Never Lose Your Wonder

Don and I were on our way home from church one evening, and as we rode through the darkness, I could see lightning bugs for miles, glistening everywhere I looked. It reminded me of the email I had gotten earlier from a favorite author, Morgan L. Busse. She was sharing about the 4th of July fireworks events and how she was distracted by all the fireflies (lightning bugs). She was captivated by the hundreds of lights, that it took her attention from the fireworks. Her friend sitting next to her noticed and spoke out to her, "Don't lose your wonder." She at first didn't understand, but then realized he was referring to the fireflies.

I remember as a child, we used to run and jump trying to catch lots of lightning bugs and we would put them in a jar. With some of them, we would even tear off the shiny part and put on our finger like a ring.

As time goes on, we grow up, move on and in the process, lose our wonder of the small things around us.  Can you think back, maybe when growing up or even in your early days of serving God, and remember times that caused you to be so awestruck - a wow moment?

We have so much faith as a child. We are so zealous as a babe in Christ.  Jesus says in His Word to come to Him as a little child because He realizes the faith of a child. The world says, "Grow Up!" when Jesus is saying, "Become as a child."  The thing about a child that is so great is their capacity to believe and their capacity to forgive.  I remember when it was so easy to believe God for anything. I remember the memorials of things He has done.  Why is it so hard to believe now? Why does it seem so much more difficult to endure? God hasn't moved - or changed. Have we? Have we lost our wonder? 

There are so many people who lost their childhood at a very young age.  And when we come to God it's such an amazing change and a wonderful experience!  Things are so beautiful!  God makes life so exciting!  How do we lose that so easily?

Personally, for myself, I used to notice things of nature and hear God speaking to me a lot. He always used many of my favorite things to teach me lessons as He did in the Bible using parables. For me it's been the sparkling fireflies, a beautiful butterfly fluttering by, a flower and it's beauty, a pretty rainbow stretched across the sky after a storm, and an eagle perched high in a tree or soaring through the sky. 

I realized I have moved so far away from that and I miss it. I have just recently once again captured that wonder I used to have.  I remember the excitement of first having a Word spoken over us showing us what our ministry was.  We have strayed so far from that. Isn't it amazing how far we can stray from our actual calling because of hurts and betrayal?  But I praise God that we are finally back to it and beginning to see where we belong. It's not about what state, or what church, but it's about where we belong in God's Kingdom. We can allow people to get in the way of our wonder. We must stay focused on God! We can allow disappointments to blur our vision. We must guard our heart and take no offense!

I found that the times when I had a difficult time believing God for something is when I doubted His love for me.  It happens to all of us!  God can turn around and do something so miraculous for us but then it doesn't seem long that we forget.  Why is it so easy to forget?!?!

I am reminded of the Children of Israel in Numbers 11. They were wandering in the wilderness. God provided for them and they saw miracles, yet again they would complain and murmur, forgetting all God had done.  They lost their wonder!  Our wilderness times can be hard but we must continue to stand! The more we murmur and complain, the longer we remain in that wilderness!

It seems as years pass, we seem to lose our first love. Revelation 2 mentions this, speaking to the church of Ephesus.  Remember your memorials. Remember from where you have fallen. Repent and do your first works.

If you feel you are at that place where you've lost your wonder - lost your first love, repent and do your first works. What does He mean when He mentions "your first works"? Only you can answer that for your own life. Do you spend time in prayer and study the Bible like you used to? Are you spending time with other Believers to encourage and to be encouraged? Do you pray and intercede for those in need of the circle of people God has placed you in, whether it be your job, your home, etc? Have you sought out God for your purpose, your gift and are you using it for Him?

Take a moment right now to think on the way it used to be when you first got saved. Has there been a change?   Was the change good or bad?  Have You Lost Your Wonder?  Maybe it was taken from you?

Become as a child once again and receive all that God has for you!

Connie J. Schmoll