When You Were A Child

Author: Jacob Tynes
Editor: Danielle Milliken
Scripture: Matthew 18
Song: When You Were A Child

Before writing this blog, I started my morning with going into the Sanctuary, and worshiping alone on the piano. Something I realized I haven't done in awhile. Each time I worship, God reveals something to me. This specific time, I was reminded of when I was a child.

I was such a joyful kid. I loved so intensely. I gave my all to everything I did. I was the kid that didn't just watch Disney, I had to watch it and then dress up like my favorite character! That's right, when I would watch The Lion King, I would crawl around, growling at any of my siblings brave enough to enter our family room. Most of all, I feared nothing.

I remember one time, my older brothers, Doug and Josh, took me to a haunted house. I still don't know if my mom knows this - welp, now she will. Sorry bros. The devilish looking employees called our ticket and it was our time to enter. Deep down, I did not want to be there, but I wanted my older brother's approval. I wanted to impress them.

We go in, and if you have ever experienced a haunted house, you walk in and all the things start jumping out at you, it's dark, and there's loud, scary music. All of my senses went into shock. I remember this scary clown came up at the end and got in my face. My response was not what the clown expected. I said, "I'm not scared of you, I have Jesus." The clown was shocked and just moved on. Looking back on it, I can easily view that response as childish. But today, I see it different. I see it as childlike faith.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us “whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Having faith like a child requires putting aside our will. This way our opinions and misconceptions do not get in the way of trusting Christ wholeheartedly.

I find the more I have gone through in life, my senses, like that day walking into the haunted house, go into shock. You may also find yourself in shock, in sensory overload, that you begin to forget, "I'm not scared of you, I have Jesus."
 
Maybe you need to look at yourself in the mirror and say something like this: I'm not scared of my circumstance. I'm not scared of what people are gossiping about me. I'm not scared that life may get hard. I'm not scared to face my pain anymore. I'm not scared to forgive and let go. I'M NOT SCARED. I HAVE JESUS.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

This morning I was reminded of a worship leader who has influenced me greatly. I would listen to Jason Upton as a teenager and just worship until 3:00am. I was reminded of a song, and I believe the lyrics are so beautifully written.

When you were a child
I called you my own
And you were mine
When you were a child
You could not standalone
But you were fine

I want to know that child again
Maybe time has changed you
But Love remembers when
You called my name and like the wind
I carried you away
It seems like only yesterday
When You were a child
When you were a child

The world was the unknown
But you were wise
To simply trust in me
That I will never leave
And hold on tight

Today, push back all of the "adulting" distractions and just be a child in His presence. Call on His name. What lies ahead in the world is unknown. But we can choose to trust in Him. Jesus is the truth we need to discover. Not our own truth. Remember when you were a child. God is inviting us to approach Him once again with our childlike faith.