Have childlike faith and trust in God
“‘But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’’’
— Luke 18:16,17 (NIV)
I was looking out the front window and watched as the sun slowly set. I twisted the wand to close the blinds of the picture window, and then walked toward the kitchen.
Looking out the back window toward the east, the sky was a little bit darker. As I peered out into the dark space of my backyard, I saw something twinkle in the night.
Seconds later it flashed brightly again; I realized I was seeing my first firefly for the year. I watched closely as several lightning bugs winked and blinked in succession, flashing like delightful little night-lights, flittering their wings, and lighting their way through the dark.
I pondered the moments I spent as a young girl watching in amazement as they revealed their God-given fireworks display.
Watching fireflies again reminded me of the faith that a young child possesses. The child’s faith is a trusting faith. It doesn’t reason and make excuses like our natural thinking process. It simply believes what it knows to be true but cannot see.
Have you ever pondered what childlike faith is? It is the same kind of faith we used to trust the sun to rise and set each day.
It believes electricity to appear each time we flip the switch — as long as the bill has been paid, of course. It doesn’t understand the emotion of love, but believes that it exists.
Sometimes life’s problems harden our hearts and we refuse to see the wonder of creation or the possibility of a problem to be resolved.
Childlike faith relieves stress as it places its trust in God to bring about answers and solutions.
God doesn’t expect us to cast our responsibility, or function like a child. He desires that we abandon our worries and cares and believe for him to work them out with the same trust a child does.
Jesus said we could never enter into the kingdom of God if we don’t possess this childlike faith.
Faith is a spiritual principle God set in motion. It helps us believe Jesus Christ died for our sin, and to fulfill his other promises for our lives, as well.
In these turbulent times, let’s enjoy the world around us and enter into God’s plan for our lives with a childlike faith today.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. Join her for her presentation “Dream Big! Steps to Make Your Dreams Realities” from 3-4 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Panera Bread in Round Lake Beach. Conference is free; registration preferred. To ensure your seats, email Annetteebudzban@aol.com