Learning Obedience to God from Our Little Ones: A Lesson in Humility

Learning Obedience to God from Our Little Ones: A Lesson in Humility

As adults, we often assume that our understanding of God and His principles is superior to that of children. We think that because of our years of experience and knowledge, we know better. But do we? Can we really say that we are as obedient to our Heavenly Father as we expect our children to be to us?

This thought hit me hard one morning while I was waking up my daughter for school. Through her simple obedience, I realized that children often model the kind of trust and submission to authority that we, as adults, struggle with when it comes to God.

The Simple Act of Obedience

This morning, I woke my daughter at 6:30 AM, the usual time to get ready for school. It’s a time that none of my kids particularly enjoy, but they get up regardless. They may complain, they may be tired, but they obey.

My daughter told me she was tired. When I asked her why, she replied, “I don’t know.” She had slept well but still felt weary. I told her to go take a shower, assuring her that it would help. Without resistance, she went, did as I asked, and started getting ready for school.

What struck me was this: She didn't want to get up, she didn’t feel like it, but she obeyed because I asked her to. Her simple act of obedience was rooted in trust, even though she didn’t fully understand why she had to do it.

How Often Do We Ignore God's Voice?

This made me reflect on how many times God instructs us to do something, but we hesitate, question, or outright ignore Him. How often does the Holy Spirit prompt us to wake up and pray, to help someone in need, or to step out in faith, only for us to push those promptings aside?

We claim to love God, to know Him as our Father, yet when it comes to obedience, we fall short. We, as adults, expect our children to listen to us, to do as we say—even when they don’t understand why. Yet, when our Heavenly Father gives us clear guidance, we hesitate or demand explanations. We want everything to make sense before we act.

But here’s the reality: If we truly believe that God is our Father, shouldn't we obey Him as naturally as a child obeys their parent? Shouldn't we trust Him even when we don’t fully understand His plans?

A Childlike Faith

In Matthew 18:3, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” There’s profound wisdom in that statement. Children possess a level of faith and obedience that is often missing in us adults. They trust without demanding to know all the answers. They follow without needing everything explained.

When my daughter got up and prepared for school, she did so out of love and respect for me. She may not have understood why it was important, but she trusted that I knew what was best. Isn’t that the kind of faith God desires from us? A childlike faith that obeys, not because we fully understand, but because we trust that He knows best?

Walking the Talk

As parents, we want our children to obey us. But are we being obedient to our Father in heaven? We want them to trust us, but do we trust God with our lives? We want them to listen to our instructions, but how often do we listen to His?

It’s easy to tell our children what to do, but the real question is whether we are modeling that same obedience in our relationship with God. Are we walking the talk? Because in reality, our children are always watching. They learn not just from what we say, but from how we live.

Obedience in the Small Things

One important lesson from this experience is that obedience is not just about the big decisions in life—it’s in the small things. The same way I asked my daughter to get up and prepare for school, God often asks us to do small things that we might overlook. These small acts of obedience matter greatly.

God is a God of details. He cares about our daily lives, our actions, our decisions, and even our attitudes. Sometimes, it's the small things that teach us how to listen to His voice and build a life of obedience.

The Ultimate Goal: Seeing Our Father

The ultimate purpose of our journey as Christians is to see our Lord and Savior one day. The Bible tells us that obedience is key to living a life that pleases God. Just as we expect our children to obey us so that they can grow, learn, and live well, God asks us to obey Him so that we can grow in our relationship with Him and fulfill His purposes for our lives.

One day, we will see Him face to face. Until then, our obedience is a sign of our love and trust in Him. It’s a way of showing that we are His children, just as much as our children show their love and respect for us by listening and obeying.

Conclusion: Becoming Like Little Children

As we guide our children in the ways of life, let’s remember to learn from their example of trust and obedience. Let’s not demand to understand everything before we follow God’s lead. Instead, let’s humble ourselves and become like little children—trusting, loving, and obedient to our Father in heaven.

God’s love for us is greater than we can imagine. Let’s respond to that love with obedience, knowing that He has our best interests at heart, even when we don’t fully understand His plans. After all, isn’t that what we expect from our children too?

Let’s walk the walk and not just talk the talk. Our children are watching, and so is our Father in heaven.