Little Children

“Kids are so lucky,” I heard my best friend sigh into the phone receiver. “They don’t have to worry about money and bills…their lives are so carefree. When I was a kid and a teenager, I never worried about finances.”

I had this conversation with my girlfriend just last week, but this wasn’t the first time. I usually just listen to her talk and insert words of encouragement and hope whenever I can get a word in, but I mostly just lend a compassionate ear.

Right now, her financial situation looks bleak and it is an everyday struggle not to get discouraged. She is working a job that pays a wage that hardly allows her to support her family. But it is not just her; many of my friends are struggling, unable to stand on their own financially. Even I and my family are currently without any means of income, but after I hung up the phone with her, something about her comment about kids and worry didn’t sit well with me.

“When I was a kid…I never worried—” I replayed her words in my head.

Why is that? Why don’t kids worry about finances? Why don’t they worry how the rent will be paid? How high gas prices will rise? Or how to afford groceries this month? A simple answer could be that they don’t see the struggle and therefore are too oblivious to care.

On the other hand, my husband and I have chosen not to shelter our children from our struggles. With the constant moving and extended hotel stays, we found it easier to simply tell the kids the truth. We even allow them to pray with us, as we seek God’s provision. Our kids know that there is no money coming in, that Daddy doesn’t go to work anymore, and that our resources are low, yet...they still do not worry. Why? What can we learn from these little children?

In Matthew 11:25, Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” What do little children know that us wise adults have forgotten?

Trust.

Children don’t worry, because they unconditionally trust that their needs will be met. What does that have to do with you and me? We can trust God like that too, if we can understand and accept three plain truths; that we are God’s children, that God loves us, and that He can and will provide for us.

God’s Children

How soothing it is for me to think that I am the daughter of God, the very God who created and rules over everything. Even if I were merely a distant relative of God, it would no doubt give me access to certain benefits, but God has called me his very own child. I am an heir along side Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17).

Just think, 1 John 3:1 says “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Can you feel the excitement in the author’s words? We are children of GOD!

We became God’s children when we believed in Him, for John 1:12 reads “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” God’s Word confirms over and over that we are God’s children, called and set apart. It must be very important that we recognize the type of relationship God desires to have with us, that of father and child. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8:16).

For me, as God’s child, I know that I have unlimited access to Him, even more so than my own children have with me. I can come to Him with my fears, my struggles, and my tears. I can be myself and know that I will be unconditionally accepted, for I am his own daughter. He is King of all, and that makes me royalty. This relationship is personal and intimate and has huge implications.

Response Question: For you, what benefits and implications are involved with being a child of God?

God’s Love

Even if you have children of your own, it is impossible to imagine the tremendous love God has for us, as His children. God demonstrated this incredible love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5: 8 ).

I think of how much I love my own children, how I want them to grow up well and have all they need. How much more does God want good things for you or me?

Psalm 103:13 illustrates this idea perfectly, saying “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.”

But I think Jesus takes it even further, explaining God’s tremendous love for us in comparison to the love we feel for our own children. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus exclaims, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”


I once heard a story about a child’s conversation with Jesus.

As she sat comfortably in His loving embrace, she asked, “Jesus, how much do you love me?”

“I love you this much,” Jesus answered, stretching His arms wide—to be nailed to a cross.


Response Question: What are the benefits and implications of truly believing that Jesus loves you “this much”?


God’s Provision

God’s promise to provide is the final reason we don’t have to worry and can live carefree as children do. In fact Jesus challenges us directly in Matthew 6 and Luke 12, saying:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you? O you of little faith!

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. "

Luke 12:22-31

Response Question: What benefit do we receive from worrying? What should we do instead? (Hint: Luke 12:31)

From founder@divasofthedivine.com