Never Outgrowing Childlike Faith
I often joke that the Bible never calls us “adults of God”—only children. And if you think about it, that’s kind of funny. We grow up, take on responsibilities, and try to handle things on our own, but God still calls us His children. No matter how old we get, how much we think we’ve figured out, or how independent we try to be, we are never anything other than His kids.
This week, I was reminded of just how sweet that is.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:3, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” That’s a strong statement. It means childlike faith isn’t just a nice idea—it’s essential. But what does that really mean?
Children trust without hesitation. They run into their parents’ arms without a second thought. They don’t overanalyze, strategize, or stress about the future like we do. They simply believe. They know they are loved, cared for, and safe.
Somewhere along the way, we tend to lose that. Life makes us skeptical. Hurt makes us guarded. And before we know it, we approach God less like a child and more like an employee trying to earn approval. But that’s not what He asks of us. He doesn’t call us to be self-sufficient adults of God—He invites us to be His beloved children.
Romans 8:16-17 says, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
Not only are we His kids, but we are heirs to His kingdom. We have a Father who delights in us, who provides for us, who welcomes us into His presence with open arms. What an honor it is to be a child of God.
So maybe it’s okay to let go a little. Maybe it’s okay to not have all the answers. Maybe we don’t need to strive so hard to be strong on our own. Maybe, just maybe, we were never meant to outgrow the simple, beautiful, trusting faith of a child.
This week, I’m leaning into that. I’m resting in the truth that I don’t have to be in control because my Father already is. And I’m reminding myself of the best news of all:
I am not an adult of God—I am His child. And that is more than enough.