Jesus commends childlike faith. Have you ever wondered what that looks like? Let’s look at two examples of childlike trust.
Dressed in blue Superman pajamas complete with a red cape, our three-year-old, Brant, thought he could fly. He leaped off furniture onto my cousin and his friend’s backs. At four, Brant fell off of a tall slide and bumped his head. Because he couldn’t remember what happened, I told him we needed to visit the emergency room. He flailed, argued, and refused to cooperate.
“It will be all right. We have to go,” I said, puzzled at his resistance. He quieted and climbed into the car.
The door swooshed shut with the doctor’s exit. Brant turned his brown eyes to me. “Is he going to cut off my legs now?”
“You hurt your head,” I said. “Why would he cut off your legs?”
“Oh. Is he going to cut off my head?”
My breath caught. Our neighbor’s legs had been amputated at a hospital. Brant associated hospitals with amputation. No wonder he’d panicked when I said he had to go to the hospital.
I swallowed the lump of emotion lodged in my throat. My son had trusted me even when he believed he’d lose his legs.
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Jesus said, “So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt. 18:4 nlt). Abraham, one of the greatest heroes of the faith, practiced childlike faith. He trusted his Father, even when asked to offer up his only son.
After waiting twenty-five long years to hold this baby, after memorizing every facial expression and savoring every giggle and antic, Abraham could have reasoned with God and begged for a different test. “How can you fulfill your promise if you take Isaac? You’ve already sent Ishmael away. Take me, but, please, don’t take our laughter away.”
But Abraham didn’t argue or bargain. He humbly trusted his heavenly Father. God had promised to give him descendants through Isaac. And God would keep his promise. Abraham’s childlike faith was stronger than a mighty oak.
The Battle between Our Affections
Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Our greatest battles are not waged between love and hatred, but between two loves: our love for God and our love for God’s blessings. And the deeper we love, the more difficult is the test.”[i]
Childlike faith knows that God’s tests are not punishments. “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:3–4 NLT).
Abraham began his journey of faith by leaving his home, his family’s gods, and his relatives in order to obey God. Through the decades, each act of obedience strengthened Abraham’s trust in God. He circumcised his men. He lived as a stranger. He sent Ishmael away. Each test stretched Abraham the way exercise leaves you sore but stronger.
Abraham’s grownup faith trusted his Father in the most childlike way. He packed his donkey and set off to sacrifice what he loved most in the world—because he loved God more than anything on earth. Do you love God more than his gifts? Do you trust him with what is most dear to you? Grown-up faith reveals itself in childlike trust.
It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.—Hebrews 11:17 (NLT)
[bctt tweet=”Abraham’s grownup faith trusted his Father in the most childlike way. He packed his donkey and set off to sacrifice what he loved most in the world—because he loved God more than anything on earth. @DebbieWWilson #BigGod, #Faith” username=”PatHolbrook”]
Adapted from Little Faith, Big God Copyright © 2020
[i] Warren W. Wiersebe, Run with the Winners (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1985), 81.
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Stopped in my tracks, Debbie, by your little Superman’s super faith in his mum. May we find ourselves in a growing trust of our Father!
Michele, that happened many years ago, and yet his trust in that moment still amazes me. Yes, may I trust my Father like that!
So often, this is what it comes back to–trust in a good Father. This morning I’m arrested by the sentence: “Each test stretched Abraham the way exercise leaves you sore but stronger.” I never thought of it that way, but what an apt description.
Barbara, you are so right, “it comes back to–trust in a good Father.”
The quote from Warren Wiersbe is a powerful one. May my trust in God be ever growing.
Joanne, that quote caught my attention too. It makes me weight my affections.
Beautiful, Debbie. Love this line: “Abraham’s grownup faith trusted his Father in the most childlike way. ” I think we misunderstand a child like faith, believing it’s not a mature trust in God. But when we consider grownup faith in a childlike way, it makes perfect sense!
Thanks, Karen. Abraham inspires me in many ways.
I also had my attention caught by that Wiersbe quote. I’m going to be thinking about that for quite some time.
I’m so thankful I was never asked to step into Abraham’s sandals! I’ve always been struck by the fact he never once questioned – at least not out loud!
Jerralea, it is a breathtaking test. And Abraham passed it with flying colors. Earlier in his walk, he did question God. I believe it was through those questions that he learned to trust Him. So when this test came, he trusted him completely. Faith grows with use. What a comfort that is to me. May my faith grow likes his to the place I trust Him completely.
We’ve felt like Abraham. It feels like hanging on for dear life and ultimately knowing you’re going to be ok. Who you’re hanging on to makes all the difference. It never feels easy but our faith grows. We look back and see that he is a Faithful God true to his word. We keep hanging for dear life.
Well said, Nylse!
Our current situation is definitely growing my faith. Thank you for these thoughts to add to what I am learning.
Lauren, may you hear the Lord’s commendation after you pass through this time, “Well done!”