Child-Like Faith

A few days ago, I was sitting on a plane ready to fly home to Orlando from Raleigh. As we were entering the clouds, a little boy behind me said to his mom, “mommy, are we in Heaven?” I laughed to myself and immediately, “child-like faith,” popped into to my mind. I couldn’t think of a more fitting reminder as I headed home after a week of being a camp counselor at Opendoor Youth Camp in Gastonia, North Carolina.

This week was challenging, tiring, eye-opening, & most importantly, the Lord & His goodness flowed throughout. Being a counselor for 19 rising freshmen girls opened my eyes & heart in ways I never thought could happen. Seeing a room filled with around 200 students on fire for Christ gave me hope for generations to come. They showed me the true embodiment of having a child-like faith, and it made me reevaluate my view of The Lord and just how Holy He is. 

I believe having a child-like faith means you are completely dependent on God. Just as children cannot survive without the assistance and guidance of their parents, we cannot survive without God and His guidance. This type of faith is fully trusting in Him, knowing we can do nothing without Him, and surrendering ourselves to Him, so that He is able to take care of us. As our Father, He wants to care for us and show us the way to live. He wants to pick us up when we fall down time and time again. He wants to be there to say, "It's okay. My Grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in your weakness." We are His sons and daughters, and he delights in us.  

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says,

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you change and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Lord calls us to be submissive, meek, gleeful, and full of joy, just as a child would be. Our lives should be spent seeking Him and earnestly wanting to know more about Him. As we seek, we will find more and more wonderful qualities about our Creator and his mighty ways. The truth is, as we get older, the tendency is to believe that we have everything figured out. Instead of wanting to seek, find, and learn, we become complacent and self-sufficient. In reality, we have nothing figured out on our own. 

John 15:5 speaks to this very clearly. Without Him, we are nothing.

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

This reminder is just what I needed as I settled down after a week full of Jesus. It is so easy to think we have it all figured out on our own. As the independent person I am, I'll be the first to admit that I do that ALOT. I always want to look like I have my stuff together and that I don't struggle through things. I'm scared if people see me struggling, they won't think I am strong. BUT, it is OK to not be okay...In fact, not being okay gives us the opportunity and natural inclination to cling to Him.   

I pray that you and I would never lose our wonder. That we would wake up each morning with a gleeful heart that desires to know more about God. That we would humble ourselves and admit that we need Him. Just as children are eager to hop into their mommy or daddy's lap to cuddle, I pray we would want to do the same with our Heavenly Father. I can assure you that He wants nothing more from us. He loves us deeply and welcomes us with open arms.

With love,

Brooke