A month ago my five-year-old granddaughter whispered to me that every time she made a wish, she wished she would grow fairy wings like her favourite character Tinkerbell. She confided that they haven’t grown yet but she was still waiting. My heart melted at how precious childhood fantasy and innocence are. I ached for her impending clash with reality like the time she went ice-skating for the first time. Despite everyone telling her to the contrary, she was adamant that she would be able to dance and twirl in the middle of the rink without any help. Needless to say that ended in tears! Even a last line of defence phone call to Grandma wasn’t enough to coax her back onto the ice. As a child she is discovering the fine line between fantasy and reality.
I wondered how different it is for us, as adults, to manage the fine line between faith and fantasy.
When I was a young Christian still in my teens, I thought that God would honour my commitment to Him by making my life happy, carefree and easy. I’ve even heard preachers telling people all their troubles will be gone when they come to Jesus. My reality is quite different and it’s taken a lifetime to dismantle my fantasies about God, and to mature my faith. I got to know God by reading His words to me. I learned about His character. I learned to trust Him when the evidence suggested not to, and I learned to listen to Him. My faith wobbled through many disappointments but God has been faithful and kind to me. Now my faith is sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see. (Hebrews 11:1) I wish the same for you.
- By faith, pray for a life partner, while you honour God in your singleness.
- By faith, pray for your young children to grow up loving God, while you nurture and discipline them.
- By faith, pray for your adult children to return to God, while you do not judge them but love them unconditionally.
- By faith, pray for a better relationship, while you receive professional counselling.
- By faith, commit to that missions trip, while you get creative about raising the funds.
- By faith, pray for a job, while you send out your resume or study to improve your skills.
- By faith, pray for healing, while you’re having treatment and/or medication.
As for my granddaughter? She watched Toy Story 2 in the school holidays and has fallen in love with Jessie. She runs around the house saying ‘Yee Haa’ swinging her imaginary lasso, and wants a Jessie costume from Father Christmas this year. Kids have a way of moving forward don’t they?