One of my favorite things about children is their simplicity. The older we get, the more complicated and oh-so-serious we become; as does life. It’s for good reason that Jesus instructs us to come to Him like a child. You tell a child that nothing is impossible with God and they will likely reply, “I know that” and firmly believe it! Child-like faith is completely pure and simple because the world hasn’t yet corrupted them with disbelief.
An area I believe we can over-complicate is “getting in the presence of the Lord.” Psalm 139:7-10 reminds us that we cannot escape His presence. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.” Our role is to be more aware of His presence. At any moment, no matter where we are or what we’ve done, He is with us; in the most and in the least likely.
Children tend to be more aware of this because shame, guilt, rejection and works haven’t jaded them. They also tend to be “all in.” Little ones really know how to be right where they are. If they are on the playground, it’s all-out playtime. When kids do get distracted, it’s almost always due to the fact that they aren’t able to do what they really want to be doing. We, as adults, are more likely to be distracted by things we don’t want to do – such as worry, fear, anxiousness, hurt… all of life’s junk. The Holy Spirit has challenged me to be more present and to consciously be more aware of my surroundings. When we are in tune with where we are, we are positioned to seize the opportunities He has clearly put into our path.
In closing, there have been countless times that the Lord has shown me through the spirit of a child that He was with me, and I was just unaware. I have learned far more from my children, and many of yours, than I could ever teach them. I encourage you to engage your children often about what they hear God saying. You will surely encounter His presence when you do.
