Belief in God all the Time:

Recently I had the honor of getting to help be a 1 on 1 mentor to a young girl in my church for a few weeks.  She was 7 years old, and she was going to go into 2nd grade. She had Jesus in her heart and she wanted to learn more about Him.  

This was such a wonderful experience! For three weeks I met with her and talked through questions about Jesus and heard her answers on all that God has done for her. One question I asked her in this last session was, “Do you ever find it hard to believe in Jesus or to trust His plan?”  She paused and really considered my question for a few seconds.  She then said in response, (roughly-I didn’t get her exact quote) “No. I believe God knows what is going to happen.”

I was really taken aback.  I was taken aback because it seemed as though I was learning more from this seven year old than this seven year old was learning from me. I can not say I believe God is completely in control all the time.  I wish I could believe He has complete control. I was almost jealous when she said this.  While in my head I instantly tried to make myself feel better by thinking, “Well..she just says this because she hasn’t experienced any pain where, of course, her faith would be questioned.”  

However, I then remember what the Lord has always told us.  We were told to keep this child-like faith.  We were told to be like children and to have faith and a strong belief like children.  This is because it is unyielding.  This seven year old student told me about other kids being mean to her.  This is a big deal when you are seven.  It doesn’t make sense why some kids decided to not be nice to you, especially when you have been taught to be nice to everyone.  Yet, she can still believe in God and that He is good all the time and has a plan.  This is a good belief and faith.  She didn’t let those issues get in the way.  

I am in a lot of stress at the moment.  I have a lot of concerns and struggles.  I know I am not the only one, and I know there are many who are actually going through a lot worse.  It can be very hard to truly believe God has the best plan.  Sometimes I feel as though He has forgotten about me completely.  I know He isn’t in the very inner part of my heart and my mind, but yet there are times I wonder why we are going through certain moments. 

However, I then have a moment with this young girl from church and I remember to have faith in God.  She has a great faith in God and believes He wants the best for her, so I should also have this same belief and faith.  I signed up to be a guide and a light in this girl’s life, and here she was, showing me more of the way to believe in Christ.  

There are many verses about the Lord’s Plan.  The most highlighted is Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”  The Lord has a plan for all of us, even when it doesn’t feel there is any rhyme or reason for a certain plan, even when it feels as though the plot has been completely lost. 

The challenge for this week may be different for all of you reading.  Some of you may be reading and will also be in a rough spot and are hoping God can help see you through this difficult time.   There may be some of you reading not understanding why you are going through certain things.  Why is the Lord letting me experience this? What am I supposed to learn from this moment in time?

Then there are others who are going to be reading who may feel really happy and are not having any issues whatsoever when it comes to feeling far away from God and from His plans. This may be a time in your life where you really do feel as though you are close to God and want to continue to develop this closeness.