Praying with Childlike Trust

"We prioritize prayer in this life as we live for the next."

Where you go in times of trouble reveals who and what you trust.

I remember when I was in my first car accident as a driver. I was sixteen (that didn't take long!), and I was at fault; I was alone, and I was scared. I took out the simple LCD screen Nokia bar phone we had at the time and I made one phone call. There was only one voice I wanted to hear in that moment: my mom's. She would know what to say and what to do. And she did. She was the trusted voice of assurance and instruction.

Similarly, God makes Himself available to us as the ultimate source we can trust for comfort and guidance. Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, "How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling," (Matthew 23:37). The Lord cared for Israel as an eagle watching over her young, guiding her children with compassionate care (Deuteronomy 32:11-12), and He now provides in the same way for the Church, the Bride of Christ whom He sanctifies (Ephesians 5:25-27). We can all go to God, crying out, "Father, help!" any time and in any place. His Spirit works this in us (Galatians 4:6) and we are promised mercy and grace to help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Yet we will not experience the benefits of God's compassionate care if we are distrusting or unwilling, as Jesus said of Jerusalem's representative leaders in His day. The Lord indeed desires to take us under His wings, so to speak, but it is also true that He allows prodigals to run when they refuse His loving care. He leaves the ninety-nine to bring back the lost sheep who misses home, but He doesn't drag back the rebellious child who'd rather spend the night in the world than in the King's house.

So, we must trust Him. There are immediate benefits and promised blessings when we cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:6-11). Call upon Him in faith today, and every day.