Every July when I was a child, my family spent one week at a multi-generational summer camp. We stayed in a semi-rustic lake cottage on the Canadian border where we enjoyed swimming, fishing, boating, biking, campfires, and corny talent shows. Each day offered a range of activities for adults and separate activities for kids, all of whom were placed in camp groups according to age. As a child, I always said this was my happy place. Years later, my own children said the same.
Inevitably, the week would include some sort of treasure hunt. Running in flip-flops all over the lake shore, up root-laden paths, through grassy paddocks, and even sneaking into the grown-ups’ dining room — this was the stuff of childhood dreams.
I still remember the year my team found the treasure. Out of breath, we stood before a gnarled oak tree, shading a hammock near the end of the Old Lake Trail. A hollow in that ancient tree held the prize — an enormous bag of foil-wrapped candies in a myriad of colors. I don’t remember who had the honor of removing the prize, but we all shared in the delight.
I often think of the joy involved in that wild race to discover the treasure and wonder if that is how God wants us to seek Him — with childlike joy and wild abandon, discovering Him with breathless delight.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” It sounds a bit like a challenge, perhaps even an invitation to adventure, but if we don’t accept the challenge, we miss out on the prize.
As adults, we often lose that sense of wonder which seems to come more easily in childhood. We forget the joy of seeking, and we sometimes misplace that quick willingness to accept a challenge. We would rather have quick solutions that fit our hurried lifestyle.
But children have a carefree, exuberant way of pursuing a prize. What if we were more like children as we pursue God? What if we sought Him, our prize, with a lightness of being — not questioning or striving but enjoying each moment of the hunt. What would we find at the end of the trail?
Jesus tells us, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44 NIV). Do we have that kind of joy as we seek the Lord and His kingdom?
I honestly believe God enjoys hiding treasures for us, His children — and He wants us to enjoy the pursuit as well. He doesn’t want us to be burdened by the weight of this world, but to fix our eyes on the Kingdom that is already within reach, a treasure waiting to be found.
It’s no coincidence that Jesus mentions the receptivity of children twice in the gospel of Matthew:
Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Matthew 19:14
If we are to truly encounter His kingdom here on earth, we must set our grown-up busyness aside and welcome the wonder that surrounds us each day — chasing after treasure with joy and expectation in our hearts. In that place of simple childlikeness, I believe He satisfies our hidden longings, opening the eyes of our hearts to see Him as He really is.
How will you embrace childlikeness as you pursue God’s kingdom today? Maybe it looks like taking time to walk in the park or play with your dog. Perhaps you have a desire to draw, or paint, or sing. Is there a game you haven’t played in years? Or a beloved book you haven’t read since childhood? The possibilities are endless. Invite Him to join you in whatever you choose and ask Him for a fresh perspective on His kingdom, and your place in it, as you seek the hidden treasure of His immeasurable love.
Such a sweet message. I can’t stop smiling! The other day I was tending to my little garden and a hummingbird moth proceeded to nourish off the flowers next to me! Such a wonderful surprise. I’d never seen one up close. Needless to say, I’ve been telling everyone about it. Almost as much fun as watching fireflies. At 71, I guess it’s ok to be childlike.
Amen, Madeline!
Shay what you wrote was so beautiful. None of my Parents were saved my Dad still alive. But I pray for them all like the rest of my family not saved. I look at my child hood and am thankful for it. As child didn’t realise what Sunday School meant to me and going in the summer time Children Bible week run by church were I live. My Parents I say sent me and my sister to get a break from us. I was the lively one in our house when growing up. I would have egged my younger sister to copy me. Then did things on my own that I knew and didn’t know we’re wrong to do. Like one day over at my neighbours house they just got the house painted and I drew on the wall. My Mum looked at me and said did you do that I said just drew them a picture. I heard the lady of the house say don’t worry about it we’ll get it repainted. My Mum I knew was cross in the right way with me. I knew if she didn’t displine me I not learn from my wrong. But it still didn’t stop me. When I the only in my family saved. I look back at those days they were the best years of my life. I am thankful for my ungodly Parents for sending me to Sunday school and Children Bible week in the summer. Now 54 I still can remember some of the stuff I learnt at Sunday school and Children Bible week. The stories and songs we used to sing. I as adults still to this day like them and say to myself they are even good for us as Adults today as well as kids. I sit when have time and sing them and when doing my 84 year old Dad home for him play them on my phone. They all speak to me like “Jesus loves all the Children of the world Red and Yellow Black and White.” Plus “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.” The Wise man build his house on the rock” Songs like this still today teach me as Adult even though they are meant for Kids. That Jesus loves us we are all his Children no matter what colour we are. Plus Jesus loves me this I know for his word the Bible tells us so. The last one about building you house on the rock that is Jesus.They all teach us how to seek God’s Kingdom like child know he loves us. We are to build everything on Jesus to do with our lives. Taking time to pray and read his word every day so we grow closer to Jesus every day. Get our lives we just want to live it for him. Sometime we have to go back to being a child and like children they trust their Parents to care for them and bring them up in the right way We as Adults have to do the same by spending time with Jesus and letting him take care us and bring up in the right way. That we will want to seek God’s Kingdom like a little child. Remembering God is our Heavenly Father we are his Children. If we put our trust him he will guide up to live right and live for one to see him Kingdom. I say he to that. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermamagh N.Ireland xx
Shea – this brought back a childhood memory of catching fireflies as a child. When my siblings and I were young, we would race around our yard in the cool summer evenings trying to catch fireflies in our jars that had holes in the cover. When we tired of running around, we would set them on the picnic table and try to count who had the most fireflies in their jar. I don’t remember if we ever truly figured out who had the most but after a while we would race around the yard again and let them all go! It was such a carefree time! I was reminded of this as I was sitting outside one night this past week with a beautiful breeze lightly blowing across my face. It had been a stressful week and I was just sitting outside to kind of catch my breath from the busyness of life. All of a sudden, I caught a flicker of light. Then, another flicker, and another and pretty soon there were fireflies flying all around me. It was just so magical to sit and laugh, thinking about this childhood memory of catching fireflies. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen fireflies! I sent a thank you prayer to the God who continues to send me reminders that He is in control, that He sees me, and to look for the joy that He sends each day. Sometimes life pulls us in so many directions that we forget the joy that is found in the simple things in life. Thank you so much for the reminder, Shea!