Not in charge
- Gary Fritsch
- Oct 1, 2025
- 2 min read
One thing that we might not always realize when we look at children is this: they don't expect to be in charge. They don't want to be in charge. It is obvious to them that others are bigger and more knowledgeable and more 'in charge' than they are. For the most part, they are OK with that. As adults we seem to always be battling to be in charge of something. Jesus wants us to broaden our view and understand that God is in charge - and to be OK with that.
I often think, looking at children that it must be good to have someone always taking care of the next meal, cleaning the house, washing the clothes fixing things, arranging things, etc. etc. etc. As adults, it can be hard for us to even recapture what it felt like to be taken care of. If we wait long enough, we might feel it again - but we'll fight it.
Somewhere along the line, we develop a craving for making our own decisions and carving our own path. Society certainly helps us in this regard. Aside from some disagreements about vegetables and bedtime - kids are OK with parents being in charge. Interestingly, they can raise a fuss when someone else - less trusted perhaps - steps in. 'You're not the boss of me' is phrase that big sisters and babysitters hear all too often. This points to the heart of it: we have to trust the boss.
Parents develop this trust in their children by consistently providing for their needs, comforting them in their difficulties and even loving them despite their tantrums. If we are to truly trust God, which is the point of today's lesson from Jesus - we have to be able to see where He has taken care of us, fed us, comforted us. When we see these, FEEL these experiences, we can then trust Him and not throw a tantrum that today is not going the way WE want it.
Combining our adult understanding of what God is up to with childlike trust allows us to move forward with confidence. We have to invest ourselves in both parts of this equation and then thank God that we are not in charge - He is.
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