Church In The Wild Memo #006 My Faith Was WEAK!

The Power of Childlike Faith

Something happened last night that hit me hard, a lesson I wasn’t expecting—but needed—about faith and the power of prayer. And of all the people I could have learned it from, it was my daughter who showed me where I’ve been falling short.

Let me tell you the story and what it’s revealed to me.

A few days ago, my daughter came home from cheer practice with a rib injury. She must have pulled something during one of her backflips. The night went on, and bedtime came quickly. We followed our usual routine—something we’ve done for years.

Every night, I tuck my kids in and ask the same questions:

• "Who loves you?"

• "Who will always be there for you?"

• "Who else loves you and will always be there for you?"

They respond in turn: "You do, Dad," and "God will." Then we pray for a few minutes, giving thanks for God’s blessings and asking Him to be with those who need His light. We end by reflecting on what went well during the day.

This routine is sacred in our home. It’s not just a bedtime ritual; it’s a way to weave faith into the everyday, to teach my kids to rely on God in all things. But Monday night, after our prayer, my daughter said something that hit me deeper than I realized at the time. She asked, “Dad, can we pray for my side and ask God to fix it?”

“Absolutely,” I said, and I prayed for her healing. But, looking back, I realize I hedged my prayer, asking God to heal her “if it was His will.” I didn’t truly believe in the prayer. I went through the motions, not thinking much more about it.

The next morning, my daughter came downstairs and told me, “Dad, I slept great. God healed my side.” Her simple faith caught me off guard. She was completely confident God had healed her, while I, in my doubt, had barely given it a second thought.

Fast forward to last night. My daughter developed a cough. After our bedtime routine, I was almost asleep when she came into my room and whispered, “Dad, can you pray over me for healing?”

I got up, went to her room, and we prayed hard. “God, you know Harper is dealing with this cough. We come to you right here, right now, and ask that you lay your healing hands on her. We believe in the power of prayer and healing in your name.” As we prayed, I could feel her trembling, her eyes filled with tears. She felt God’s presence. And this morning, she woke up after sleeping peacefully through the night.

God still moves. He still heals. But what I learned through my daughter’s faith is this: my belief in God’s healing was weak.

Her faith, her belief, was stronger than mine. She wasn’t hedging her prayers or holding back. She prayed with the unwavering expectation that God would answer—and He did. God used my daughter to show me that my faith wavers when it comes to truly trusting Him for the miraculous.

I’m reminded of Matthew 8:26, where Jesus rebukes the storm after saying, “Ye of little faith.” God is still as powerful and faithful as ever, but how often do we pray with little faith?

This experience has changed how I approach prayer with my kids. From now on, when I pray with them, I’m praying with the same faith and belief my daughter has—a childlike faith that knows God will move.

Let me share one more story about my daughter before I wrap this up. About six months ago, Harper asked to be baptized. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life. I’ll be sharing the video on Instagram today if you want to see it, but what happened in that moment was beyond words. As she went under the water, she started to cry and tremble. You could feel the Holy Spirit moving in her. It wasn’t just an act; it was a transformative moment. God was working in her heart, and she was listening.

I’ve prayed almost every day since she was born that God would use my kids for His purposes. And seeing her faith grow, seeing her ask for healing and for baptism, I know God is answering those prayers.

Let me leave you with this: Your kids are watching. Even when our faith wavers, they’re learning from the foundation we set. Put them in environments where God can move, and He will.

Jesus is King, and He’s changing my life—and my family’s life—every day.

Love you all,
Matthew Meiser in partnership with God’s hand in writing this with him