I sat next to my 7 year old on his bed, gathered the quilt around him and rubbed his forehead to help him calm and quiet. As we talked he told me he had questions about life. About God.
He asked me what heaven would be like, when we’d get to heaven and then who was in heaven now. Then he asked me what was going to happen with daddy’s job.
I realized then that so much of how I answered was based on the fact I knew he believed everything I said.
He did not question that I was correct or that God was possibly not going to do what I said He would do, nor did he question me when I told him of God’s promises in the bible.
When I told him God was going to provide all our needs, he didn’t doubt me for a second. When I said all who choose Jesus will have eternal life, he believed those words. When I told him that he would never be separated from God, he knew it was the truth.
It struck me how many times I’ve questioned those same truths. How many times I’ve struggled in my faith to find answers that stuck with me. How many times I’ve wondered if God was really there, really loved me, and really would never leave me.
Lately I’ve been feeling like during prayer God keeps reminding me to have childlike faith. To just receive what He wants to give me, with simple faith. Sometimes the thought occurs to me – imagine if I believed everything God said?
I know that questioning is ok, and I have a faith in Jesus that can certainly be questioned and still stand strong. His Truth is a tower. I cling to the Holy Spirit that confirms Jesus’ words. However, I know when my head is believing but my heart is struggling.
And those moments – when I don’t necessarily question the facts, but still struggle to have faith — those are the moments when I can take a page from my kids. I can let go, fall back into childlike faith, and let Jesus catch me.
***
By Arianne
How do you overcome times when your faith is wobbly?
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Amazing timing of your words.
Just this past Friday, the airline my husband works for announced they are closing their doors. We knew it was coming in some sort of way.
I tried wrapping my head around all that God is doing. Five days earlier I attended the She Speaks Conference. It was all in perfect timing.
Both my husband and I have peace about this job loss and know God will carry our family through.
Thank you for the reminder to let go, fall back into childlike faith, and let Jesus catch us.
“when I don’t necessarily question the facts, but still struggle to have faith”
I really like the way you put that. When I’m struggling I beg God to give me faith. And I start singing old hymns – the theology and melody usually put me in a better place.
love this…definitely something i struggle will sometimes…
We have really had our faith tested and strengthened by trials lately. So glad for hope and childlike faith. Can’t imagine a life without.
It’s possible to know too much, isn’t it?
I’ve got this picture in my head of a Down Syndrome man who was probably in his mid-thirties. I sat in front of him during a Christmas cantata one year, and I got seriously frustrated with him, wishing he’d just stop “amen!”-ing and jumping up and down with the music. But when I turned around and saw him weeping as they talked about Jesus, I felt so ashamed, because I knew he knew something I didn’t, even with a college education and lots of years “knowing” God.
Now, when I think about having faith, I remember him, and I remember that I don’t need to know any more about how life goes than a Downsie, or than my two-year-old son, to have faith in the God who held it before I thought I had control.
beautifully said. I love that my children believe “just because I said so.” A wonderful reminder to believe God, “just because He says so.” I give thanks for His patience with me. Thanks for sharing this, Arianne.
That is the truth of the gospel. When we try to figure things out, we forget that all that is, is God’s. I have seen concrete evidence in the last couple of weeks that His plan for our family was set up generations ago. In the midst of a terrible storm, our family has seen His hand guiding our every single step. All we have to do is sit back, throw our worry and anxiety out the door, (those are never from God, but from the deceiver) and just wait quietly to hear His voice. I have also seen that it is in the midst of life’s worst raging storms that He makes His voice so easy to hear, if we just will listen. God is so good. He is ALWAYS good.
I truly wish I would believe everything like a child does. No questions, ifs ands or buts–just true faith!
I’ve recently seen myself believing everything–When I wobble I just say scripture or sing a song to remind me!
When I struggle, which is less as I grow older, I trace the path of all God has done in my life since the day I said yes to His saving grace! The chapters of my life remind me that I can trust Him and remind me that my faith is built on a solid foundation, Christ alone!
Child-like faith. Yes! More of that please! Well said!
What a beautiful piece of truth. When I am struggling, I sometimes feel challenged to ask myself, “How would I act if I believed this truth from God without a doubt?” Like, how would I act or think today if I trusted that He will never leave me or forsake me? If I believed that He is sovereign and loving? Thank you for sharing, Arianne.
These words spoke to my heart. I have often thought the very same things, as I pray with my 4 yr old every night. He is so trusting and always listening to every word my husband and I say. I too pray for faith like a little one, trusting with heart even when our minds sometimes want to interfere.
These words spoke to my heart. I have often thought the very same things, as I pray with my 4 yr old every night. I too pray for faith like a little one, trusting with heart even when our minds sometimes want to interfere.
Chid Like Faith
Thank you for that it confirms I am not alone in that thinking. I sometimes wonder, trusting when the mind question’s
I have been struggle with faith. I don’t understand. I grew up in the church and learning about God. I know I have loved Him since I was a child even though I have not always done things right. Since I’ve seen my brother go through a divorse and how awful experience it was going to court watching him get so verbally abused, its been hard. Then my parent’s got life threatheningly sick and I had no help. Recently my siblings have shut me out and my children’s husband’s don’t like to bring them home. They go to a lot of things that happen where they live but when we have special occasions they are never apart of it. I also tried to find a church family but I always feel like I’m looking through a window wishing that they would make me apart of what they are doing. I’ve asked so many times but nothing. I have never felt so alone as I do now and wobbly.
Jennifer, this verse came to mind when I read your post. Just thought I’d share. Will pray for you.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Cling to Jesus our Savior and keep pressing forward. He will not leave you or forsake you.
What a beautiful post and so, so true. Thanks for sharing it!
Thank you for this post. I have been struggling with doubts today about God and will he really look after me, can I lay all my worries at his feet and trust all will be okay? I love how you describe it as “My head is believing but my heart is struggling”. When my faith is wobbly I pray to God” Father God I believe please help my disbelief”. I wish I had the total trust a child has, a child like trust in father God.
Love it!
Imagine if I believed EVERYTHING God said..what a great thought provoking statement & one I will grasp onto today! Great post 🙂
Imagine if I believed EVERYTHING God said? What a thought provoking statement & one I will grasp onto today 🙂 Great post!