What My Children Have Taught Me About Faith

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

My children are examples of the grace of God.  Their lives have taught me and continue to teach me so much about faith.  Here are just some of the lessons they have taught me -

Christopher & Connor have taught me that God is sovereign and merciful.  I will never fully understand why my twins were not on this earth for very long.  However, I fully trust that God's plans are perfect.  In His mercy he allowed my sons to go straight from the arms of their parents into the arms of their Savior.  He gave them life and then granted them eternal life.  God also carried me through the valley of the shadow of death and granted me peace.  Only God is capable of mending a broken heart like mine.  Their short lives are a testament to what grace is all about.  We don't deserve His mercy, but He gives it to us because of Jesus.  One of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes says -

“God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t."

Losing the twins left me knocking on the door of Heaven asking for answers.  God's answer was simple - “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.  Faith is the assurance that despite our trials on earth, our eternal life is secure because of Christ!

Liam has taught me that God is unconditional love.  The moment Liam was placed in my arms, I would have died for him.  If that is how I feel about Liam, imagine how much more God feels for us.

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him." 1 John 3:1

I just love that God lavishes His love on us.  He loves us despite our disobedience and stubbornness.  He loves us to the cross and back.  Faith is knowing that God loves us beyond our comprehension! 

Lilly has taught me what it is to trust God.  I am still in awe that this little girl, who just met me three months ago, trusts me with her life.  She had only known me a couple hours when she longed for my affection and trusted me to take care of all her needs.  I am still amazed that she so fully trusts me with her well-being.  It would be so easy for her to hold back and be skeptical.  Sometimes I feel like Lilly just offers me her little heart and says, "Here Mom, this is just for you."  She knows without any prior proof that I am the one to care for her, that I will meet her needs, and that her heart is safe with me.  I am humbled by her trust in me.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

  Faith is trusting God with all the details of life!