Living With Chronic Pain – Spiritual Healing – Having Childlike Faith Against Adversity
While it might seem like childlike strength is weak and underdeveloped, in terms of ability to overcome fear and adversity, nothing could be further from the truth when considering its mighty influence relative to belief.
Simply, having childlike faith in God proves victorious against any obstacles of life.
“Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NASB).
Once any of us becomes a child of God our lives are eternally changed, including our very own sin nature and the new life to be fully lived by faith.
Think about children for a second. Don’t they often wander helplessly in the wrong direction? Don’t they also hurt themselves foolishly? Don’t they seem to lack understanding? Of course, we could answer “yes” to all of these questions, but it does not mean that frailty and foolish willfulness are the only dominant features of children.
On the contrary, children are drawn to those who are peaceful and happy. They flinch from those who are crusty and angry. Children have fresh new perspectives about how to live with curiosity and trust. It’s from this reference point that we can glean some wisdom from childlike faith – because it helps to peel away the layers of adult hardness from our own hearts, including skepticism and bitterness and unforgiveness about the brokenness of our human condition.
Childlike faith allows us to jump into the lap of Jesus Christ, spiritually, in which we are made pure and whole. We don’t have to carry around the baggage of past mistakes, regardless of how huge they might seem to us or how adversely they may have affected others, especially those so close to us. Instead, as children of God, we can freely confess our unspeakable sins and live by His forgiving grace. Like children, we can have a new start at life, learning how to trust God even more and how to get along with others even better.
Isn’t this truly love in its highest form and most comprehensive sense? I think so…Christ had an uncanny way of accepting all children regardless of fault. He really understood the makeup of children and the development of humanity.
It’s only the true humanity of Christ that can bring us into the true conception of God, and also, into true interrelations with Him.
Consider adopting childlike faith to strengthen your position against any kind of adversity, even those that are self-induced. These seem to be especially painful…
Keep me on your favorites. For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual healing visit me at www.gordonselley.com.
