What does the Bible say about childlike faith?
As we age, we naturally become less trusting. Trust grows as we observe someone’s character or deepen a relationship with them. However, children are different. If you have kids, you’ve likely noticed how much they trust you. Young children take their parents at their word without hesitation. They’re carefree, unburdened by worries like bills or life’s stresses, confident that their parents will provide. They depend on their parents entirely, trusting everything they say. This is the kind of faith we should emulate in our walk with Christ. Just as children accept their parents’ words as truth, we should hold every Word from the Lord as true. Like children who receive gifts with joy and gratitude, we should respond to the free gift of salvation with the same delight. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” we should take Him at His Word and rejoice with thankful hearts. We should trust His love for us without doubt and believe He will provide.
Childlike faith doesn’t mean being reckless, naive, or careless like children can be. Instead, it’s about walking with the Lord in trust and humility. It’s believing His every Word, confident that He is who He says He is and that He will keep all His promises. I encourage to to take a moment to pray this. “Lord, help me cultivate childlike faith. Strengthen my prayer life. I long for an intimate relationship with You, trusting You at every step. Grow in me humility and faith to entrust my life to You.”
1. Matthew 18:3 (NIV) – “And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”
2. Mark 10:15 (ESV) – “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
3. Luke 18:17 (NASB) – “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
4. Matthew 19:14 (NKJV) – “But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’”
5. Psalm 131:2 (KJV) – “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”
6. Matthew 11:25 (NLT) – “At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the little children.’”
7. Mark 9:37 (NIV) – “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
8. Luke 10:21 (ESV) – “In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.’”
9. Matthew 18:4 (NASB) – “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
10. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) – “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
11. Psalm 8:2 (KJV) – “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”
12. Mark 10:14 (NLT) – “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.’”
13. 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV) – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”
14. Matthew 21:16 (ESV) – “And they 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 infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise”?’”
15. Isaiah 11:6 (NASB) – “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child will lead them.”
16. Luke 9:48 (NKJV) – “And said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.’”
17. Psalm 116:6 (KJV) – “The Lord preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.”
18. 1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT) – “Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.”
19. Matthew 18:2 (NIV) – “He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.”
20. Mark 10:16 (ESV) – “And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.”
21. Psalm 127:3 (NASB) – “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.”
22. Luke 18:16 (NKJV) – “But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.’”
23. Proverbs 20:11 (KJV) – “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
24. John 1:12 (NLT) – “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
25. Ephesians 5:1 (NIV) – “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.”