But I just need proof!

From a very young age I always believed in God. I was the first in my family to start going to church at age 6. I just knew in my heart that God cared about me specifically and was my friend, and that has never left me. In high school when teachers were teaching us evolution, I felt passionate about explaining creation to them and arguing the existence of a creator. I found out that there is actually a lot of proof for the bible and God out there, years of research and large books on the topic, if people need it. I also found out that even with all the proof, people won't find God unless they have at least a small amount of faith. Recently my 15 year old God-daughter went away to a youth conference for the week. In the car on the way home from picking her up she told me excitedly of experiencing God in some pretty amazing ways. The most impacting for her was when a boy, who had broken his foot in a chainsaw accident, was healed and leaped off the stage! Clearly he had faith that God had healed him to be able to do that! After telling me all she had seen and experienced she said ?but I still find it really hard to believe there is a God, I just wish I could have some proof?. Jesus said that some people will be ever hearing and never understanding, ever seeing but never perceiving. He said they don't want to see because then they would have to deal with him face to face and let him heal them (Matthew 13:14-15). I told my daughter that God wants us to choose to love him, He doesn't force himself on anyone. My other daughter recently turned two. I just adore her, she is the most delightful little girl. As her mum, I hope that as she grows my actions have shown her how much I love her. I can do a lot of things to help her feel loved but one thing I can't do is force her to love me. If I do it will most probably have the opposite result. Ultimately, she will have to choose, as she grows to adulthood, whether she trusts that I love her and whether she wants a close relationship with me. God, our loving father, longs for us to be close to Him and ultimately it is us who decide. If we let it, our tiniest bit of faith in God will grow and grow as we develop that relationship.

?Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.? (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Kelly Eden-Calcott

timandkelly@xtra.co.nz