This morning, as I was getting ready to drive the kids to school, I couldn’t find my wallet. Then as we were driving, it dawned upon me that I lost it as the family and I were sitting down and enjoying our dessert at a mall.
I was sharing with the kids how it was frustrating since I had to get things ready for my trip this coming weekend. Then from the back of the car a little voice said, “Daddy, maybe we should pray and ask God to help us find it.” In my mind, I was thinking, “Yeah right! The wallet is gone little girl.” But of course, I did not want to shatter the faith of a little child so I said, “yeah we should pray and lift it up in prayer.” So we included that in our regular school drive prayers (we normally go around and lift up prayers for various things before the kids get dropped off at school).
After frantically calling the security at the mall and with no success, I called up all the credit card company to put a hold on my account. But I found out that if I put a hold on the account then it will be irreversible – the account will be closed and I will be issued a new card, which will be mailed within 7-10 days. The problem is that I need the credit card now since I will be away this weekend and all of next week.
So I held off. I did another search through the car, house… I even back traced my steps. After wasting hours of precious time, I conceded and determined that it was lost. I called up the credit card company and told them to cancel the cards.
As soon as I did that, I rechecked with the mall security and told me that they found it!
Can you believe that?!
The humbling part of all this was that I was schooled by a little girl who indirectly challenged my lack of faith. I couldn’t wait to come home and tell her that her prayers and faith helped find my wallet. What a teaching moment – not for the 4 year old girl but for her father.
Why is it that as we get older we lose the kind of faith that pleases and honors God? We get more cynical and calculating. It is hard for us to completely trust in God for everything. Maybe this is why we miss out on so much of what God is doing all over the world.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb 11:1, 6).
God, gives us more of a child-like faith, which is pure and pleasing to You.