Faith Like a Child

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We’re all familiar with the phrase, “faith like a child” or “child-like faith,” so let’s attention to all the things our KIDS can teach US about God!

Today, we have our first guest post here at Scattered Woman. Hooray! Please welcome Jessica Meades and tune your heart to what God would like to speak to you through her.

Welcome, Jessica!

We’re all familiar with the phrase, “faith like a child” or “child-like faith” and yet, when I started out to write this post, I couldn’t find that phrase anywhere in my bible. It kind of threw me for a bit, as I had to re-think what I wanted to write. Even though I can’t find anywhere in God’s instruction manual where I am to have a child-like faith, I can still share with you the lessons God has used my daughter to teach me about being His child.

Lesson One: Stop Worrying!

I don’t know about you, but I can be a bit of a worry wart. I like to worry about the “maybes” and the “might bes” and the “what ifs”. To make myself feel better, I call it planning. I’m an excellent planner. I love to plan for all kinds of things. It gives me a sense of control.

The sad, sorry truth is I can’t plan for everything. Heck, I can’t even plan for most things. The weather changes (I mean 80 degrees at Christmas is just nuts!), accidents happen, and other people do things that affect me ALL THE TIME! How am I supposed to plan for that? I’m not. That’s the point.

My daughter doesn’t worry about anything. Not about what she’s going to wear, what she’s going to eat, or where she’s going to sleep. She trusts me to take care of those things. Just as I can trust my Father with my needs. He’ll take care of them.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

~Matthew 6:31~34

Lesson Two: Obey!

I’ll admit, I’m not good at this one either. Too often I’ll justify and rationalize whatever it is I’ve decided I want to do, even when I know I shouldn’t. At the tender age of 2, my little girl is learning that her will does not determine her reality. We often clash these days as she tests her boundaries to see just how firm they are. After all, if she had her way she’d stay naked, eat mac and cheese, and watch TV all day.

Being an adult, I know there is more to life than TV and mac and cheese. Being her parent, I have the responsibility to teach her what she needs to know in order to survive and thrive in this world. It often involves things she has no interest in doing.

Hello! My Father often asks me to do things I have no interest in doing. He asks, then I must choose. I choose to either do what He asks, or not. Each choice comes with consequences. Some are more pleasant than others. Some are downright terrible. But it all boils down to my choice. Do I trust that my Father knows what is best for me?

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

~ Jeremiah 29:11

Lesson Three: Be Fearless!

Have you ever been around small children? They are absolutely fearless. They don’t even understand the concept. My child will gleefully do some wild stunt while I try to keep her from cracking open her skull, only to finish up with shouts of “Again! Again!” She doesn’t see the danger. All she knows is that she’s having fun and Mama’s right there, so everything is fine.

Let that sink in: Mama is there, so everything is fine. Hmm, sounds like something we can all take to heart. Our Father never leaves nor forsakes us. He is always there, so everything is fine. Yet how often do we let fear dictate our actions? How often do we back away from something God has asked us to do because we are afraid? What do we have to be afraid of? God is bigger than anyone or anything else! He made it all and all of it belongs to Him. So take a hike, Fear. I’m done letting you have your way.

In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

~ Psalm 56:11

He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

~Psalm 112:11

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

~Joshua 1:9

There are many more lessons to be learned. It’s part of growing up. We never really finish learning and that is the joy of serving an infinite God who always has more to teach. Shalom to you, my friends!