“I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking—live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Let’s be honest—most of us grew up thinking that “childlike” meant immature, naïve, or unformed. But in Matthew 18, Jesus flips that on its head. He doesn’t say, “Grow up and get it together.” He says, “Unless you become like children… you’ll miss it entirely.”
Let that land.
The entry point to the Kingdom is not spiritual sophistication. It’s surrender. It’s humility. It’s dependency. It’s saying, “Abba, I need You,” without pretense or pride. The greatest in the Kingdom isn’t the one who performs the best—it’s the one who kneels the quickest.
In the Greek, the word for “repent” here is metanoeō—to change your inner outlook and turn toward a new way of living. And what is that new way? Jesus names it clearly: become like children—trusting, humble, and forgiving.
Let’s break that down:
Trusting: Children believe what their parents say. They expect provision. They run to safety, not away from it. That’s how God wants us to respond to Him.
Humble: Children know they’re not the boss. They ask questions. They receive help. And when they mess up, they’re not too proud to crawl into a lap for comfort.
Forgiving: Ever seen kids fight and then be best friends five minutes later? That’s what grace does. It doesn’t keep score—it keeps moving forward.
But many of us resist this posture. We’ve been hurt. We’ve learned to rely on ourselves. We’ve mistaken control for strength. But that’s not Kingdom living—it’s survival mode dressed up in religious language.
To be childlike isn’t to act small—it’s to live anchored in His mercy, kindness, and goodness.
In God’s economy, maturity doesn’t mean independence—it means intimacy. The world teaches us to “grow up,” “be strong,” and “stand on our own.” But spiritually speaking, the deeper we grow in Christ, the more childlike we become—not childish, but honest, open, and surrendered.
A spiritually mature believer doesn’t operate in self-sufficiency. They don’t fake it, hide their needs, or pretend they’re fine when they’re falling apart. Instead, they run to the Father quickly. They trust His voice over their feelings. They forgive freely, ask boldly, and rest deeply—because they know they are loved.
Jesus modeled this. He said, “I only do what I see the Father doing.” Total dependence. That’s what spiritual growth looks like: less control, more trust. Less striving, more surrender. Less proving, more abiding.
Childlike faith isn’t the beginning of the journey—it is the journey. And it keeps us anchored when life tries to pull us back into fear, pride, or self-reliance.
From a psychological lens, childlike faith reflects a state of secure attachment—the kind of relational safety that forms when a caregiver is consistently present, attuned, and trustworthy. Children who grow up in these environments learn that it’s safe to reach out, express needs, receive comfort, and ask for help.
But many of us didn’t grow up with that kind of security. Instead, we learned to earn love by performing, protect ourselves from pain, or rely only on our own strength. These are adaptive strategies—survival mechanisms that helped us get by, but now sabotage our relationship with God and others.
In adulthood, healing happens when we begin to rewire those patterns. Neuroscience confirms that consistent, safe, loving relationships—especially with a caregiver-like presence—can literally reshape the brain’s wiring. That’s what happens when we walk with God as our Father. As we trust Him daily, we’re re-parented. Our spiritual life becomes a healing space, not just a performance one.
Childlike faith isn’t regression—it’s restoration. It’s returning to the kind of relationship we were designed for all along.
This week, slow down and notice where you’ve outgrown childlike trust—but not in a good way.
Where do you resist asking for help?
Where do you feel the need to be in control?
Where are you pretending to be strong instead of admitting you’re scared or unsure?
These are the places where pride, fear, and self-reliance creep in—and where the invitation to childlike faith is waiting.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where your default setting is still “I’ve got this,” when what your heart really needs to say is, “Father, I need You.”
Then take one practical step of surrender:
Ask God out loud for something small today—like a moment of peace or clarity.
Pause when you feel anxious and whisper, “I trust You.”
Write a prayer from your younger self’s voice—honest, simple, raw.
Let someone safe see a need in you instead of hiding it.
God isn’t asking you to perform. He’s asking you to come close.
Because spiritual strength isn’t about how much you can carry—
…it’s about how quickly you run to the One who carries you.
Childlike faith is not weakness—it’s wisdom. It means choosing trust over fear, humility over pride, and surrender over self-reliance.
Duration: 3–5 minutes
Posture: Seated or lying down, eyes closed, palms open in a receiving position
Step 1: Center Yourself
Begin by taking a deep breath in through your nose… and let it go through your mouth.
Let your shoulders drop.
Let your jaw soften.
Let yourself be held in this moment.
Step 2: The Rhythm
Now breathe in slowly to a count of 4…
Hold gently for 2…
Exhale slowly to a count of 6.
(Repeat this cycle 6–8 times)
With each inhale, picture God drawing you close.
With each exhale, release the pressure to be in control.
Step 3: Spoken Intention
On each inhale, whisper:
“Abba… I trust You.”
On each exhale, whisper:
“I let go.”
Let the repetition become your rhythm.
Let the rhythm become your surrender.
Step 4: Close Gently
End by placing one hand on your heart and saying,
“Father, I am safe in Your care.”
Stay here as long as you need—still, quiet, anchored.
Taking time to reflect is one of the most powerful tools for spiritual growth and self-awareness. These journal prompts are designed to help you pause, process, and partner with God in the places He’s refining you. Don’t rush the answers—let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts. As you write, ask God to reveal what’s beneath the surface and align your heart more fully with His truth and design.
Father,
I admit it—sometimes I don’t know how to trust like a child. I’ve learned to take control, to perform, to protect myself. But deep down, I’m tired of carrying what I was never meant to hold.
I want to come back to You—not as someone who has it all together, but as someone who finally realizes they don’t have to.
Teach me how to be childlike again.
Help me unlearn the lie that I have to earn Your love.
Remind me that You are safe, present, and never too busy for me.
Heal the places in me that learned to hide my needs.
Re-parent the parts of my heart that still flinch when it’s time to depend on someone.
I choose to trust You today—not because I feel strong, but because You are.
Hold me when I hesitate. Lead me when I’m unsure.
And anchor me in the truth that I am Yours.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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Disabled combat veteran turned Kingdom builder. I write to equip others with truth, strategy, and the fire to live boldly for Christ. Every battle has a purpose. Every word here is for the ones who refuse to stay shallow.