Remembering God—With the Help of a 5-Year-Old

Rainy days putting a damper on your outdoor plans. Being lost while attempting to drive through terrible rains. Job uncertainty. All of these things can cause considerable stress, yet as I have experienced these things, with a little help I have found peace.

My 5-year-old daughter often serves as a reminder for me to turn to God. Her young faith is so encouraging to see.

We signed her up to play soccer this year. She has been very excited about playing, but up until last week, she had not had a game because of the weather. Disappointed, she decided that she would pray about it.

All week she prayed “for a sunny day for soccer.” She confidently told others, “I’m probably going to have my first game because I prayed for a sunny day for soccer.” She was confident that her prayers would be answered, and they were. It turned out to be the most beautiful day we’d had in a long time, and she was able to play her first game!

Caught in a storm

Another time last week, my daughter and I got caught out in a bad storm. I was not familiar with the area, and it was raining terribly. I could hardly see to drive because of the rain, and I realized that I had taken some wrong turns and had become completely lost. I started wondering how long I was going to be driving around not knowing where I was and how far away from home I was getting myself.

Then I thought, I could pray about this. My daughter and I said a prayer, and after that I felt at peace, knowing I would find my way. Shortly after that, I saw a funeral home that I had been at just a few months before. I knew if I called my husband, he could tell me where to go from there. He gave me directions and within just a couple of minutes, I was back on some familiar roads. The rain let up as well, and we made it home safely.

Praying for a job

A slightly more stressful situation is my job. I am a teacher, and teaching jobs in this area are tight. I worked as a substitute for four years and always felt like my life was on hold because I was just waiting for that permanent position.

For the first couple of years, I was quite discouraged when the new school year started, and I still did not have a job. Last summer though, I began to feel more at peace. Instead of worrying and being discouraged, I just prayed that whatever was best would work out. I knew that if I just turned the situation over to God, everything would be fine.

I had an interview for a position that sounded pretty good; however, I felt that I should pray not for that specific job, but that whatever was best would work out. I have learned that I do not know what is best for my life, but God does. He has our best interests in mind, even if we aren’t able to see that at the time.

I ended up not getting the job, but I didn’t let it get me down. A few weeks later, I had another interview. Again, I prayed that whatever was best, according to God’s plan, would work out. This time I got hired, and it was for the perfect position! It was so evident to me that God blessed me with the perfect job.

Turning my worries over to God

My job is not guaranteed for next year. I do not know where I will be working or when I will even find out if I have a job. Despite the obvious stress involved in that situation, I have told myself that I am not going to worry about it. And even though I am strong in the conviction that I should not worry, every now and then the uncertainly takes a toll on me, and I begin to get upset. Again, my daughter is there to remind me to, in all things, remember God.

I was talking to her about next year and told her that we may not get to be at the same school. Her response: “You shouldn’t worry about that because I am going to pray about it.” I love her confident faith. It humbles me and reminds me that I should defeat worry and fear with faith and prayer.

It is such a relief to turn my worries over to God. By turning to God in all things, I have a sense of peace and comfort, even in stressful situations.

Christa Miller attends the Wheeling, West Virginia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. She is a wife and mother and currently teaches first grade.