Have you ever truly watched a child who is deeply invested in their faith and walk with God? Not just glanced, but observed them closely — the way they talk to God, sing to Him, pray with conviction, or speak about Him as if He is the most real and present person in their world. Have you ever sat and pondered how unwavering their faith is? I have. And it has left me in awe time and time again, especially as I’ve watched my own son grow in his relationship with the Lord. His faith doesn’t tremble under pressure; it doesn’t falter under uncertainty. Instead, he walks confidently, hearing from God, obeying His voice, and stepping out in faith in ways that many adults — even those who have walked with God for decades — still struggle to do.
In a conversation with a longtime friend today, I was reminded of something I hadn’t thought about in a while. It was as if God was gently nudging my heart back to a foundational truth — one that is both incredibly simple and deeply profound.
Matthew 18:3-4
“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
In these two short verses, Jesus doesn’t offer a suggestion — He delivers a command. One that both challenges and encourages. He calls us to change and become like little children. It’s not a metaphor for immaturity, but a blueprint for genuine, life-transforming faith.
There are six core traits of childlike faith reflected in these verses — each one crucial for entering and thriving in the Kingdom of God. Let’s take a deeper look:
1. Humility
Children, especially young ones, haven’t yet been consumed by pride or the need to prove themselves. They aren’t driven by ego, comparison, or self-importance. They’re willing to admit when they don’t know something, quick to ask for help, and easily corrected when led with love. This is the posture God desires from us. True humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less — and thinking of God more. It’s coming to Him with empty hands, recognizing that we bring nothing of eternal value apart from Him. Humility allows God to lead, to speak, and to shape us.
2. Trust
When a child is afraid, who do they run to? When they’re unsure, who do they ask for guidance? They don’t calculate the risks or weigh the options — they trust instinctively. That’s the kind of faith God desires from us. Trust that runs deeper than our understanding. Trust that believes in God’s goodness even when we can’t see the outcome. Just as a child trusts their parent to catch them when they jump, we’re invited to trust that God will catch us, lead us, and never let us fall outside of His plan.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” That kind of trust is bold, pure, and unshakable.
3. Dependency
Children are dependent on their caregivers for nearly everything — food, shelter, wisdom, direction, comfort, correction. It’s not a burden to them; it’s simply how they were designed. And yet, somewhere along the way, we as adults begin to resist dependency — even on God. We want control. We want to do it ourselves. But the Kingdom of God operates in the opposite spirit. We are called to daily, moment-by-moment dependency on God — for our spiritual growth, our emotional healing, our daily provision, and our decisions. We don’t grow out of needing Him — we grow into understanding how much more we need Him.
4. Simplicity
Children don’t overanalyze every command. If you tell them, “God loves you,” they believe it — wholeheartedly. Their faith is not complicated by theology debates or cynicism; it’s rooted in trust. As adults, we tend to overthink, overcomplicate, and create spiritual roadblocks that God never intended. The psalmist writes in Psalm 131:2, “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother…” That’s the beauty of simple faith — a quiet soul that rests in the truth of God’s love without the need for all the answers. Childlike faith calls us to lay down the mental gymnastics and simply walk in the truth God has already made known.
5. Forgiveness
Have you ever watched two children fight one moment and laugh together five minutes later? Children are quick to forgive — not because they’re naive, but because they’re not entangled in bitterness, ego, or the need for revenge. As we mature, forgiveness becomes harder, not because we’re wiser, but because we hold on to wounds tighter. Yet Jesus calls us to release those offenses, to forgive as we’ve been forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32) A childlike heart doesn’t keep a record of wrongs. It releases, it heals, and it loves again — freely and joyfully.
6. Openness to Learning
Children are naturally curious. Their minds are like sponges, eager to soak in the world around them. They ask questions, try new things, and aren’t afraid of getting things wrong along the way. In our walk with God, we must be open to being taught — not just through sermons or books, but through His Spirit. A teachable heart says, “God, shape me. Show me where I’m wrong. Lead me where I need to go.” It’s not a sign of weakness — it’s a mark of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:9 says, “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”
Bringing It All Together
These six traits are more than individual virtues — together, they form the very essence of what it means to walk as a child of God. Humility allows us to trust. Trust fuels dependency. Dependency leads us to simplicity. Simplicity helps us forgive. Forgiveness opens us to grow. And learning keeps us rooted in childlike faith.
When we return to the posture of a child before God, we begin to experience the depth of relationship He intended for us all along. We strip away the distractions, the pride, the performance, and simply sit in the Father’s presence. From that place of rest, our faith grows not by striving, but by abiding.
Call to Action: Return to Childlike Faith
So today, I want to challenge you — not to “grow up,” but to grow back. Return to the simplicity of your first love. Ask yourself:
Where have I stopped trusting?
Where have I become proud instead of humble?
Have I stopped learning or being open to correction?
Am I making my faith more complicated than God intended?
Let’s choose to be children again — not in immaturity, but in innocence and faith. Let’s walk with God with wide-eyed wonder, open hearts, and the joyful expectancy that our Heavenly Father is exactly who He says He is.
Lay down pride. Pick up humility. Let go of bitterness. Embrace forgiveness. And walk boldly with the faith of a child.
Because in God’s Kingdom, the greatest among us isn’t the strongest or the smartest — it’s the child who simply believes.
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