{Be Loving} Like a Child Again

Reading Matthew 18:1-5 [you can read it here in a new tab real quick and it’ll give great context to this post!] I was confronted with the idea of being child-like. Over the last few months, this idea has been brought up, talked about, and expressed to me though sermons, books, and people around me. It’s something I run into frequently and that I now see often as a missing piece in experiencing and accessing the joy of The Lord.

First, I want to make a determination between child-like and childish. Child-like is wonder, joy, splendor, expectation, dependency, faith. Childish is tantrums, whining, selfishness, and doubt. Second I want to say it’s not just about being child-like, it’s about becoming child-like. This has more to do with transformation and less to do with copying behavior or following a program.

When we are children we are bold but quite simple. Even if you were a shy kid you have to admit there is a level of certainty and confidence that comes with being young. We are fearless and secure yet we are also dependent on parents or guardians for safety, shelter, and food. Our needs cannot be met by our own doing.

This really mirrors how we should aim to be with God. He is our Father and we are meant to be dependent on Him. “Every good and perfect gift is from is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” [James 1:17]

So what does that mean? It means that all you have is from God. Not just parts of what you have, not just this part or that, ALL. He is your provider beyond anything and anyone on Earth. Who are you depending on?

If you’re anything like me, you’re depending on yourself a whole lot. Our own plans get in the way, opportunities just “seem right” but we don’t pray about them, we get scared and worried but don’t ask our Father for help. We run and run and run on our own strength not taking a moment to drink from the fountain of life [Psalm 36:9] and wonder why we’re so thirsty.

As a child you have:

Joy // Faith // Expectation

Going before God as a child is often the most grown-up thing you can do. It’s where we are honest and stripped of our pride, it’s where we are truthful about where we’re at and how much we need Him, it’s where our trust is massive and our faith is through the roof.

Me telling you to not be afraid of becoming like a child is probably one of the most counter-cultural things I could say. We are bombarded with messages of how we need to grow up sooner, quicker, and better more and more. I was praised my whole childhood for being mature and adult-like for my age and was left feeling shame and embarrassment if I enjoyed typical-child like things. 

The world will tell you to forget your child-like wonder yet our Father is THE greatest producer of wonder. The world will say that that joy comes only from being naive but our Father brings us overflowing joy in Him in the reality of His love. The world will tell you that you need to grow up, but our Father says we need to become like a child.

Reclaiming the joy we have in childhood comes down to a simple yes. It is a decision to come before God wanting to be three years old again knowing how greatly you are dependent on Him for everything. It might not all happen at once, but He is ready and willing to pour out child-like joy on you.

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I couldn’t help but be reminded of this song –

May we never lose our wonder
Wide eyed and mystified may we be just like a child
Staying at the beauty of our King