Grow Up and Act Like a Child

Ken Rice

I’m no stranger to living by faith. Stepping into ministry in my late twenties while starting a family, planting a church while the country was in an economic recession, and most of all raising two kids has taught me a few things about trusting God with everything and living by and through faith.

Life seems to have seasons where we need to exercise more faith than others. I have noticed that when I don’t exercise that muscle of faith it tends to atrophy without use. Not sure if you have experienced the same thing. In times of plenty, in times of little to stress or turmoil, it is easy to settle in and recline a bit. This can be a nice break; the problem is these seasons of recline never seem to last. They are usually short lived. Life happens and when it does we need to remember that God has everything under control.

Living by faith has re-emerged as a theme in my world and it has me asking how can I do this better? Maybe more naturally, innocently, with less painful effort.

I think the secret I’ve landing on is to mature as a believer in my childlike faith. Jesus said, the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I think I need to probably pay more attention to that. Here is what Jesus said out of Mark 10.

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.” - Mark 10:13-16 NLT

As I began examining what a childlike faith looks like I started feeling a bit convicted. It’s innocent, not looking how to manipulate a situation for personal gain. It is completely trusting; it is confident that all my needs will be meant so I don’t have a care in the world. It is joyful and eager with anticipation that something great is just around the corner. To live like this would be so freeing!

One has to acknowledge that life has taught us that living like this can seem foolish and downright vulnerable. Life experiences have taught us that if we don’t look out for ourselves, no one else will. It has taught us that there is bad in this world and when it strikes it hurts. It has taught us that not everyone is kind and has our best interest in mind.

Life lessons can keep us from a childlike faith. It is out of self-preservation that we tend to not trust like a child.

Jesus was no stranger to life experiences and hurts and yet he instructed us to live with this kind of faith. For me adopting a mindset of trusting the Good Father has helped me live this way. I think one of the keys to childlike faith is simply talking the posture of following Jesus as a child follows a good father. God, our Good Father is a theme found throughout the Old and New Testament.

“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” - Psalms 103:13 NLT

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” - Matthew 7:9-11 NLT

Scripture is full of examples like these.

The truth is a child will blindly follow their good father with complete and utter trust in his goodness. A child knows that they will be protected and provided for by their good father because they know no other reality. A child can look at a scary, uncertain, or even impossible situation and is comforted by their good father’s presence. My dad is my protector and my shield.

What a child knows is what we should know about our Abba Father.

He is here with me. My dad has this under control. My dad already has this covered for he is my provider. My dad already knows the outcome. My dad will lead me through this scary valley. My dad will never leave me alone.

All this to say, in this season of life where I am having to live by faith more than in recent years, I am attempting to grow up and act like a child.