A Surprising Impact of Basics of the Faith

This is a very personal story. I am writing it with false names to protect the people involved, but this is a true story.

My name is Benjamin and my wife is Netanya. Our youngest daughter, Ali, came to us on two prior occasions expressing a specific fear and anxiety. She was afraid she would become something that God did not create her to be. She is only 12 years old. We thought she was far too young to be having these fears. We talked her through it both times, asking her questions about why she was afraid this would happen to her. She did not know. She was crying each time. We would pray about it. 

The third time she came I grabbed the book Basics of the Faith because I knew there was a chapter on Promises of God. I quickly found it in the contents and turned to the chapter and skimmed the promises. I found the section on Anxiety/Worry. With my arm around Ali, we read the verses and the short, but illuminating explanations. 

When we finished we prayed. As she walked away she took the book. I said, "Where are you going with the book?" She said, "I want to keep these promises by my bed." She carefully placed the bookmark that came with the book on the page of promises and left the room. 

A few days later I saw her with the book at bedtime. She was reading it, but not the promises section. Instead, she was reading the first chapter, which is about God. I thought about something my older son Jonathan had said a few weeks before. "Dad, the chapter on God is more than basic. It is a little hard to get through." I do not think he got past that chapter. I hoped Ali would not think that.

I forgot about all these things. Four weeks passed. I was downstairs passing by an adjacent room. It was dark, but I glanced and saw Ali huddled up under a desk with her book light and a book. I looked closer to see what book she was reading. It was Basics of the Faith! This shocked me. I did not think that she would keep reading this book. I immediately was thanking God for His work in her life. I walked closer in the dark room to take a picture. She was now in the middle of the book. It was obvious from the page wear that she was reading it chapter by chapter. I quietly left the room.

Later that day I saw the book sitting on some of her things. It's pages, well-worn on every side, and the cover with some creases and curled edges, beckoned me to open it. When I could not resist I opened the book to the cover page. There I read the words, "Sept 09, 2023, Ali who owns this book." That was the day we first opened the book to read Promises of God. My heart was warm with more thanks to God for His incredible gift!

Perhaps this book can help you or your children too. I know that all of us parents want one thing for our children more than anything; for them to walk with the Lord, and to seek out His treasures.