Becoming a mom has helped me understand things about God better than anything else. The relationship between a child and parent parallels the relationship between us and God in all sorts of ways. For example:

• Just like a baby or toddler doesn’t have the capability to grasp concepts the way adults do, I don’t have the capacity to grasp so much of God and His creation.
• Because I love my kids, sometimes I let them struggle through things that are hard for them.
• I see the bigger context of what’s going on than my kids are able to see, just like God can see the bigger picture in our lives.

Of course, I’m not God so not everything carries over. But this child-parent understanding of God is so relatable across cultures and years, which is probably why God designed things the way He did.

How it Relates to God’s Word

I was thinking about this picture of us being like God’s kids as I revisited Philippians 3:12-16.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

My husband preached about this a couple of years ago, and some of his points still really resonate with me:

• This passage is an image of running towards Christ with reckless abandon.
• The language paints the picture of a child learning to walk, running/stumbling toward God. 
• When Paul’s circumstances change, he stays on mission. His goal is the same regardless of where he is and who he’s with. 
• If you’re still alive, you still have fruitful things for God’s kingdom. God has a distinct purpose for you!
• Do you have an eternal perspective in mind? Are you approaching life with the perspective of pressing on to achieve God’s purpose for your life?

When a Baby Learns to Walk

I just love that image of a baby learning to walk. Just like they take their wobbly steps towards Mom or Dad, we’re shakily putting one foot in front of the other, with the goal of reaching our heavenly Father. 

Are you keeping your eyes on Him, even when you don’t feel like you have solid footing? That’s what a baby does, isn’t it? They look at where they’re trying to get, keep their eyes focused on their parent, and then take one step at a time. 

And if they fall, they get back up and try again, with their goal of reaching Mom or Dad firmly in mind.

How are you doing at keeping your eyes focused on God? I do better in some moments more than others, but I’ve been learning to intentionally make prayer part of my day. I’ve looked for other little things I can do throughout the day to keep turning my focus back to Him–like a quick devotional during a break at work or a lesson on my Bible app as I sit with my kids while they fall asleep.

On those days where I don’t do a very good job with it, I think it helps to talk to God about it and ask for help to do better tomorrow. You don’t need to feel guilty–just keep pressing on, one day at a time, with your eyes turned to Him!