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Like a Child…
Posted By Janice
“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. It is so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” Martin Luther
It seems like a simple question. You can understand why a four year old asks it assuming he will get a simple answer.
“What is faith Mommy?”
I hesitate for a moment. And then I explain it the one way I know my son will understand.
“Faith is believing – knowing you can trust someone even when you don’t understand everything. Like how you have faith in Mommy and Daddy. You know how much we love you. You trust that we will feed you, look after you and do what is best for you. You have faith in us that, as your parents, we will love you and will do everything we can to look after you. That is faith. And faith in God is just the same. We can have complete faith in God that He loves us and will do everything He can to look after us.”
Satisfied with my answer, Jackson jumps off my lap and heads off to play. And I sit and think about faith.
I have a thousand unanswered questions. My soul screams at God in confusion and frustration when I think of the lost and imagine judgment day. I can’t bear it, so I push it out of my mind. I beg and plead, but then I put it down and try to walk away.
Some would think of that surrender as denial or weakness. I believe it is faith.
My son can scream and protest against my parental decisions. He can revolt against me, not comprehending my love and protection. But ultimately, when he calms down enough to stop the tantrum, he remembers that I love him more than life – that I would give my life in a second to save him.
I sometimes burn in anguish and confusion, but after my tantrum ends, I surrender to my Heavenly Father. I do not understand why things are the way they are. I even question His decisions. But ultimately I know that I am just a small child with no idea of how the world really works. But I know that he loves us – he loves us more than life. He did everything to save us. He is our absolute protector and savior. I would stake my life on it.
I have faith like a child in my Heavenly Daddy. It is the only kind of faith that I know how to have.
“Jesus said, ‘…I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17
“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:26-27
Abba Father,
My precious, precious Father – thank you for loving me and looking after me. Thank you for calling me your child and drawing me to you. Please forgive me for my foolish arguments and let me crawl into your arms to heal and pray. I am so often confused and afraid – please Father, forgive me. And please gather up all of your children, the lost and the found, keeping us all safe and close to you.
Discussion:
All of our earthly parents fail us – many in horrific ways. Have you been able to heal from the pain of your relationship with your earthly Dad and allow God to reclaim His position as your “Heavenly Daddy?”
Does the concept of trusting God as a loving, protective “Father” help or hinder your faith?
Sep 23rd, 2006
Funny you should ask. It was not until I read Joel Osteen’s book Your Best Life Now…that I was able to forgive both my mother and father. By doing this I was able to turn my full attention to my real Father - God….and allow myself to be nurtured and love in such a way that I have never imagined. This topic is very deep and meaningful to me. Thanks for bringing it up.
I have! My biological dad and stepdad both hurt me very much emotionally, and I had so much bitterness and resentment for them until I was finally able to forgive them. I went through intense counseling this past spring/summer and I was finally able to see God as my True Father and me as His princess. I even wrote a little short story about it: The Story in which the Princess is Rescued from the Dungeon. (I hope I did that right!).
Seeing God as my protective Father has greatly helped my relationship with Him and my relationship with others.
Twinkling for Jesus,
Michelle
Praise the Lord, YES! It took ten years from the time I left home but yes, I am free to see my heavenly Father as my only Father because my dad is now “just my dad”. I don’t know idf that makes sense but basically I had to give up my dad so that I could concentrate on my Father. When He adopted me into the family of God He meant it and fully intended to be my real Father. Once I got to that point, I was finally free.
Trusting God as a living, loving Father helps my faith. It IS my faith. And sometimes it feels like it’s all I have. I love the analogy you used here, how our children fight us and rebel but in the back of their minds they know we love them more than life itself. That pretty much says it all about our relationship with our Father. Beautiful words spoken here. Somehow this was comforting to me today.
September 23, 2006
I have an amazing story to tell today, actually a true miracle sent from God himself. My friend and sister from CR has been living and fighting self-hatred for many years, and Satan well he had a grip on her she just could not let go of. Don’t get me wrong, she tries, and tries, then gives up and comes back and tries again. This has been her battle for many many months. Friday night Sept. 22nd, God presented himself to her in a might big way, a miracle, and he blessed many to see and be a part of it. It was amazing for her, and life changing. She wrote a story that is quite a story to read. I encourage anyone reading this to go and read her blog, bookmark her blog, because I am here to tell you as her sister, her friend, her recovery buddy she and God are fixen to start one amazing journey of recovery, and I am humble to be able to share that journey with her. I love you my sister. Remember what I say. It is not by Your Power, Your Might, but only by the Spirit of the Lord that you will have victory. He planted the seed Friday night deep within your soul, he showed Satan that it is YOUR time my sister, YOUR time. Live may not have been so beautiful for you, but I am telling you Life is fixen to become one beautiful ride……………..Go With God My Friend Sonja
her blog is http://justalittlelessmelord.blogspot.com/
A highly uplifting post! Thank you.
It was very difficult to understand how I could put true Faith in a heavenly father after a whole childhood of sexual abuse with my real father.
When I first became a Christian I had to have counsel from my Pastor who helped me separate them both. The abuse was so extensive with my dad that I had to forgive him before I could move on and begin to trust a heavenly father who would not abuse and adandon me.
God has always proven trustworthy and my faith in Him has truely set me free from the Earthly Father and Heavenly Father confusion.
This was a great post, thankyou for sharing with us.