A Little Child Shall Lead Them

When our older son was ten-ish, we got a great indicator that he actually listened to some of the sermons to which he was exposed. One day, out of the blue, he said, "Cool motorcycle!" We didn't pay much attention until he said it again ... and again ... and again.

"What's with all the 'cool motorcycle' stuff?" we asked. Continuing to look out the car window, he answered nonchalantly, "It's my act of faith. You know, like all the people in the Bible that did something before they got their miracle?"

"And what exactly is your act of faith for?"

Without batting an eye, Stephen answered, "I'm believing God for a go cart. So I told God my act of faith would be to say, 'Cool motorcycle' every time I saw one."

This time my husband and I did not look at each other—but we both felt the same sucker punch to the stomach as the same thoughts ran through our minds. Yes, God was a miracle working God, but at the same time ... While He faithfully met our needs and blessed us, at every turn showing us His faithfulness, would He deign to reach down from Heaven and give our child a mere want? After all, we were missionaries. We had to pray and believe God for every single thing we got—clothes, vehicles, money for groceries. There was never "extra" for big dollar unnecessary items.

What would we do when our child never got his go cart? How would we minister to him that God is faithful even though his act of faith did not yield what he was believing for? My heart ached for the disappointment my child would surely experience.

A year came and went. A year punctuated with Stephen's faithful "Cool motorcycle!" A year of holding on to his faith even when a friend blessed with more than us, a friend who didn't need to persevere in faith, he simply told his parents what he wanted because he had heard of Stephen's dream, and got his go cart. Then ... a miracle.

A friend sent a sizable check. No one had ever sent us that kind of money. Any large amounts we received were earmarked for the ministry—Bibles, the Bible school, missions, etc.—and that's where the money went. We as a family were never, ever, ever recipients of large offerings. So Steve called our friend up. For what exactly had he sent that money?

When Steve got off the phone he turned to me in wonder. Our friend had gotten a settlement and from it had sent money for us as a family. To be used for us. Not the ministry—us! "I guess God gave us the money for Stephen's go cart," he said. In light of his unwavering faith, how could we believe otherwise?

I don't know who loved that go cart more—the boys, or us. It was such a beautiful testament to God's faithfulness to a young boy's faith.

Before the widow woman got her miracle of multiplied oil and flour, the prophet told her, "Make me a little cake first." That was her act of faith. She made it and God worked a miracle on her behalf (1 Kings 17:7-16).

When the woman with the issue of blood stretched out her hand to touch the hem of Jesus's garment, telling herself, "If I can only touch Him ... !" she got her miracle (Mark 5:25-34).

When Peter and John , walking through the temple gate called Beautiful, passed the lame beggar, they directed him, "Look on us." He did, he looked with the expectation to receive a blessing—and got way more than he bargained for (Acts 3:1-11).

On and on go the Bible stories. Accounts of regular folk who did this, that, or the other—something—and reaped a miracle.

What are you believing for? Just like our little child, ask God to quicken to you the act of faith He has ordained that will help you touch His hand.

Be a child. Don't be afraid to reach out and touch God. Receive your miracle.

"For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37).

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4).