“Freckles,” I said. Her response made me laugh: “Hmmm. Maybe you should cut them out.”
Anna asks a lot of questions, as do other children her age. That might grow wearisome at times for their parents and caregivers, but that’s how they learn, right? And so we want to provide them with the answers, or show them how to discover the answers for themselves.
Another question kids often ask is: “What is God like?” They’re not alone in their curiosity. Many grownups – myself included – wonder the same thing. Here’s a clue I recently discovered:
“Take note of the fortified walls, and tour all the citadels, that you may describe them to future generations. For that is what God is like (emphasis mine). He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die” (Psalm 48:13-14).
Last summer I visited a fortress in Poland. It towered like a stone giant atop a hill, providing a panoramic perspective. Once upon a time its walls, approximately 18 inches thick, provided protection from attacking marauders. No human force could penetrate its strength. That is what God is like to those who take refuge in Him.
In the case of the Polish fortress, however, lightning struck and fire destroyed it. But God, our fortress, remains forever and ever. No matter what situation we face, He surrounds and protects us from the enemy’s attacks. So long as we remain in Him, we will not be defeated. This promise holds true until the day we die. And until that moment comes, it’s our job to communicate this truth to the next generation so they, too, can understand that this is what God is like.
These words pump me with confidence. No matter what difficulties or pain I face, God promises His presence and victory. He is my fortress, my protection, my deliverer. He is my safe place. And He is my defense against the enemy. The same is true for you, if you walk in relationship with Him through Jesus Christ.
What insights can you share re: what God is like? I’d love to hear them.
Eastern European fortress
It is always so comforting to me to think of what G_d is really like. My favorite description is in 1 Corinthians 13:8 and 1 John 4: 8, 16 where there is a description of Love and it tells us that G_d IS LOVE!
Yes, the Scriptures are filled with descriptions of His character — wisdom, justice, compassion, light, truth, etc. My favorite matches yours — He is love. Wow — if I really, really understood that concept, then I’d surely rise above fear in every situation.