My three grandsons are very blessed. Their godly raising is a joyful priority for their dads and moms (my sons and their wives). It is truly a delight to watch them grow and develop under the security and safety of their loving environments.
Do you remember the carefree feeling of being a child? Unfortunately, some of you may not have had that kind of childhood so that memory is not available to you, but others may have been part of a caring family where memories of growing up actually make one wonder “when did I get to be so serious?” and “when did life get to be so hard?”
God’s word is full of references to the fact that as a believer, He is our Father. He is the creator of everything and everyone, but He is Father to those who trust in his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus refers to Himself as our brother and prays to “our Father.” Our Father is trustworthy, loving and provides a safety net for the inevitable trials of this life. Jesus said we should have faith like a little child. Many of us have forgotten what that is like, but it might be helpful if we remind ourselves that we are children in God’s eyes.
How does a young child, who knows he is loved by his father, spend his day?
- He has a natural sense of belonging. He stays close to his mother and father in strange situations, making sure they are close at hand. As long as he can see his parent, he knows he is safe.
- He trusts his parents. If his dad says, “Jump. I will catch you,” the child believes his father will catch him, he jumps and often the first jump is followed by “More, daddy, I want to jump some more.”
- He doesn’t worry about tomorrow. He is intent upon enjoying today.
- If he wants to know something, he asks his father or mother. He trusts that they will have the answer.
- When he has a need, he goes to his parent. “Mom, I’m hungry.” “Dad, fix my bike.”
- When he is tired, he takes a nap.
- When he has a hurt or needs comfort, he seeks out his mom or dad.
- At the end of the day, most children want their parents to stay by their side until they fall asleep.
Robert Fulghum’s bestseller All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten may have been so popular because sometimes we adults need to 
realize that we are the ones that made our lives so complicated. Is it possible to return to the simplicity of childhood and trust God for everything just as a child trusts his parents? The Bible seems to indicate that this is the very thing we must do.
Take a look at the statements about the child above and compare his relationship to his parents and your relationship with God your Father.
- Through Christ, you belong to God’s forever family. God is your Father and there is never a time when He is not by your side.
- You can trust your Father. He will never let you down.
- He tells you not to worry about tomorrow. Leave tomorrow to Him. He will take care of you tomorrow just as He has today.
- He also makes it clear in His Word that if you want to know something, ask Him. He has the answer. He promises wisdom and guidance to those who trust Him.
- He will provide your every need. He takes care of the sparrows, and He will take care of you.
- God instructs us to rest in Him. Basically, faith in God is relaxing and believing that He will do all He says He will do. A biography of Oswald Chambers, Abandoned to God: The Life Story of the Author of ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ gives an instance where Chambers is quoted as saying, “Trust God and do the next thing.” He then proceeded to take a nap.
- Our Father is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). No situation is a surprise to Him. He has the ability to comfort you in any trial you may face. Often the comfort that He gives to you then enables you to have the resources to comfort someone else in a similar situation at a later time.
- God is always with you. Remember that He is with you in the morning when you awake, at night when you got to bed and because He never slumbers, He is watching over you as you sleep.
“unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3 NKJV).
©Stephanie B. Blake
June 2010
One Focus Ministries 