When My Daughter Asks Why

Vessel Church
Nov 1
4 min read

by Guest Speaker Cameron McLaurin

Two months into being a dad, and I’m convinced: babies are born with one mission — to humble you.

You think you’re patient?

Try holding a screaming human who weighs less than a Thanksgiving turkey at 2 a.m. while preparing a bottle — only to realize she’s not even hungry. So you sit there in the dark, scrolling through your search history, and it’s full of questions like: “Why does my baby sound like a baby goat?” “Is newborn grunting normal?” and my personal favorite — “Will I ever sleep again?”

You think you’re strong?

Wait until you’re carrying a car seat, diaper bag, and coffee — and realize the baby weighs less than the stuff she comes with.

You think you’re productive?

These days, success looks like taking a shower and eating lunch before noon.

It’s wild. I used to measure success by spiritual goals achieved, tasks completed, and hours worked.

Now? It’s keeping her onesie clean for more than five minutes.

But between the blowouts and sleepless nights, I catch myself staring at her… wondering. What kind of woman will she be? What kind of dad will I be? And what kind of conversations will we have one day — about life, love, and faith?

When She Asks, “Dad, Why Do You Follow God?”

That’s a question I’ve already thought about — and one I hope she really does ask. Because it’s not just a question for her… it’s one for all of us.

And if she does ask, here’s what I’d say:

I follow God because He’s not just above us — He’s among us.

That’s the heartbeat of the Gospel. It’s what John 1 reveals. I follow the God who reigns, who reaches, and who reveals.

1️⃣ He REIGNS

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”— John 1:1-3

John starts his gospel with one of the coldest openings in Scripture.Before there was time — there was Jesus.Before creation — there was the Creator.

Every molecule, every heartbeat, every star exists because He made it so.

That’s not just power… that’s absolute control.

So when my daughter asks why I follow God, I’ll tell her:

I follow a God who is behind and in front of all things.Who created all things, sustains all things, and rules over all things — even presidents, nations, and galaxies.He’s outside of time, infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful — and yet, He wants a relationship with me.

That’s the God I worship.

He’s not a distant ruler on a faraway throne — the same God who reigns over creation stepped into creation.He’s not just above us — He’s among us.

And if He reigns over all things, then nothing in my life — no chaos, no struggle — is outside of His control.

Reflect:

What’s been trying to reign in your heart this week? Fear? Control? Comfort?
Do we live like Jesus is King, or just a consultant to our plans?

Try this:

Start your day with surrender: “Lord, You reign over my day, not my schedule.”
Pray differently: not “God, fix this” but “God, rule in this.”
When tested, pause and remember: the God who commands the stars can handle this moment too.

The God who reigns didn’t stay at a distance — He stepped into our lives.

2️⃣ He REACHES

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone… So the Word became human and made His home among us.”— John 1:4–5, 14

John writes, “The Word became human and made His home among us.”

That means God didn’t wait for us to climb up to Him — He came down to us.

I’ve understood that in a new way lately.

The other night, my daughter, Edyn, was crying. She’d been fed, changed, rocked — everything. Nothing worked. Finally, I sat in the dark nursery and just pulled her close.

She stopped.

I didn’t fix anything. She was still uncomfortable. But she felt her father’s presence.

And that’s when it hit me:That’s exactly what God does with us.

He doesn’t always fix everything right away. He doesn’t always remove the pain.

But He reaches down and pulls us close.

His presence calms what His power doesn’t yet remove.

That’s the heart of the Gospel — the Word became flesh and moved into our neighborhood. God is saying, “I’m here.”

Romans 8:38 reminds us:

“Nothing — not death or life, angels or rulers, height or depth — can separate us from the love of God.”

When my daughter is older, there will be times she’ll make mistakes, or hurt me — but I can’t imagine ever not loving her.

And that’s how our Father feels about us.

Reflect:

Where in your life do you feel like that crying baby — restless, hurting, unsure of what’s wrong?
Are you letting God hold you, or are you trying to hold everything together yourself?
Are you resisting His reach because it doesn’t look the way you expected?

The same way my daughter finds peace in her father’s arms — you can find peace in your Father’s presence.

3️⃣ He REVEALS

“The Word became human and made His home among us… full of unfailing love and faithfulness. No one has ever seen God, but the unique One, who is Himself God, has revealed Him to us.”— John 1:14, 18

Ever wonder, “What is God really like?” Look at Jesus.

Every miracle, every word, every act of compassion — was God saying, “This is who I am. ”But nowhere did He reveal Himself more clearly than at the cross.

There, He showed His heart:

“I’d rather die for you than live without you.”

So one day, when my daughter asks, “Dad, why do you follow God?” I’ll tell her:

I follow Him because He’s not just above us — He’s among us.Because the God who reigns above all, reached toward me with love, and revealed His heart on a cross.

And that’s the story I’ll never stop telling.