Having child-like faith is something that I constantly strive for in my relationship with Jesus -- genuine, simple, pure -- to come before my Savior with open hands and an open heart, without fear or doubt. My motivation to know Him more is because He is beautiful, because He has saved me. His love is unconditional through my faults and failures. He has a specific purpose for me, consecrated and unique.
And as I would hope, these characteristics are often evident in my present-day life. Unfortunately, the world tends to view simplicity as ignorance and incompetence, rather than something of beauty.
It is considered naïve --
I frequently find myself questioning if people take me seriously, knowing that I am a human of simplicity. I strive to remain uncomplicated and relatable, plain and straightforward. What you see is what you get. Are there days that I wish I could be considered scholarly and sophisticated? Absolutely...more than I probably should. Sometimes I search for ways to appear more "mature" in the eyes of those above me and in the eyes of my peers. But it has proven to be a guaranteed flop.
I am always uncomfortable, regret trying to be something that I am not --
I was made the way I was made for a reason. God has specific intentions for my personality, for my simplicity. But in order to truly believe this, I need to look past -- completely disregard -- the opinions of man and be thankful for what I have been blessed with and use it for His glory.
Oswald Chambers says it best:
"Maturity is produced in the life of a child of God on the unconscious level, until we become so totally surrendered to God that we are not even aware of being used by Him."
Maturity does not mean I need to be something that I am not. It means that I need to be so in tune with who God has made me and how He is using me -- that I am consciously dependent on God, completely confident in my competence in Him. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness.
It is simple. It is beautiful.
"Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."
Philippians 4:8-9
