Today during church, two little guys ran down the aisle with absolute, uninhibited enthusiasm. It wasn’t a one-time thing either—they always run down the aisle. Later in the service, when it came time for them to head out to children’s church, they bounded out with that exact same joyful energy.
Watching them move through the sanctuary with mucho gusto. As I observed their boundless enthusiasm, I found myself praying a simple prayer: Lord, please let them never lose that fire for You and Your Word.
Isn’t it funny how age changes us? Somewhere along the line as we grow up, life has a sneaky way of dousing that zeal. Worry, heartbreaks, busyness, and disappointment slowly chip away at our joy. Over time, bright-eyed, expectant followers of Christ can gradually transform into tired, cautious, or even cynical churchgoers. We swap enthusiasm for decorum, and wonder for routine.
Yet, Jesus made a point to highlight the faith of children as the benchmark for His kingdom. In Matthew 18:3, He told His followers, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus didn’t mean we should be childish or naive. He was pointing to the natural posture of a child’s heart: innocent, trusting, humble, and completely unburdened by self-consciousness. Children don’t worry about looking polished or keeping up appearances when they run to someone they love. They don’t walk slowly and solemnly when they are excited about where they are going—they sprint! They expect good things, they trust fully, and they express joy without holding back.
As adults, we often carry heavy burdens into the sanctuary. We get weighed down by the stress of the week, the state of the world, or the fear of what others might think if we let our guard down. But God doesn’t call us to bring a stiff, perfect facade into His presence. He invites us to come to Him with the pure, eager heart of a child running into their Father’s arms.
Seeing those two boys today was a gentle, beautiful reminder from the Lord. It challenged me to take a look at my own heart and ask: Where has my zeal gone? Have I let the cares of life steal my wonder?
My prayer today isn’t just for those two sweet boys to keep their joy as they grow up. It’s also a prayer for the rest of us—that God would reignite that child-like spark within our souls. May we never get so “grown up” or weary that we forget the sheer joy of running into His presence!
