoner being transported by ship to another location. Paul warns the crew and guards that there is trouble ahead, but they continue on and things don't go so well. Finally Paul addresses them (verses 21-26) with a bit of a rebuke then, "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship...Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me." And then here is the clincher. "However, we must run aground on a certain island."

Paul trusted the faithfulness and power of God. He believed. His faith was strong and unwavering even in the face of certain difficulty. They would be shipwrecked, but God would spare their lives. Why do we think the Christian life will always go smoothly? Life in this world will be filled with trials. So, what is so different about the Christian life? The answer is Hope. Paul's hope, and the hope of all those on the ship, resided in God's ability to do what He said He would do.

And so, I return to my original thought. Faith like a child. A child is unmarred by the insecurities, fears, and distractions that interfere with trusting an Almighty God who loves them with no end. They cling to that love and trust the Giver of it. As adults, we too must cling to God with an unwavering faith knowing that even though we will, on occasion, run aground, He will see us through it. Therein lies our Hope.

In the days ahead, I choose to abide in the love and power of the One who sees what lies ahead and promises to walk me through it all.