The concept of having “childlike faith” is found throughout the Bible. Jesus himself emphasizes the importance of having faith like a child in several passages. To understand what it means to have childlike faith, we must first examine what qualities characterize the faith of a child.
Children inherently trust their parents and those who care for them. They believe what they are told and do not overanalyze or doubt it. Children accept truths about the world on the authority of their parents before they are able to investigate those truths for themselves. They trust that their parents have their best interests in mind and will care for them. This kind of complete, innocent, and unquestioning trust exemplifies childlike faith.
In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” He goes on to emphasize the importance of having humble, childlike faith by saying, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4). Jesus praises the faith of children and encourages his followers to emulate such faith in their own relationship with God.
Similarly, in Matthew 19:13-14, Jesus welcomes little children, places his hands on them, and blesses them. When the disciples try to prevent the children from bothering Jesus, he responds, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus again affirms the value of childlike faith and implies that such faith is necessary to inherit God’s kingdom.
In Mark 10:13-16, parents bring their little children to Jesus so he can place his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples scolded the parents, but Jesus was indignant and said, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took the children in his arms and blessed them. This passage clearly indicates that childlike faith is the model for kingdom faith.
What are the qualities of childlike faith that Jesus wants believers to emulate? As mentioned, children demonstrate complete trust in their parents. They do not question their parents’ character, wisdom, or authority. Children believe whatever their parents tell them, even if they do not understand it. They rely fully on their parents for provision, protection, and guidance. This is the kind of wholehearted, humble, and unquestioning faith Jesus wants his followers to have in God.
Children are also characterized by wonder, curiosity, innocence, joy, and transparency. Their hearts have not yet been hardened by the cynicism and skepticism of adulthood. Jesus wants his disciples to approach God with wide-eyed wonder, sincere curiosity, pure motives, childlike joy, and transparent hearts. He wants them to come to God as little children, not as sophisticated adults.
At the same time, the Bible makes it clear that childlike faith does not mean childish faith. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” While Jesus wants his followers to exhibit childlike humility, wonder, and trust, he also wants them to grow in spiritual and biblical wisdom. Faith grounded in God’s Word will lead to understanding and maturity over time. Childlike faith is humble, sincere, and unpretentious, but not ignorant, foolish, or gullible.
Jesus’ command to have faith like a child is beautifully illustrated in the account of Jesus raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead (Luke 8:40-56). Jairus, a synagogue leader, comes to Jesus in desperation when his only daughter is at the point of death. He begs Jesus to come lay hands on her so she will be healed and live. As Jesus is on the way to Jairus’s house, messengers arrive announcing that the girl has died. Upon hearing the tragic news, everyone begins mourning and wailing. But Jesus urges Jairus to have faith and says the girl is only sleeping. The crowd laughs at Jesus, trusting in the messengers’ report rather than Jesus’ words.
When Jesus arrives at the house, he takes the girl’s parents and three of his disciples to the room where the girl lies dead. He grasps her hand and simply says, “Child, arise.” Immediately, her spirit returns and she gets up, perfectly healthy. Jesus instructs the parents to give her something to eat to confirm that she is alive. Despite the seeming impossibility of the situation, Jesus commends childlike faith in his ability to raise the dead. Jairus and his wife believe Jesus’ words rather than trusting in human reasoning or conventional wisdom. Their faith mirrors that of a child.
This remarkable story illustrates what it means to have childlike faith in Jesus – to trust his words above man’s, no matter how improbable or impossible the situation appears. The parents could have dismissed Jesus’ words as unrealistic when faced with the finality of death. But instead, they chose to cling to childlike faith in Christ’s power and authority, even when doing so seemed foolish to human eyes. Their example calls believers to approach Jesus with similar wonder, humility, and trust.
In addition to Jesus’ teachings, other New Testament writers also emphasize the importance of childlike faith:
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 – “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”
- Ephesians 4:14 – “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”
- 1 Peter 2:2-3 – “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
- Matthew 18:1-4 – “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
These verses indicate that childlike faith involves humility, purity, curiosity, and wholehearted trust in God. At the same time, believers must mature in understanding and not remain childish in their thinking. The goal is to exhibit childlike devotion coupled with biblical wisdom.
In summary, the Bible clearly instructs followers of Christ to have faith like a child – humble, sincere, curious, innocent, joyful, and fully trusting in God. This kind of childlike faith requires total dependence on God, like a child depends completely on their parent. It involves believing God’s Word despite human doubt or skepticism. Childlike faith approaches God with wonder, gratitude, and vulnerability, not cynicism or pretense. Of course, childlike faith grows over time. With spiritual maturity comes deeper knowledge of Scripture and greater understanding of God. But at its core, authentic faith retains a childlike humility, simplicity, and devotion – qualities Jesus repeatedly praised.
For believers seeking to become more childlike in their faith, here are some practical tips:
- Pray for the wonder and curiosity of a child. Ask God to give you a fresh perspective untainted by cynicism.
- Read the gospels and observe how Jesus welcomed and valued children.
- Spend time around children and observe their trusting, inquisitive nature.
- Admit you don’t have all the answers. Be willing to learn and ask questions.
- Recognize your dependence on God for everything, not just salvation.
- Thank God daily for his love and provision like a grateful child.
- Let go of pretense, hypocrisy, and impressing others. Be transparent before God.
- Focus on scripture more than intellectual reasoning or skepticism.
- Believe God’s promises even when they seem improbable in the moment.
- Remain humble and teachable as you grow in biblical maturity.
The Bible makes clear that childlike faith pleases God and is essential for entering his kingdom. So believers must humble themselves and come to Christ with the wonder, trust, curiosity, and devotion of a child. This kind of sincere, innocent, and unquestioning faith allows God to fully transform hearts and lives.