A Letter to My Little Ones
To my sweet little ones,
As I rock you and watch your eyes draw heavier with each blink, I softly hum the tune of ‘this little light’ and imagine the world that you will face as you grow. The pervading distortion of truth and evil can be paralyzing, but I see you being a change-maker. A defender of truth. And a spreader of hope.
In scripture we learn about the responsibility and impact of Timothy’s life through Paul’s letters. Timothy was young relative to other leaders of the church, but God used him mightily to guard and protect the gospel for the early growing church.
You too, my child, are never too young to make an impact on the kingdom. Just as Paul encouraged Timothy, I encourage you, “don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for other believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)
When we would pray as you grew inside me, our hearts would swell with anticipation as we thought about the promise of Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” It’s an exciting verse, full of possibilities and the hope that comes with being known and used by God. If you continue that passage, however you see Jeremiah’s concern for being capable and adequate for the role that God had called him to.
But the Lord says to Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you… then the Lord reached out his hand and touched [Jeremiah’s] mouth and said to [him], ‘I have put my words in your mouth.’” (Jeremiah 1:7-9)
These verses were true of Jeremiah and are true of you too. You are known. And you are divinely positioned by God. Qualified or not. Capable or not. Those restrictions are overruled by the fact that God is the One who calls you to your purpose. John 15:16 says “You did not choose Me, but I chose your and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit.”
The deep beauty of both of these passages is that you don’t need to have all of the answers. God will fill that gap for you with conviction through the Holy Spirit, the teaching of scripture, and relationships with mentors in the faith. You are a vessel—a carrier of God’s gift to the world. You are stewarding this gift for only a short time.
So be faithful and “diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1 Timothy 4:15-16)