Children can be some of the boldest people you will ever meet. They say exactly what is on their mind, and they generally do not sugarcoat it. They are honest about their feelings, even when they are trying to get away with something they know they shouldn't be doing. I was one such child. Sure, I may have been a bit shy here and there, but I was bold and passionate and very enthusiastic. And something I was very bold about was the faith of Christianity. Yes, I grew up in a Christian home, and at a young age, my faith hadn't quite developed into my own, but I sure was a bold person when it came to sharing.
According to my mom, one day at an ice skating rink, while I was waiting for my siblings, I came up to one of the people in the lobby and said, "If you don't have Jesus, you don't have anything."
In another instance, while speaking to my mom in the car, she asked me if I felt bad because of the pain and surgeries I went through as a baby. My response? "Mother, God gave me those doctors and nurses so that I could be alive today and talk about Jesus to others. On the other hand, if I had died, I would be with Him and that would have been okay, too."
These two stories are depictions of just how bold I was as a child. I didn't question the faith into which I was brought. I didn't question Jesus or God or anything. I just came to Him, spoke about Him, without a care in the world as to what others thought. I'm sure my prayers were simple and childish, but that's okay. There is something about the unwavering faith of a child that is so calming, so endearing, so comforting. There is something about seeing children growing up in the church offer up simple prayers and explain verses in their own kid-like manner that is refreshing. To see the wonder in their eyes as they examine God's creation.
In Scripture, we are told to have faith like a child. Now, some could say that this means that we are allowed to be childish and complaining in our prayers, just using God like our big wishing well in the sky. Offer up a prayer, and you'll get exactly what you want! No. That is nowhere near what this verse means. Faith like a child means that we are bold and unwavering. We put our trust completely into the hands of our Heavenly Father.
Let me use another illustration. Imagine that you are a 5-year-old, and one of the big kids just pushed you on your way home from school. Your knee is all skinned up. You're crying and running home as fast as you can. As soon as you get into the door, you run to your parents (mother, father, doesn't really matter which.) Why? Because you trust them without a shadow of a doubt to provide the care that you need whether it be a bandage, a hug, a tissue to dry your tears and running nose.
This is what trusting God should be like. We come to Him with everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. We run into His arms without a shadow of a doubt, because we trust that He will provide everything that we need. Now, this doesn't meant that God gives us everything that we want. He disciplines us when we do wrong, He takes away things to teach us lessons, He gives us, sometimes, the opposite of what we want. He is our Heavenly Father. If He didn't do these things, He wouldn't be a good parent.
As we are His children, we should be proud of our Father. When we speak of Him, our eyes light up and we just get a look of awe in our eyes. Have you ever seen a kid talk about their daddy? The daddy that they are proud of beyond anything else? The daddy that they want to be just like when they grow up? They speak so highly of their daddy. And that's what God is to us. God is our Daddy. And as Christians, we are proud to be in His family. We are so joyful that we want to shout it to the rooftops and boldly proclaim it to everyone who walks by.
This is the faith of a child. As you grow up, God doesn't let go of you, but He does change His techniques in taking care of you, even as your parents do when you grow up. You grow more independent, but He never stops being your Daddy. In a time of crisis, He is the one you call. When something absolutely amazing occurs, He is the one you thank. I hope and pray that we can all remember to have the faith of a child and the boldness of a child to proclaim it.
