Child-like Faith

I asked 5 children over the past couple of weeks a question that may seem simple in structure, but one that most adults cannot give you a simple answer to. The question was "How do you know God is real?" These are the answers I received.

1. " because I went on a coal mine field trip in third grade and in the church we went into there was a Bible in the back but they had rebuilt the church because it had burned down. That Bible was a part of that church but only the first page was gone and a few were burnt. So it couldn’t have been a random book and my mom's trailer burnt down when she was younger and she had a Bible that my grandma has today and it was barely burnt and it had family pictures stored in it. The main reason though is my Mawmaw (grandma) passed away from cancer. She loved God and was close to him and we had five great years with her before she passed away and I would call that a miracle because she had had a very different past umm.. with a lot of reasons and I believe she went to heaven! I’m glad you asked me that question because I’d never thought about it!"

2. "Because He's able and He heals us."

3. "Because my cat was on my roof and he fell and broke his foot and he had to go to the vet and he had a tiny cast and he was in the vet for three days and I prayed for him to get better and he had a limp when he got out but after two or three days he got better."

4. "You don't know, you just believe."

5. "He has done miracles. I'm trying to be the best son for [my] mom, and two or three months ago my mom couldn't walk on her right leg and I prayed for her to walk on her right leg again and He answered."

If that doesn't bring a smile to your day and Holy Ghost bumps to your skin, then you need to reevaluate.

"And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, 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." - Matthew 18:2-4

I do not think there is anything wrong with being stewards of the Word and wanting to seek more knowledge of who God is. However, I think too often we seek knowledge without remembering to take wisdom with us. Children, who are pure, and joyfully and willingly serving the Lord, have the best faith relationship of any of us.

Let's break down the themes in these answers.

1. You can't break the Word of God. It is true and withstands all. God's Word always prevails. The grace of God is something that is transforming, comforting, and cleansing. Notice how this child didn't give a bold answer to prayer or a miracle of healing as an example. Her grandma passed away and yet she saw God so clearly in the midst of that because of the grace extended. This is why it is important for us to choose wisely how to react in faith to a situation. The way that grandma continued to faithfully serve God during an illness set the tone for how the little girl would choose to serve God with joy, in the midst of sadness.

2. God is able. God is a healer. Both simple statements but both powerful statements. Be reminded of them today. Let them heal your heart.

3. God delights in all His creation. He does not desire suffering or sadness. He hears even the requests that may seem small.

4. Many times we have no clue where God is leading us. There are things in scripture and our lives we will never understand. However, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the power of faith are beautiful things we have been given. Just trust. Just believe. He's done it before; He'll do it again.

5. What we ask in prayer, He will answer according to His will. Because God is good, and we are His people, we can't help but want to tell others about it and want to do good. Salvation is not based on works. There are not enough good works for us to do to earn salvation, but because of salvation, you should want to do good.

Reading these words of these children has given me hope. It has brought me joy. It has given me simple reminders of the goodness of God. He's still working. I hope it brings reminders to you that you needed today. I don't know where you are in your walk with the Lord. I don't know how educated you are in the realm of Christianity. But let me ask you, how do you know God is real?

Ask yourself that.

Get back to the childhood you. Delight in the joys of simplicity. God's word is what it is. It doesn't need supplication. It is divine and inspired. Take it for what it says. Jesus was not a fancy man who was well-liked, well dressed, or highly educated. He knew God because He was God. He spoke the truth and He walked in it. He loved little children and respected them. He, Himself came as a child to be relatable and humble. We are called to be like Him. Listen to the children in your lives because they trust beautifully in their Maker, let them teach you from time to time. Don't make it complicated.