CHILD-LIKE FAITH

Returning to Complete Trust in Our Heavenly Father

From the Pastor's Desk | Pastor Eric Schroeder

Have we become so grown up in our thinking that we have forgotten how to trust God like a child?

That is a question I believe every one of us needs to stop and consider.

As we grow older, life has a way of changing how we see things. We experience disappointments, face unexpected challenges, endure difficult seasons, and sometimes find ourselves wondering why God hasn't answered our prayers the way we expected.

Over time, those experiences can begin to shape our faith. Instead of believing God for the impossible, we begin calculating what seems reasonable. Instead of trusting His promises, we start measuring His ability against our past experiences.

And without even realizing it, we can lose something precious: the simplicity of child-like faith.

I believe God is calling His people back to a place of complete trust in Him.

What Did Jesus Mean by Child-Like Faith?

In Matthew 18:2–4, Jesus called a little child to Himself and placed that child in the middle of His disciples.

Then He made a remarkable statement:

“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

Think about that for a moment.

Jesus didn't point to a great religious leader, a scholar, or someone with years of experience. He pointed to a child.

Why?

Because children demonstrate qualities that we often lose as adults: humility, trust, dependence, and a willingness to believe.

Jesus wasn't calling us to become childish or spiritually immature. He was teaching us that true greatness in the Kingdom of God begins with humility.

Child-like faith is not the absence of spiritual maturity. It is the foundation upon which genuine spiritual maturity is built.

We can grow in knowledge, understanding, and spiritual discernment while remaining completely dependent upon our Heavenly Father.

In fact, the more we mature in Christ, the more we should recognize just how much we need Him.

1. Child-Like Faith Begins With Humility

One of the things I love about watching children is their ability to dream.

They can imagine possibilities that adults would quickly dismiss as unrealistic or impossible.

My son has told me that when he grows up, he is going to buy a three-story house at Mexico Beach with a swimming pool.

Now, as adults, we might immediately start thinking about the cost, the responsibilities, or all the obstacles standing in the way.

But what does a child see?

Possibility!

Rather than immediately telling him why something cannot happen, I want to encourage him to dream and believe.

There is something beautiful about a heart that has not yet learned to place limitations on every possibility.

Yet Jesus teaches us that child-like faith must also be rooted in humility.

Matthew 18:4 says:

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Humility recognizes that we cannot accomplish God's purposes through our own strength.

Pride says, "Look what I have done."

Humility says, "Look what the Lord has done!"

When we humble ourselves before God, we acknowledge that He is our source, our strength, our provider, and our help.

Faith is not about how much we can accomplish. It is about trusting what God can do!

2. Child-Like Faith Trusts Without Understanding Everything

Proverbs 3:5 tells us:

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

That sounds simple, doesn't it?

But how often do we struggle to live it?

We want answers. We want explanations. We want to know how everything will work out before we take the next step.

Sometimes we even tell God that we trust Him while continuing to worry about every detail.

Think about a small child learning to do something new.

There may be hesitation. There may be uncertainty. But when a trusted parent reaches out and says, "Trust me," that child can find the courage to take the next step.

Why?

Because the child has confidence in the parent.

Our Heavenly Father is calling us to that same place of trust.

There will be seasons when we don't understand what God is doing. There will be times when His timing doesn't match our expectations.

But our lack of understanding does not mean God has lost control.

Faith doesn't require us to know everything. It requires us to trust the One who does!

Perhaps the very thing you are struggling to understand today is the area where God is asking you to trust Him more deeply.

3. Child-Like Faith Depends Upon the Father

In Matthew 7:7–11, Jesus teaches us to ask, seek, and knock. He reminds us that if earthly parents know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will our Heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him?

Children know where to go when they need something.

They don't usually sit around trying to figure out how they are going to provide everything for themselves.

They go to their parents!

Whether they need help, reassurance, encouragement, or something they desire, they know whom to ask.

And yet, as believers, we sometimes do the exact opposite.

We face a problem and immediately begin trying to solve it ourselves. We worry, calculate, plan, and struggle before finally turning to God.

Why do we wait so long to go to the One who already has the answers?

God never intended for us to live independently from Him.

He invites us to bring Him our concerns, our needs, our desires, and our burdens.

This doesn't mean He will always give us everything we ask for, exactly when we want it. A loving father understands that timing, wisdom, and what is truly best for his children matter.

Sometimes the answer is to wait.

Sometimes God has something different in mind.

But regardless of the answer, we can remain confident in His love and faithfulness.

Being dependent upon God is not a weakness.

It is one of the greatest strengths a believer can possess.

4. Child-Like Faith Believes God for the Impossible

In Mark 9:22–24, we find a father desperately seeking help for his son.

He comes to Jesus and asks Him to do something if He can.

Jesus responds by challenging the man's faith, and the father cries out:

“Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” — Mark 9:24 (KJV)

What a powerful and honest response!

This father wanted to believe, but the circumstances he had endured were affecting his confidence.

How many of us have found ourselves in that same place?

We know what the Word says. We have heard testimonies of God's power. We believe He is able.

But when the situation becomes personal, when the struggle lasts longer than expected, or when disappointment enters the picture, doubt begins whispering.

"What if God doesn't do it?"

"What if nothing changes?"

"What if I believe and end up disappointed again?"

Before long, our experiences begin influencing what we believe God can do.

I remember being in Publix one day when my son came up to me and said, "Daddy, you need to pray for this girl."

He saw someone who needed prayer, and his response was simple.

He didn't analyze every possibility. He didn't spend time debating whether prayer was appropriate. He saw a need and believed that we should pray.

That moment reminded me of something important.

Sometimes children respond with a simplicity and expectation that we adults have allowed fear, doubt, and disappointment to complicate.

We must stop measuring God's ability by the limitations of our own experiences!

That doesn't mean we dictate what God must do. It means we believe He is able, bring our needs before Him, and trust His wisdom regardless of the outcome.

God is still God.

His Word is still true.

His power has not diminished.

And He is still worthy of our complete trust.

5. Child-Like Faith Learns to Rest in the Father's Faithfulness

Psalm 131:2 gives us a beautiful picture of what it means to rest in God.

David describes his soul as being quieted like a weaned child with its mother.

There is something powerful about that image.

A child resting securely in the arms of a loving parent isn't worrying about every problem, calculating every outcome, or trying to control everything happening around them.

The child rests because there is trust.

I believe this is an area where many believers struggle.

We have become so accustomed to fighting, striving, worrying, and trying to make things happen that we have forgotten how to rest in the Lord.

Sometimes we are so busy trying to bring God's promises to pass that we begin interfering with the very process He is working in our lives.

We want to make it happen now.

We want to control the timing.

We want to determine the outcome.

But genuine faith knows when to obey, when to stand, and when to rest.

Resting in God does not mean becoming passive or neglecting our responsibilities. It means faithfully doing what He has called us to do while trusting Him with what belongs in His hands.

Sometimes the greatest demonstration of faith is not fighting harder. It is trusting deeper.

There is a peace that comes when we finally surrender the need to control everything and recognize that our Heavenly Father is faithful.

Have We Forgotten How to Trust?

I want to challenge you with something.

Think back to a time when your faith was simple.

When you prayed with expectation.

When you believed God's Word without immediately questioning how He would accomplish it.

When you trusted Him without needing every detail explained.

What changed?

Was it disappointment?

Was it a prayer that wasn't answered the way you expected?

Was it something someone said or did?

Was it a difficult season that caused you to question whether God was truly working on your behalf?

Whatever it was, I want to encourage you today:

Don't allow yesterday's disappointments to determine tomorrow's faith.

Our Heavenly Father has not changed.

His love has not diminished.

His faithfulness has not failed.

And His invitation to trust Him remains the same.

Perhaps the greatest step forward in your faith is not learning something new, but returning to the simple trust you once had in your Heavenly Father.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Today, I ask You to restore in us the simplicity of child-like faith.

Forgive us for the times we have relied more upon our own understanding than upon Your Word. Forgive us for allowing fear, disappointment, pride, and doubt to interfere with our trust in You.

Teach us to walk humbly before You.

Help us to trust You when we cannot see the way forward, depend upon You in every season, and believe that nothing is too difficult for You.

Father, teach us to rest in Your faithfulness. Help us surrender the things we have been trying to control and give us the courage to obey Your voice.

May our hearts remain tender, our spirits teachable, and our faith strong.

Restore the joy of trusting You completely.

In the mighty and wonderful name of Jesus Christ,

Amen and Amen!

Final Thought

Have we become so grown up in our thinking that we have forgotten how to trust God like a child?

May we never become so dependent upon our own wisdom, experiences, and understanding that we lose the simplicity of trusting our Heavenly Father.

Stay humble. Keep believing. Trust completely. Rest in His faithfulness.

With love and blessings,

Pastor Eric Schroeder

Radiant New Life Church

Empowering, Mobilizing, and Reviving the Body of Christ.