5 Things We Can Learn From Children

By Jordan Snowzell

I had amazing faith as a child; I believed I could do anything. I had no doubts, no fear of failing, but as the years went by that amazing faith began to fade and, now in my adulthood, I struggle to have enough faith to pay that unexpected tax bill let alone walk on water.

I am certain that you can relate to this, too. We have all lost that simple faith that we had as a child; we have all lost that incredible ability to believe that anything really is possible. As we go through life, as we get older, as we see and experience more, we tend to trade our faith for cynicism. We let doubt swallow our fearless nature and we find ourselves using the word “impossible” way too often.

We live in a society where adults are on a mission to stamp out silly childish ways. We put children in uniforms and tell them that the sooner they can get a career and a mortgage the better. We, adults, are always teaching children to grow up. But maybe it should be the other way around. Maybe we should be the ones sat behind a desk while children teach us. Maybe we should be the ones learning how to do away with our silly adult ways.

“IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE
SALVATION WE
NEED TO BE AS
HUMBLE AND AS
FAITH-FILLED AS
CHILDREN.”

I think Jesus had a similar idea. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Wow. That’s a pretty huge statement! Now, I’m pretty sure Jesus didn’t mean, “Pick your nose and play with Lego and you can come on in.” I think what He meant was, in order to receive salvation, we need to be as humble and as faith-filled as children. We need to be humble enough to admit that we are a mess and need help to believe that Jesus can and will come into our lives.

But, I do believe there is more to this idea of becoming like children. In the Lord’s prayer, it says “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

We need to become like children not to just enter into the Kingdom of Heaven when we die, but to enter into God’s Kingdom here on earth today. To see His plans and will be done in our lives right now.

So what are some of the things we can learn from children?

Children have amazing faith.

Children have this outstanding ability to believe that anything really is possible, that they can walk on water, that miracles really can happen.

Children trust.

Children don’t struggle to open up and trust, they aren’t cynical and paranoid. If their father says something, they believe it and follow it.

Children are dependent; they need help on a daily basis.

They don’t rely on their own strength, they are always asking for help admitting that they can’t do it alone.

Children are humble.

They don’t care about their reputation, there’s no pride to hold them back.

Children are fearless.

They jump off things and believe someone will catch them. Doubt doesn’t even cross their minds.

Imagine if we as Christians adopted just some of these childlike perspectives and attitudes. We would have enough faith to pray audacious prayers and see miracles happen. We would have more trust in God and His Word, we would go when He says go. We would be more dependent on our Father, we would ask Him for help and guidance 24/7. We would be humble enough to admit that we’re wrong and change. We would be fearless enough to share the Gospel with anyone and everyone! When we change to become more like children, we will see the world around us change, we will see the Kingdom of heaven come to earth.

Children have something so precious, so beautiful, and so important that we ourselves need. Let yourself be challenged by the children in your world. Let their big hearts, wild thinking, and outrageous imagination inspire you to follow Jesus more than ever before.

Prince of Peace

Everlasting Father

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