Give faith a try, enjoy the experience
This year the holiday season was especially good for me because I have a four-year-old granddaughter.
Four years old is the age of total belief in Santa Claus and all the magical things that go with that belief.
For example, two Sundays before Christmas, we had to stop for a deer in the road on our way to church. My granddaughter said, “Don’t hit Santa’s reindeer or he won’t be able to fly.”
That made us all smile.
On our way to church on Christmas Eve, my husband said to the child that he was going to “watch out for reindeer” and she replied, “Oh Papa, they won’t be out tonight because they are busy.”
That is total belief. That kind of belief brings total joy and commitment.
Why do adults lose that ability to just know something is real? Why do we always have to question everything or have it “proven” to us?
The scriptures tell us that we shouldn’t lose our childlike faith. Luke 18:17 says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Faith is what Christianity is built upon. Jesus could only be with us for 33 years and a ministry of three short years, but what he did in those years has impacted the human race like no other person in history.
He left us with the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to guide us through the centuries to eternal life. To have this kind of faith, you have to let go of control and turn yourself over to the Holy Spirit.
If you are like me, one of the hardest things to do in life is let someone else control the situation. I had a hard lesson in that last summer when I had my heart attack.
I was no longer able to care for myself and I had to put my trust in others, and they were more than up to the task.
It is like that with God. Just let go of making things go your way and listen to God for direction.
You will find that things go so much more smoothly than when you are “driving the boat” yourself.
In this coming year, I hope you try turning things over to God and trust in Him like a child. Give faith a try and then sit back and enjoy the experience.