Regaining Our Innocence
Wide eyes, stumbling legs, big feelings, an innate hunger for knowledge, and a deep need for connection are the characteristics that come to mind when I think of children. Kids are constantly learning, trying, and exploring. They are never afraid to talk too much or scared to bother others.
They are extremely empathetic and also brutally blunt. Children are daring, inquisitive, and lively. When determined, they will focus on a task at hand until success is achieved. When passionate, they willingly exude emotion at levels that seem silly to onlookers.
On the other hand, they are vulnerable, tender, and innocent. They are unaware, yet confident. They are dependent, despite wishing they could do everything on their own.
Children look to us for guidance in every sphere of their little lives. Their tiny hands reach up for ours to demonstrate how to take steps, and where to take them.
The term childlike faith becomes clearer when you remember how children are made to operate in all species found within creation. So what has stopped us from living this way?
What has kept our arms from reaching out to our Heavenly Father for guidance? What alters true belief in the reality of things hoped for and not seen, heard, or maybe even initially understood?
An easy answer to these questions is, “the loss of innocence,” which is a common theme found in literature, pop culture, and realism. “In literature, a character may lose his innocence by becoming aware of the world around him or by doing something that evokes guilt,” (reference.com).
It is also commonly understood that this awareness can elicit dread and confusion. Oftentimes, when protagonists in books or films lose their innocence, it catapults them forward in their character development, and into the adult nature of their world.
Purity, simplicity, and being unacquainted with evil are left behind as the protagonist moves on. With each step they take in this new identity, they become increasingly independent. In plot lines we enjoy through various media, it is easy to relate to these developments of our favorite characters.
We feel the emotions that come with their struggles, and admire their tenacity, resilience, and strength. Our human nature is drawn to the pride that comes with being the main character, or the hero. This results in seeing ourselves in these stories.
But in reality, we were never meant to take that position, even in our own lives. We are not characters in a mere book or movie. We are graciously given the opportunity to be a part of God’s story, and give Him glory, because He is the main character and the hero.
In fact, Jesus has been pretty consistent with the backwards nature of His upside down kingdom. He tells us in Matthew 18 and Mark 10, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Think about the effect evil has had on your mind and actions throughout your adolescent and adult life. For me, the moments where I had to “grow up,” robbed me of the simple joys of life on Earth.
Bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, promiscuity, depression, and anger are some bad fruits that began to grow, just to name a few.
Only by the power of Jesus’ blood and His miraculous love could I see life more clearly and stop living out of pride; pride that told me I had to fend for myself. It was necessary that I cry out to my Father like a little child, and ask for help, admitting that I could no longer go through this life on my own.
Reality is that the Kingdom of Self is the backwards Kingdom, not God’s. When we put our faith in Jesus and our need for Him, we can start to see the truth of this and be free. God doesn’t want us to stop exhibiting this faith after salvation, but to press on towards the mark of His promises, leaving behind the bad fruit that stemmed from the moments when we lost our innocence, (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV).
He wants us to reach up towards Him! In doing so, we can learn to be like Him and bear the fruits of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance, (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
When we come to the Lord with this kind of faith, we can stop carrying the burden of a fallen world, because Jesus conquered the death we were born into. Standing in faith, we can better understand ourselves as more than small pieces of a broken world, but as beloved sons and daughters called to shine radiantly and love radically.
No longer children of darkness, but having light from the Lord, we can walk as children of light, (Ephesians 5:8 KJV). When we believe in what Jesus did, and who He is, we regain innocence, we obtain adoption into His Holy Family, and we rediscover the world through a bright-eyed lens led by the Holy Spirit.
Praise the Lord! For we can now have confidence that if we stumble, God will straighten us out on the right path. Our big feelings can be presented boldly to the gracious throne of a savior who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin, (Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV).
We can receive mercy in the midst of our mistakes, and a lamp unto our feet from His Word, (Psalm 119:105 ESV). The knowledge we seek can be found in our Father. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding,” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV).
The connection we long for is attained through Jesus: the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6 NKJV). Implored by our Lord and Savior, can we accept our newfound status of innocence and live as little children once again?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rayanne is learning what it means to be a disciple of the love of her life in the day to day of living her life. She is a full-time early childhood teacher, wife, and Jesus enthusiast. She is learning how to trust the process of using her gifts of the Spirit along with her earthly gifts. Exploring nature, making and appreciating art in all forms, and building relationships with those around her bring her joy and peace!