Child-Like Faith
“Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
“Child-like faith” is a phrase tossed around in Christian circles that is never mentioned in the Bible verbatim, but stems from the verse above. What is it like to have child-like faith? It’s been a concept that I confess I haven’t paid much attention to until recent years. Then one day, I was on my way home from the grocery store, listening to a YouTube video a sister in Christ had sent me. I had to pause the video and mull on a moment that took me by surprise in the best way. The speaker in the video said, “As I’ve grown both in age and spiritual maturity, my need for Him to be with me has increased.”
And this, I realized, is like learning to be a child all over again.
Children laugh and play with abandon. Fights and disagreements last five minutes and then play is resumed as if nothing had happened - with no grudges held, the anger forgotten, and all forgiven and reconciled. Children move on quickly from hurt, whether emotional or physical, and are more or less contented in their lives. When something is wrong or needed, they run immediately to the safe harbor of a mother or father, knowing those steady figures are there to guide, protect, comfort, provide for, and teach them.
As we grow, we depend on our parents less and less and usually depend on others less as well. As we grow in independence, we learn how to hold things in, for better or worse. We form anxieties and fears. We become cynical and mistrustful, and we grow in pride and take sides against one another.
Now, I understand that not everyone comes from or lives in a happy home with loving parents like I did. We sadly live in a fallen world, and parents do not always act as they are meant to, with patience, love, and safety. Even in the most perfect home, the fact is that we’re all human. As Paul points out in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” No human is perfect, and God addresses this in His Word: in Psalm 27 verse 10, we are told: “For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” And in Isaiah 49:15, the Lord tells us, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” So, even accounting for imperfect or even absent parents, God tells us that He will be a parent to us. He will take us in. In God the Father, we find that perfect parent, and He enables us to have child-like faith.
Among other things, because God is compassionate (Psalm 103:13), because He never lies (Numbers 23:19), because He promises to never leave or forsake us, but to be with us always (Deuteronomy 31:6; Matthew 28:20), and because He is slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness (Exodus 34:6), God has every characteristic of a perfect and loving Father. I used to think that He was a presence standing far off, uninvolved and uninterested, but the more I have gotten to know Him personally, I see how wrong I was about Him. He invites us to be honest with Him, to lean on Him always, to come to Him when we are troubled, lonely, or contented. Like the perfect Father He is, He is always there to catch us when we fall and put us upright again.
“Then children were brought to Him that He might lay His hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of Heaven.” And He laid His hands on them and went away.”
This passage is really so lovely, because it not only encourages go to God as His children, but reinforces the fact that He wants us to come to Him. Jesus is preaching in Judea, when some parents begin bringing their children to Him, in the hopes that He will lay His hands on them and bless them. But His disciples rebuke them - in the original language, it means to tax with fault, to chide, reprove, or admonish sharply. The disciples thought the children would be nothing but a bother, a distraction, or a burden on Jesus as He preached. But notice Jesus doesn’t say, “You’re right.” No. He in turn rebukes His disciples, saying “Do not hinder them.” Other translations say, “Don’t stop them,” “Don’t forbid them from coming to Me,” “Never interfere with them,” or “Do not prevent them.” Jesus wants nothing to hinder the children from coming to Him - they are not a distraction, a burden, or a bother.
Beloved friend, this is what the enemy wants us to think, to keep us from coming to our Father. He wants us to feel like we are a burden, or that we’re bothering the Father - the enemy wants us to believe that God doesn’t have time for us. But the beauty of reality is that God exists out of time and space. He is not constrained by the hours of the day or earthly measures. He has infinite time and attention for each and every one of us, and wants to spend time with us, because He loves us. No matter how dirty, broken, or ashamed we are, we must not let anyone - especially ourselves! - prevent us from coming to the Father. He cares about us; He loves us. He is interested in our lives, even the smallest, seemingly insignificant details. He already knows everything - but He still wants to hear from you, because a relationship is built on communication.
“As I’ve grown both in age and spiritual maturity, my need for Him to be with me has increased.” I find this personally true. The older I become, the harder life seems to get, and the harsher the world seems to be - but I have great joy and comfort knowing there’s a perfect and loving Father for me to lean on - always. We have direct and unhindered access to a perfect parent in whose presence we needn’t be ashamed or afraid - just as we were once unashamed and unafraid in the Garden, just as God intended in the beginning.
Because of God’s perfect, holy, and loving character, we can adopt childlike faith. We do not have to be proud and rely on ourselves or our own strength; we have our Father to lean on. So beloved friend, let us adopt:
Complete Trust. This is humility: we rely on our Father to help us, trusting He knows best, instead of relying on ourselves.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:9
Reverence, but not fear. The Bible refers to fear of the Lord, which is a reverence and awe of His holiness, might and perfection; but it is not the same thing as being afraid of Him. Our Father knows everything; He is sovereign; so we must respect Him as the authority of all things. However, we needn’t be afraid of Him, because He loves us, and we have nothing to fear of Him since there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ (Romans 8:1).
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” - Isaiah 43:1
Obedience. We do not lean on our own understanding, but obey the Father, because we know He knows more than we do, and He has good plans for us.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” - Proverbs 3:5-6
No hesitation. This is key! We see it all the time in the Psalms, most of which were penned by David. He held nothing back, came to the Lord immediately and cried out to Him constantly - and the Lord, for generations, called David a man after His own heart. We don’t have to wait and get ourselves in order, or get cleaned up before going to Lord. He is ready and willing to help us.
“Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - Hebrews 4:16
Let’s pray together.Heavenly Father, no matter what our home life looked or looks like, we know that we have a perfect Father in You. Help us to trust You, to revere You, to obey You, and to come to You often each day. We ask that You dismantle any obstacle that keeps us from coming to You. Help us to have child-like faith and rely on You to guide us. We know that we are not a burden or a bother to You, and that You enjoy spending time with us. Thank You for being such a good and loving Father. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
