Child Like Faith

As a child my home was full of love. My parents loved each other, they loved me and my brother. They loved the Lord and passed that love on to us. There was never any arguing or yelling in our home. I suppose that is why when I was about 8 years old I was shocked to find out my parents were getting a divorce. Still there was no fighting or arguing. Mom moved out and our parents agreed to joint custody, one week with Mom, the next with Dad. They never used us as leverage, they never had a bad word to say about the other. Even so, I was heart broken and confused. I suppose because all I ever saw was love, it made no sense that they would part ways. 

I don't know how long it took for my heart to mend but life went on and I got used to having two homes. But that didn't mean I didn't long for my parents to get back together. Every birthday wish I used to pray they would get back together. Every falling star I saw my wish was for my parents to get back together. Yes I know, every kid from a broken home has this same wish. But how long does one pray the same prayer and get no answer? When do you realize your wish is never coming true so you might as well give up?

Is it after the first year... the second year... the third. Is it when your mom gets engaged? Is it when your dad gets remarried? No, child like faith never gives up. And in my case the Lord answered another prayer, I believe to keep my faith alive. I was probably 12 years old and my beloved cat Kraus went missing for days, maybe even weeks, I don't recall how long but I missed him and I loved him and I wanted him home. I was so desperate one night I was walking home from my friends house and I cried out, "Please God, bring Kraus home!" and I had barely walked another block when Kraus came running up to me. 

This quick answer to my prayer strengthened my faith. At that age I didn't pray often but there was always a knowing in my heart that the Lord would bring my parents back together. Yes my dad was married to another and it looked like my mother would marry another as well. I was ok with those circumstances, I accepted the way things were. But if my parents divorce taught me anything, it was that things are not always as they seem and that circumstances are temporary. 

So when my dad and step-mother announced their divorce, I was elated. I will never forget the conversation I had with my step-sister, Heidi. She asked me if I was upset they were getting divorced and I told her no because now my parents can get back together. Being older and wiser than me, she did the 'right thing' by telling me, that's never going to happen, every kid wants their parents to get back together but it's never going to happen. You know the way people are always saying, don't get your hopes up. I hate that saying. It's the worlds way of saying don't have faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Meditate on that scripture, Lord knows I need to now that I'm no longer a child and the world has tried to beat the child like faith out of me.

But as a 13 year old, Heidi's words had no effect on me, I just shrugged and knew she would be proven wrong. And she was, 29 years ago today. My parents were remarried on December 13, 1986, I was the maid of honor and my brother was the best man. It was the evidence of my unseen faith, my hope in a God who could do what the world said would never happen.

Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

I may never know if they would have gotten remarried had I not had faith. But I do know, I would not have the faith I have today had I not had faith as a child.

Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

If you are one of those people who say, don't get your hopes up, I do not mean to offend. I understand you've been hurt, probably as a child and it is your way of guarding your heart against more hurt. Here is a prayer for you to pray out loud.

Let Your mercy be upon me Lord and heal the wounds in my heart that have dashed my hope. Teach me how to have childlike faith. Teach me to trust You Lord and fill me with hope. Increase my faith, increase my hope and increase my love. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

The Lord thinks about you, He has thoughts of peace and a future and a hope for you. And should you think this verse is about someone else and not you. Let me remind you of what Jesus said...
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matt 6:26

You are more valuable and the Lord wants you to have hope, he wants you to have child like faith and he gives to those who ask. My parents anniversary is a reminder to me that the Lord answers when we ask. What prayers has the Lord answered in your life?