Faith Like a Child

Tonight I watched the first study from The Truth Project. Near the end of the video, there was a clip focusing on "the faith of a child". The clip showed a young boy on a diving board, inching forward, then eventually leaping into the arms of his mom, who was treading water in the pool below. It was a spot on representation of a child's faith in action.

But it got me to thinking. I've always looked at that phrase as representing the innocence and purity of faith. But in actuality, it is much more than that. I hadn't really considered just how deep and powerful a childlike faith truly is. If you think about it, a child runs into new things on an almost daily basis. Everything gets a first experience during childhood. The big things are obvious - learning to walk, talk, read, write, and on and on. All of these are nurtured by the child's perceptions, observations, external stimuli, support, and most of all by their faith. But even the little ones - trying new foods or a simple game of peek a boo, for example - require a deep, innate trust in the encouraging adult who is leading the child forward.

If a child lacks that innate belief in the world around him, or in the people who surround him, his ability to grow, adapt, and develop into a functional member of society is stunted, if not corrupted entirely. This is another reason why it is imperative as a parent, guardian, or even as an acquaintance of a child, to do what we can to nurture, respect, and protect the sanctity of that faith. Until violated, a child's trust, his faith in the world and people around him, is complete, unwavering, and immensely powerful.

This is the essence of the "faith of a child" that God desires of us, but very rarely receives. The complete and trusting faith that God's will and God's ways will not lead us to harm. An innate, fundamental surety that He is our protector. Absolute certainty that He is the complete, immutable Truth.

Oh what I would do to have that kind of faith.