Faith Never Knows

Posted on March 25, 2009 12:00 AM MST by Sara Richardson

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading."   - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

My three-year-old son asks a lot of questions. He always wants to know why. Why does this happen? Why did you do that? Why not? The one thing he never questions, though, is my love for him. Never. No matter what, he is always willing to go where I go. Even if it’s not the most comfortable place for him. Last week he hurt his ankle and I took him to the doctor. I could tell he was nervous because he was so quiet all the way there. (And trust me, he’s not a quiet kid.) But he didn’t complain, he didn’t throw a fit, he didn’t beg me to turn the car around. He went because he knew I was taking care of him, protecting him, loving him. He knew I wanted the best for him and for his hurt ankle.

When we walked through the door, his grip on my hand tightened and he kind of hid himself  behind my legs, peering around the waiting room. He put on his bravest face and followed me to the desk and across the room to the chair. Then he sat on my lap and clung to me, still not crying, not complaining, not begging me to take him home. He just held on tight.

I long to be a child like that. I long to find that perfect trust, discover that confident courage, that ability to believe that, even though it might be painful for a time, God is with me, taking my hand, protecting me, loving me. All too often, I dig in my heels and resist going to those uncomfortable places, through those hard times. I’m too used to taking care of myself—living for myself—instead of letting God lead me and love me. I forget the promise of hope, of life, of redemption.

Maybe if I could follow my three-year-old’s example, I wouldn’t be so concerned about where God was taking me and why. Maybe I would rest in the freedom of being able to simply follow behind, hidden in the shelter of his almighty form. Maybe I would learn how to hold on tight and let his love bring me peace.

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