Faith Like a Child: Trusting God Without Worry
There’s something beautiful about the simple, unwavering trust that children have in their parents. Well-loved children don’t sit around worrying about where their next meal is coming from or if they’ll have clothes to wear tomorrow. They don’t stress about how the bills will get paid or if there will be enough to go around. Instead, they live with an expectation that their parents will take care of everything because that’s what loving parents do.
This kind of trust is a picture of the faith God calls us to have—faith like a child. Jesus Himself spoke of this when He said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NIV). But what does it mean to have childlike faith? Let’s take a closer look.
Trusting Without Worry
When we think about how a child trusts, it’s often with no strings attached. For instance, well-cared-for children don’t wake up anxious about where their food will come from. They know their parents will provide. Similarly, we are called to trust God without worry, knowing that He is our Heavenly Father who provides everything we need. Jesus reminds us of this in Matthew 6:31-32: “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”
Just like children trust their earthly parents, we can trust God to meet our needs. He knows what we require, and He is more than capable of providing. We don’t have to carry the burden of worry because He carries it for us. When we surrender our fears and lean into faith, we experience peace that only comes from knowing our Father is in control.
Faith in God’s Provision
Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God’s faithful provision for His people. One of the most well-known is the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. For forty years, they wandered in a desert with no means of growing food or earning a living, yet God provided for them daily. He sent manna from heaven to feed them (Exodus 16:4), and their clothes didn’t wear out during the entire journey (Deuteronomy 29:5). It’s a powerful reminder that when God leads us, He also sustains us.
We see this same promise of provision echoed in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” It’s not up to us to figure out all the details—God’s got it covered. Like a child who trusts their parent, we can trust our Father to take care of us.
Complete Dependence on God
Children are completely dependent on their parents for survival, and they’re okay with that. In the same way, we are called to fully depend on God. When we try to manage everything on our own, we often end up overwhelmed, but when we place our faith in Him, we find peace.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray with this mindset in the Lord’s Prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). This isn’t just a request for physical food—it’s an expression of dependence on God for everything we need, day by day. Like children who rely on their parents for daily sustenance, we rely on God to provide for us each step of the way.
God Delights in Caring for Us
Just as loving parents find joy in meeting the needs of their children, God delights in taking care of us. In fact, the Bible tells us that God is eager to provide for His children. Psalm 37:25 says, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” God’s love for us is constant, and His care is unfailing.
When we have faith like a child, we rest in the knowledge that God is our Father, and He’s not going to leave us stranded. He’s a provider, a protector, and a comforter. All He asks is that we trust Him, just like a child trusts their parent.
It can be difficult to let go of control and place our full trust in God, especially in a world that values self-reliance. But God doesn’t ask us to have it all figured out. He invites us to trust Him with childlike faith, knowing that He is our Father who loves us deeply and provides for us in every season.
So, next time you find yourself worrying about how things will work out, remember the faith of a child. Rest in the assurance that God sees you, He knows your needs, and He will take care of you—just as He always has for His people throughout history. Let your faith rise, and trust your Heavenly Father with everything.
