Dependence

What is Child-Like Faith?

You know that's a good question with so many different answers...To me, having a child-like faith is having an innocence in trust. Do you remember as a child you depended on your parents for protection, wisdom, growth, etc. You watched them and learned from them what was right and wrong. You put all your trust in their hands because they would guide in the rigth direction no matter what. Well imagine having that dependence on your Heavenly Father. This would present a child-like faith.

OK, second question...How is your life different now from when you were a kid?

Here are a few answers that were given in a recent group:
I have more responsibility. I deal with more stress. I don't live in the moment anymore. I don't get to go outside as much. Food isn't free anymore. I try not to wear the same clothes everyday. Making milk come out of my nose isn't that funny anymore. I don't get to take naps everyday. The fun has seemed to turn into seriousness. I can't seem to catch up on bills. I have to deal with the stress of having a relationship. I know how to ride my bike without training wheels...

OK let's take that last response! Think about all the monumental moments in your life! Taking the training wheels off your bike, getting on the school bus for the first day of school, getting your learner's permit, graduating from high school. All these moments lead us to some sort of independence, right? All of us have grown up learning that in order to make it in this world we have to be independent and we have to be able to stand on our own two feet(ahh...the stress of being an adult). Most people would call this maturity.

I'm sure we've all heard that word a time or two. I can remember my parents saying when are you going to start acting mature and I've even said that to my brother and peers a few times. But when did maturity become defined as independent?

The problem is that we in turn, apply that value system to our faith. We try to be independent from God just like we try to be independent in the world. How do we ever believe we are going to make it without being dependent on our Heavenly Father. We go through trials in our life and we become discouraged and we turn to ourselves instead of turning to God. Our value system kicks in and we start to think that we have to fix our own problems and we have to figure everything out ourselves. Sometimes we hit a wall and we feel like we've learned it all or we don't let go of things because it's too scary to release control of the things in our life. And we think that all this makes us mature... when maturity actually has to do with dependence... letting go of things and letting God take control. It teaches us endurance and faith.

Independence is your faith in yourself!
Dependence is your faith in God!

James 1:2 says..."Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him..."

Be dependent on God! Rekindle that child-like faith...that innocence of trusting. Can you imagine what it would look like to move from independence to dependence on God?

...it would look mature and for once standing on your own two feet wouldn't be so stressful!