The Voice of a Child

The storm raged on, and the wind howled like a banshee crying an angry song. As the storm passes the clouds part, the skies clear, and the stars begin to shine, brightly as the buzz of electricity is gone. The sounds of the insects, and animals outside can be heard clear as day without the blowing air of the air conditioner, the song of the television, or even just the hum of the house.

I remember when I was in Kuwait, and I was in the desert for training, the view from horizon to horizon was unobstructed, and with no light as far as the eye could see, it truly was black, except for the millions upon millions of stars that twinkled in the dark night sky. Never before, and not since, have I seen a sky like that. Even with the cities power out after tropical storm Michael, there’s still more light, and not nearly the quantity of stars. Even though there’s still the occasional sound of car way off in the distance it leaves you with a nice quiet, peaceful, and almost tranquil opportunity to turn to God, and talk to Abba.

As a child I can remember crying to God to take me home. I believed so completely that God has made a mistake and I should never have been born. I loathed myself, and I despised the reflection in the mirror. I was a cosmic blunder, and I prayed that one day God would see that mistake and take me home. I didn’t understand as a child why so many things were happening to me. I didn’t understand the nature of sin, and free will. I didn’t understand the cruelty of the human spirit, and it wouldn’t be for many years till I saw the other side. See, that scared child didn’t understand what it was going to take for him to be prepared for the battles ahead. That little boy didn’t know how to make steel, and didn’t know how to forge a sword ready for a war. The little boy could only see the injustice, the pain, the cruelty that seemed like the dark lord Sauron was pouring into the one ring.

We need to look to our children as the future for tomorrow. We must stick by them, and train in up in the fear and love of the Lord. We must teach them to be courageous in the inevitable dangers that will come. We must teach our children the voice of truth, and show them to flea from the draw of the devil. We must teach them the nature of sin, the nature of the world, but never take away their joy, their creativity, and their imagination. Embrace the faith of a child, and show them what love should be, and what is. Children can be so irreparably damaged by the adults that are supposed to be there to love them and show them the way.

Having this quite night with God, I have asked for a great many things, and not for myself, but for those I care for. I have watched the news footage of the aftermath left behind by one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever hit the United States, and as I thought back to my own childhood, what would a child ask for. Peace for those broken hearted as they start to return to what was once their homes. It may not provide any comfort, but I would remind them that this isn’t home. This life we live isn’t where we are meant to be, and as hard as it may be to grasp that, I can promise you, that if you know your savior and Lord Jesus Christ, you will know that home is with our Abba father. This isn’t where you belong for eternity. This is just part of the journey, and when you feel lost in the raging sea, be assured that you are loved by the creator of the universe, and one day He will call you home. We can rebuild homes, businesses, towns, and cities, but the true nature of being human is the love and compassion we can show our neighbors who are in so much pain. Jesus knew the pain we would feel, and He’s given each of us a gift, and a voice to be heard. Never think your voice doesn’t matter, because when you speak with the Holy Spirit, even as the voice of a child, you have been given authority to spread the gospel, to spread the truth, and to spread the light of Christ over this darkened world.

As adults we get wrapped up in the world, the stress, the conflict, the conversation, but we forget how simple the message is. We forget the wondrous mystery that is our God, and we get enveloped by the world, and often don’t realize it. Remember how simple life was when you were a kid? How simple is it to know that God created the heavens and the Earth, Jesus Christ was Abba’s son, and He came to pay the ransom for our lives. That’s it, no more, that’s all you ever need to know. Jesus Christ loved us enough to lay down his life for his ‘friends’ and God loved us enough to give us His only son. The simple message of the Gospel, but we get caught up with what the world says is truth. We get caught up in theories, hypothesis, the controversies, and we loose sight of what’s important. Christ died for us to be free of an eternal death, and in the end, what else matters? To be an adult with the simplicity of a child.

As a child though I didn’t understand the more complicated issues. I looked at life a certain way, and didn’t understand the truth of the nature. Sadly some of those notions from childhood were carried along into adulthood. It’s not easy wondering in life why someone doesn’t care for you. It’s not easy growing up thinking people don’t want you around. That notion remained and it’s something I still am trying to drop as dead weight. I realize I don’t need it, I realize it’s not true, but convincing the brain of that is difficult. But as the stars at night are infinite, so are the possibilities with God on your side. We must trust in God and know that God doesn’t make mistakes. One should not question God’s motives, and as He, who created the universe also created you, you are here in this life for a reason. You’re special and made just the way you need to be. Things will happen to you and things may wound you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow and learn from it. Trust in the Lord, always.