Childlike Faith

“Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it’” Luke 18:16-17.

You may have heard this scripture before, but it is just one of many that speak on the preciousness of a child’s faith. The verse above from the book of Luke shares about “childlike faith”. Many might assume “childlike” refers to immaturity, and lack of knowledge or development, but then why is this faith referred to as a key to receiving the kingdom of God? In my experience in children’s ministry “childlike faith” is not about immaturity, but instead about their unconditional love, their unquestionable trust for loved ones, their ability to quickly forgive, and the endless wonder they have.

Rachel Held Evans was an incredible Christian author who passed away in 2019. Her husband and friends used her writings to create a children’s novel dedicated to her two children. Her words encourage wonderment, and I believe embody what it may mean to have a “childlike faith”.

“What is God like? That’s a very big question, one that people from all around the world, throughout all time, have answered in many different ways. Keep searching. Keep Wondering.” – From What is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner