This post started out as a five minute friday with the prompt word “World” but looking back on it, I felt as if childlike faith is too deep a subject for five minutes. What is childlike faith and why is it important? Why did Jesus emphasis it several times?

Childlike Faith Verses Begin with a Children’s Song

I love children’s songs. They are simple and portray God as the wonderful loving Creator that He is.

I remember, at five years old, singing Jesus Loves Me with all of my little heart and believing every word. Many times throughout the years when life was challenging and people were cruel, I’d go back to those days of strong childlike faith.

Think about some of their lyrics.

“He’s got the whole world in His hands”

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight”

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart”

Faith in the love of Christ and joy in the Lord bring us peace, hope, and contentment.

I can read all the Bible verses about childlike faith I can find, but the simplicity of these songs brings me right back to the beginning of my faith.

Childlike Characteristics

As adults we complicate faith. We analyze, explain, and dissect scripture and the very nature of God. Why?

What if we chose to simply believe that Jesus Loves Me and He’s got the Whole World in His Hands? What if we embraced the very basics of our faith and left it there?

I believe we overcomplicate faith because we can’t embrace that childlike faith. We can’t release the grip of control we fight to contain. We can’t love our neighbor as ourselves because we haven’t accepted our Creator’s love.

The stress would come to a halt. The joy of being alive would grow stronger. We would sleep, knowing that God is in control and He works all things for our good.

Looking at my own kids, I can see characteristics of this faith.

At first, everything I tell them is the truth and mom knows everything. They ask dozens of questions as they learn about the world around them and they actually listen to my answers.

When was the last time you actually listened to God? When did you NOT try to rationalize and flip it around to see if it applied to your own mindset?

They hold my hand when they are afraid because they believe I am a safe place for them.

What if we did that with God? What if we held onto Him each time we are afraid?

The Blazing Center has an excellent article on the characteristics of childlike faith.

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Childlike Faith Scriptures

I only chose a few childlike faith scriptures, but the same stories are repeated over and over in the gospels. God must have thought that these stories emphasized an important truth to put it in the scriptures multiple times.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” ¹⁶ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16 NKJV)

First, the disciples didn’t want their master being disturbed by children. They didn’t understand Jesus at all, did they? And I would’ve definitely been one of those mothers!

Second, Jesus was “greatly displeased” which tells me he thought the children were very important.

Thirdly, he uses the situation to teach us an important lesson. We need the humility and faith of a child in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

One last point. “he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them”. It wasn’t a quick passing prayer in his busy day. He actually spent time with them.

For weeks after Rebekah died, it brought me great comfort envisioning her sitting on Jesus’s lap. When I was young, I had a Bible with a blue cover and a picture of Jesus surrounded by children. He had a little blond-haired boy on his lap. It’s probably a common picture, but that is the image that comforted me in my deep grief.

Here is the same story in Matthew 19:13-15 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵ And He laid His hands on them and departed from there.

In Jerusalem before Christ’s crucifixion,

But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant ¹⁶ and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read,‘ Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:2-4)

The never-ending struggle of humility. Childlike faith is humble. All of these childlike faith verses point to humility. Perhaps we adults have complicated faith with our knowledge. Could it be that Bible verses about childlike faith should encourage a humble simplicity to our faith?

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, ² as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-2)

Other Childlike Faith Quotes

I have gotten into this weird habit of looking up quotes. Seriously, you can google quotes on any subject and I find them to be enlightening. Here are a few other childlike faith quotes.

“I realized that my life was to be one of simple, childlike faith, and that my part was to trust, not to do. I was to trust in Him and He would work in me to do His good pleasure. From that time my life was different.” -Charles Studd

“You can’t confuse childlike faith with childish thinking.” -John F. MacArthur

“Once born into childlike faith, brimming with belief, typical people begin to lose their faith. Society mocks them. Their friends smirk. They come to change the world, but over time the world changes them. Soon they forget who they were; they forget the faith they once had. Then one day someone tells them the truth, but they don’t want to go back, because they’re comfortable in their new skin. Being a stranger in this world is never easy.” -Ted Dekker

Embrace Childlike Faith

So, dear friends, I challenge you today to embrace childlike faith and believe that He’s got the Whole World in His Hands!

You might also enjoy these other five minute friday posts.

His Name Means Brave

Touch the Hem of His Garment