childlike faith

Faith doesn’t have to be complicated.

I often think of this story:  There once was a man out to sea alone and for whatever reason, his boat sank.  As he’s out in the middle of the ocean, praying and believing God will save him … a boat comes by and a man asks him to get aboard.  “No,” he replies, “God is going to save me.”  And the boat leaves.  Along comes another boat and the same things happens.  The man asks him to get aboard.  “No,” he replies, “God is going to save me.”  And the boat leaves.  A third boat comes by and a man asks him to get aboard.  “No,” he replies, “God is going to save me.”  And the boat leaves.  Well, guess what?  The man drowns.  He gets to Heaven and the first thing he says to God is, “I thought you were going to save me!?”  And God replies, “I sent you three boats dummy!”

I think sometimes we wait for some sort of miraculous-lighting-bolt-and-thunder answer to prayer.  And in the process we miss the everyday moments, miracles and answer to prayer.

I recently wrote a post on the MODsquad blog about childlike faith and prayer.  The jist of it is that Hunter wanted to know how to read and she prayed for that to happen.  Going to bed that night, realizing it hadn’t happened during the day, she prayed again that night.  I was struck by the simplicity {in her mind} of her request and also the innocence in believing God would answer her prayer … immediately!  Well … guess what my friends?  She’s reading!

Of course, as an adult, I understood there was a little learning to be had {think three ships coming by to rescue}.  She faithfully put in the work it took to learn {think everyday moments and miracles}.  And look! her prayer’s been answered!

I think sometimes we make faith, prayer, and belief more complicated than it needs to be.  We’re waiting for a miraculous parting of the Sea and in the meantime, we miss the small, everyday moments that God wants us to grasp.

{read 31 days of faith from the beginning}

Posted in 31 days of faith