A Prayer to Discover Childlike Faith
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading
“And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” - Matthew 18:3
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What does it mean to have childlike faith to become like little children in the kingdom of God? How do we achieve it? What steps do we need to take to walk in it? As adults, how do we move past all the voices that have been telling us throughout our lives that we need to “grow up” and “stop behaving like a child”?
Believing What Our Father Says
As a child, I believed my Dad could do anything. With my childlike knowledge, doubts, limitations, and skepticism didn’t have a place in my mind or lead my thoughts astray. Like most of us, as children, if our dad told us something, we believed it, with no questioning, second guessing, or resistance. In the 2000 movie “The Kid,” Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin play the same character, with Willis as the adult him and Breslin as his childhood self. Tragically, around the age of 8 years old, his mother dies, and his father tells him, “You gotta grow up, now. Do you understand?” Sadly, his character didn’t receive the help or support to grieve the loss of his mother or to understand what his dad was telling him to do or how he was supposed to know how to do that at age 8. All of a sudden, he was supposed to stop behaving like the child he was and act like an adult, rejecting the joy and wonder of childhood to face the loss and responsibility of losing his mom.
Like “The Kid” character, childhood losses and hurts can keep us from knowing how to be like a child, especially when it comes to having faith in God. It can stunt our faith growth. Still, we need to take heed of what Mark 10:15 urges: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Even If Others Laugh: Only Believe
Jairus, a father who asked Jesus to heal his daughter, was faced with disbelief from his friends and family. “While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?’ Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe’” (Mark 5:35-36). Jesus didn’t let their unbelief hinder Him. “He went in and said to them,‘ Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at Him’ (Mark 5:39-40). It’s hard to believe that people laughed at Jesus, yet it happened. But their unbelief didn’t keep Him from healing her based on the father’s faith. “Then Jesus took Jairus daughter by the hand and told her to get up, and she did (Mark 5:41-42).
Why Does the Kingdom of Heaven Belong to Those Like Little Children?
Children are known for their ability to believe what may seem impossible to adults. They are more open to believing what Ephesians 3:20 tells us God can do. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” During Jesus’ teaching, Mark 10:13 describes how “People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.” Mark 10:14 describes, “When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’”
What did Jesus mean? Childlike faith doesn’t put limits on God and what He can do. Sadly, adults often focus on why things are impossible, whereas children find it easier to believe in the impossible. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26). Often, we forget all that God has for us, but 1 Corinthians 2:9 describes how no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived, the things God has prepared for those who love Him.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Restore to us the joy and wonder of childlike faith. Free us from the hindrances of childhood hurts and losses that may be keeping us from believing You and what You tell us is possible with You. Like Jairus in the Bible, strengthen and encourage us in our faith to only believe as Jesus instructed, especially when others around us doubt, disbelieve, and even laugh at Your words. Help us to trust You in ways that lead us to become like little children in our faith in You.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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