– Joe Fornear
I’m not the only one who loves to watch babies laughing – one video has 30 million hits on YouTube. 
No doubt God teaches us a lot about ourselves through children. After all, we’ll always be children to Him. In the first couple years of life, little ones develop what’s called Object Permanence, when they realize an object exists even though out of sight. We can tell when a child first “gets it” by watching their reactions while playing peekaboo or hide-and-seek. When their parent’s face appears suddenly, some kids express relief through unrestrained joy and laughter. All is definitely well – the absence was only temporary.
In numerous promises throughout the Bible, the Lord insists He will never hide, leave, or forsake (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; Joshua 1:5; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 41:17). Talk about “Object Permanence” – we couldn’t get rid of Him if we tried (our post on Psalm 139).
But still, we cannot yet see His face, and the stress and isolation of intense pain can certainly cause us to question His Presence, if not His existence. I admit during my knock-down-drugged-out battle with cancer, He sometimes felt a million miles away.
Even John the Baptist questioned Jesus’ Messianic credentials… and disappearing act. What Messiah allows His wingman to rot in jail? Jesus responded, “Blessed is he who does not stumble over Me” (Matthew 11:6). God allows our lives to get hard – real hard. Yet faith can keep us from stumbling and falling. Our faith can grow very strong when tested, but only if we understand and embrace the role of trials. Purified faith brings the full assurance of His Presence – object permanence. Then as Peter says, we will know Him, and have great joy both now on earth and later forever in heaven – the ultimate in permanence:
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. – 1 Peter 1:6-9
One last thing about children – when things are difficult they think the difficulty is permanent. Parents are forever trying to convince their youngsters that pain and uncomfortableness is only temporary. “We’re almost there.” “The pain will go away soon.” The Lord is forever trying to convince us as well – and He absolutely loves to watch us laugh.
