Sprouting Faith

Sprouting seeds has been a tangible way for us to understand this concept:
 I [Paul] planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
(1 Corinthians 3:6-7 ESV)

We soaked the beans. We put them in the wet paper towel. We slid the bean filled paper towel into the "green house." We hung it up on the window to expose it to sunlight.

But we had nothing to do with what happened next.

Slowly, the beans opened up. Green vegetation began to sprout forth from inside. Small leaves emerged and extended up. Roots sprawled out beneath.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” (C.S. Lewis)

Scientists have labelled and explained these processes. But no man gives the growth.

Likewise, we teach our children to believe in and follow their Heavenly Father, but God alone is the one who changes their hearts and gives them faith. 

And Emma, with her precious faith, trusts that she did not make her beans sprout. Instead, without questions, doubts, or a need for proof, she steadily affirms that her Creator God is the one who made the leaves appear.

How beautiful.

 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
Mark 10:13-16