Faith through a Child's Eyes

I was exhausted beyond exhausted.  The last several days had been very full.  I reclined on my daughter’s bed to talk with her and as I conversed with her there, I began to consider shutting my eyes for a bit and snoozing a while in hopes of gaining a second wind to carry me through the last few hours of my evening.  I might even be tempted to sleep right through until morning.  Just as the sweet allure of this temptation began to set in, my phone rang.  Oh no.  It was a friend from church.  I knew her as an assistant in the children’s program.  Of all days, she probably wanted me to substitute for her tomorrow morning.  Here it was, Saturday night and I do not like last minute plans.  I have to admit that I let the call go to voice mail because I did not even have the energy to speak with her.  My mind went back to the last time she called me looking for a substitute.  That time, I was unable to help her because I was going to be out of town.  As I laid there with my eyes closed, a little voice started to tell me I could go to bed early and that I would have more energy in the morning.  I clicked a few buttons to listen to her message.  Sure enough, she was looking for help the next morning.  When I called her back, I learned I would not have to prepare anything to teach the kindergartners through second graders.  I was only filling in as a helper.  I simply had to show up and be present.  That I could do.  I agreed to help her out and she thanked me over and over. 

The next morning with tears in my eyes as I listened to the teacher speak about the video the children had just watched, I realized that God had determined for me to be there.  The “bottom line” of the message was that “Knowing Jesus Changes Everything.”  I became emotional as I realized these children did not yet know the full life impact of this phrase.  I felt humbled to be in this moment where this amazing truth was hopefully entering little hearts where it might grow to the point that it could be pulled out during a tough trial as an adult.  See, my friend, knowing Jesus changed everything for me.  It changes our whole perspective during the storm. It allows us to cope and persevere.  It means we can see beyond our circumstances to minister to others in the moment and see a future for ourselves that has no burdens and is only full of goodness.  And it changes us forever.  Knowing Jesus really does change everything.

The verse we focused on this day said, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see,” Hebrews 11:1 NIV.  My mind flashed back to many dark days as an EDS Mama where I could not see Jesus even when I was looking for Him.  I had to come to the place where I had confidence He was there even when it did not feel like it.  I thought I had faith when I was a child, but I realize now that it was in this long, difficult journey as an adult that He was burning faith into my heart.  Do you still have hope, Mama?  Do you know there is so much we cannot see?  “And He said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”  Matthew 18:3 NIV.  Go to your Father in Heaven as a little child and He will build your faith.