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Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

(Matthew 18:3)

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Earlier this week, one of my children decided to hit their sibling. As in most families, this type of interaction is not allowed, and so my child had to endure the rod of discipline - and by that I mean that they got a spanking.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon thing in our home these days. But what struck me this day was what my child did after receiving that spanking. While in tears because of the discipline they had just received, they reached out their arms for me to hold them. Despite the fact that I had been the one to cause them pain, I was the one they wanted for consolation. 

When the Bible speaks of us “becoming like children,” there are many things involved in what that means. One of them sprang to mind during this interaction, especially in light of last Sunday’s message on how we should suffer well. When we suffer, we should be wary of finding ourselves “angry at God.” Our desire should instead be for consolation from the only one who can truly comfort us.

Trust in God in the same way a child trusts in their father. He is lovingly working all things for your good.

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