A Child of God

‘Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!’ 1John 3:1

I love this verse! Really, it’s one of my favourites.

Lately I feel that God is giving me more and more understanding of the practicalities of this verse.

We so often hear that we are God’s children, we belong to God and He is our Father. We even pray using the words ‘Our Father, who art in heaven…’ But there are times when the fact that we are God’s children becomes more than an academic thought or ideology-it penetrates into our hearts.

What does it look like when we really believe that we are a child of God? What should the difference be in our lives, based upon our understanding that we have a heavenly Father who cares for us?

Recently I had a conversation with someone who told me that their child was worried about the family’s finances. The child was lying awake at night worrying about money and trying to come up with ways to fix the problem.

Listening to their reply to that child helped me again to see the love of my Father for His children.

That person told their child that there was no need for him to worry about money, jobs etc… that is not the kind of thing that a child should worry about. They assured the child that it was the parent’s job to make sure all those things were sorted, and not to be concerned. They told him he was loved, provided for and everything would be okay. Of course the child went away eased in his heart, knowing that his father would take care of him. I’m sure we would all agree with the answer these parents gave...

Yet how much more should we be assured that our heavenly Father is working all things out for His beloved children. If we are His children, and we are, then there are things that are not for us to worry about. He is taking care of them because He is the Father!

So often we get overwhelmed with cares and worries, burdened in our hearts over things we cannot work out. We lie awake trying to come up with solutions and cannot find the answers. We can no more fix things for ourselves out of our meagre resources than that child could have fixed his parents' finances with his pocket money! And it’s not just financial worries; there are myriad things to worry about on this earth and try as we might, we cannot control most of them.

But that is the blessing in being God’s child-we don’t have to! God is our Father. He is in control. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present and never slumbers nor sleeps! He has glorious riches, wisdom beyond measure and promises to never leave nor forsake his children!

We can have our hearts eased as we turn to our Father and tell Him of our worries and cares.

Jesus said ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’

If we will but answer His call, we will find rest. We will find rest in our place as children and His place as the Father. We will find rest in handing over our troubles and allowing Him to reassure our souls of His presence and His love.

I was thinking of the words of an old hymn as I was writing this; sing with me:

‘O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.’

Take your cares and burdens to Jesus, and He will give you rest for your soul.

God Bless