When A Three Year Old Preaches To You

You know something about waves, Mommy? THEY PUSH YOU. As I stood holding my daughter in about 4 feet of water while simulated ocean waves rolled in, Joella answered her own question before I had a chance. In that moment, I felt chills go through my body. My three-year-old preached an entire sermon to me with one simple question followed by one simple answer. There was no doubt in my mind, God used my baby girl to speak so loudly to me in that moment. I felt hot tears well up in my eyes and I held her tighter as the waves continued to crash into us. My beautiful, innocent little girl knew the waves were coming, but that big dimpled grin lit up her little face as we jumped each one. She trusted completely that I would not let go of her.

Joella did not know that for weeks leading up to our fall break get away, I felt like the waves were crushing me. I've gotten to know the waves quite well. It’s difficult to understand the purpose when we are right in the middle of it. Being a follower of Christ doesn’t exempt you from the waves, although we often try to reason out the “whys” with God. The waves of life do push us. Either to insanity or closer to Jesus Christ. I choose the latter. The waves push me to pray more, to fast more, to read and study the Word, to spend time ALONE with God, to show up to church one more time and TO REFUSE TO QUIT. Without faith and hope in God, you would likely let the waves take you under. Instead, you have hope that one day you will look back and see how God has worked the waves for your good. When the waves are so intense, hold on tighter to the Father. He’s got you, no matter how impossible it may seem. He said He’s with you always so believe it. Don’t you think for a second that the Maker of the seas, the One who told them how far they could go in all their vastness, can’t hold you up through all the waves, no matter how hard they push.

Preach, baby girl, preach. God’s using you and Mommy’s listening.

A worshiping widow