Childlike Faith: Encountering Jesus with a Homemade Fishing Pole
It was a hot summer day in late July. I was working as a camp counselor (cabin leader) and a Christian camp. This was the seventh week of summer and we were hosting over 100 middle school campers. I had eight campers of my own that I was responsible for and they were the sweetest group of girls!
During their free time early in the week, my campers had found their way to the fishing dock. Now fishing was an activity that our cabin group could sign up for during normal activity blocks. But during free time, the fishing dock was simply a hangout spot.
While they were there, my campers found a sturdy stick and some discarded fishing line. They were overjoyed with their discovery! With their homemade fishing pole, the girls decided that they were going to catch some fish that week.
Of course, they were missing two rather important things: a hook and some bait.
At dinner they night, they excitedly chatted about their discovery. They were so convinced that they would be able to catch some fish with their pole. I, not being convinced but willing to play along, promised to buy ice cream for each girl who caught a fish—as long as I had proof. My deadline was Friday at 4:00 pm—the end of the last block of free time.
So they tackled the first missing piece by asking me for a paper clip—a hook. The next morning at breakfast, they saved some Cheerios for bait, along with some pieces of roast beef at lunch. (I provided a baggie to house the meat!)
When free time came around that afternoon, they were ready to go on their fishing adventure! Sadly, the girls caught no fish that day. Yet, instead of giving up in defeat, these girls pressed on.
At cabin discussion time that evening, at bedtime that night, and at every other time we met together to pray, these girls prayed unceasingly that they would be able to catch a fish with their homemade fishing pole. Their childlike faith was beautiful to behold.
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord [Jesus] said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” Luke 17:6 (CSB)
At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a small child and had him stand among them. “Truly I tell, you,” He said, “unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-3 (CSB)
The girls in my cabin spent nearly every minute of their free time that week at the fishing dock. It wasn’t until Thursday, at about 4:00pm, that their persistence paid off.
I was back in the cabin sorting through camper mail when three of my campers burst into the building. They were bubbling over with glee and joy was radiating from their faces.
“Sara! Sara! Look!!” I looked up from the packages of mail to see a Cheerio bowl in their hand. Smiling at their beaming faces, I waited expectantly as they took off the cover. Inside, lay one small slimly fish—the very type that I knew to be in the camp’s lake.
“We caught three fish so far. But you said you needed proof! You didn’t believe us did you?!”
“No, I didn’t. But I guess I was wrong! Jesus answered your prayers!”
The girls joyfully took their fish back to the lake, rejoining their friends in their fishing adventure.
As it turned out, upon their arrival at the fishing dock that day, the girls found an abandoned fishing hook which they quickly attached to the end of their fishing line. By 4:30pm the following day (Friday), all eight of the girls had caught a fish with their homemade fishing pole (So yes, they all ended up getting ice-cream! Though I only paid for half of the cones, but that's a story for another day.)
Upon reflection, I realized the extraordinary power of a prayer prayed with childlike faith.
The older we get, the more we read Bible verses like Luke 17:6 (quoted above) with a metaphorical lens. We interpret Jesus’ words to be speaking as if our problems in life are like the mulberry tree.
While this isn’t necessarily wrong or bad to believe, I think we miss a simpler, more beautiful truth. What if Jesus was speaking in a more literal sense?
What if He was saying, ‘Have faith in Me and even the most bizarrely simple things in life are possible’?
That week at camp during chapel, the speaker spoke many powerful truths from Scripture. Yet, I don’t think his words had the most impact on the spiritual lives of my campers.
Yes, I am positive that those girls encountered Jesus during chapel—our post-chapel discussions confirmed that. Instead, I believe that their most powerful encounter with Jesus—their Savior and Creator—was through their experience with their homemade fishing pole.
These girls actively trusted that Jesus would help them achieve their dream and goal of catching a fish with their fishing pole that week.
I am certain that the story they went home to tell over and over again was how, through prayer and persistence, Jesus allowed them to each catch a fish with their homemade pole.
I want you to notice something else too. The girls did not just simply sit in their cabin praying. They were out actively pursuing what they believed Jesus would help them do.
- They persisted and showed up daily.
- They prayed constantly.
- They sought out resources.
- They tried again and again, even in the face of failure.
- They fully believed that Jesus would help them. For why would He not?
What simple thing in your life do you need to pray and have faith about? Where do you need to show up with persistent prayer and action?
The main Bible verse of that summer at camp is one that bubbles over with childlike faith and emphasizes the power of prayer. It says,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition [persistence], with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (NIV).
There is joy in trusting Jesus with childlike faith. Trust Him today to take care of the little things and take one bold step forward toward your dreams.
