Rethinking Childlike Faith: Maturity as the Fulfillment of Faith

Hey Everyone,

This is the second Part of Rethinking a Childlike Faith. In the first blog, I addressed the issues of a childlike faith, in this blog I want to discuss the DO. It is so easy to focus on the Don'ts and the negatives, but I find it helps me to figure out what I should be doing and why.

As I said in my first blog, many Christians believe that Jesus called us to have a childlike faith - simple, unquestioning, and dependent. But is that what He really meant? Childlike Faith was never meant to be the goal, but rather the foundation for something greater.

Just as a child is expected to grow into adulthood, our faith is meant to develop into maturity. In this blog, I'll explore why spiritual growth is essential, how men and women struggle with it differently, and why embracing maturity leads to greater freedom in Christ.

The Biblical Call to Maturity

Scripture makes it clear that believers are not meant to remain spiritual infants. Hebrews 5:12-14 rebukes those who still need spiritual milk when they should be mature enough for solid food: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” Paul echoes this idea in Ephesians 4:13-14, explaining that spiritual growth leads to maturity so that believers are not “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

Maturity does not mean abandoning faith—it means refining and deepening it. Just as a child is meant to grow into an adult who carries responsibilities and makes wise decisions, believers must develop a faith that is discerning, steadfast, and intimate with God.

A New Perspective on "Becoming Like Little Children": Embracing Growth Over Passivity

A Child’s Curiosity: Always Asking Questions

One of the most profound aspects of childlike faith is curiosity—children constantly ask questions, seeking to understand their world. Yet, many interpret childlike faith as unquestioning trust, when in reality, children are persistent in asking "Why?"

This aligns with Scripture’s encouragement to seek wisdom:

• Matthew 7:7 – "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

• Proverbs 25:2 – "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

• James 1:5 – "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault."

However, men and women struggle with curiosity differently—often in ways that keep them from fully engaging in spiritual growth.

For Men: Overcoming the Reluctance to Seek Wisdom

Men tend to focus on figuring things out on their own, whether it’s fixing a car or navigating a challenge. While this practical mindset is valuable, it can lead to avoiding deeper spiritual inquiry.

• Many men take Scripture at face value rather than wrestling with theological depth.

• Some hesitate to ask hard spiritual questions, fearing it may challenge their faith or make them feel inadequate.

• Others wait for a pastor or leader to provide answers rather than actively searching for wisdom.

Yet, Scripture commands men to seek understanding:

• Acts 17:11 – "The Berean Jews were of more noble character… for they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."

• Luke 24:27 – "And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself."

Just as a child freely asks questions, men are called to seek wisdom, challenge assumptions, and engage deeply with God’s truth.

For Women: The Tendency to Bypass Men in Spiritual Inquiry

While men struggle with seeking wisdom, women often struggle with where they seek wisdom.

• Women freely ask God for things—direction, provision, clarity—but often hesitate to ask their husbands or male leaders the same questions.

• Because men often do not take spiritual ownership, women bypass them entirely and go straight to God for guidance.

• This leads to spiritual commission—women taking on spiritual responsibilities that were never meant to be theirs alone.

In Genesis, we see this dynamic play out:

• Eve engaged the serpent without consulting Adam—acting on her own understanding.

• Adam remained silent—failing to take responsibility for leading and discerning truth.

• This pattern continues today—when men fail to lead, women step into roles they were not meant to carry.

Now that we’ve established curiosity as a hallmark of childlike faith, let’s explore how men and women approach seeking wisdom differently—and why these differences can either hinder or enhance spiritual growth.

A Child’s Humility: Embracing Teamwork & Individuality

For Men: Learning to Work as a Team.

Humility is not just about lowering oneself—it’s about learning to work together. Children naturally embrace teamwork through play. They are willing to learn from one another, take on roles, and grow together. However, as people grow older—especially men—they often resist dependence on others, choosing isolation over collaboration.

When Jesus placed a child before His disciples (Matthew 18:3), He was not just pointing to innocence, but to a teachable spirit—the ability to work with others without pride or a struggle for dominance. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that men are meant to sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17) and work as a team, yet many men resist accountability and connection.

Even in biblical settings, we see this design:

• Women were in the Outer Court, while men gathered together in the Inner Court and in the Upper Room before Pentecost.

• Jesus chose men as His disciples, and His command to wash one another’s feet (John 13:14-15) was a direct challenge to the male instinct for hierarchy over humility.

• Men in sports, military, and work teams thrive in structured environments where they sharpen one another. However, as they grow older, they tend to isolate—choosing self-reliance over the challenge of teamwork.

  
  

Children naturally engage in teamwork, learn through play, and accept correction without ego. Jesus may have been telling His disciples that humility is not about weakness, but about learning to grow together as the Body of Christ.

• Proverbs 27:17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – “Two are better than one… if either of them falls, one can help the other up.”

• John 13:14-15 – “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

  
  

For Women: Learning Individuality & Creative Expression.

While men struggle with isolation, women often struggle with blending in and losing their individuality. Women are naturally collaborative—they work well together, harmonize in groups, and are relationally attuned. However, true humility for women is not just about working well with others—it’s about knowing and developing their individual value.

A child at play doesn’t just follow the group—they also develop their unique talents, explore creative expression, and cultivate what brings them joy. This is an aspect of humility that women often overlook. Many women focus on serving, helping, and supporting others but struggle to embrace their God-given talents for beauty, joy, and creativity.

True humility is not just knowing what you’re not good at—but knowing what you bring to the table.

• Women often undervalue their unique talents because they don’t see them as “productive.”

• Many focus on servitude without developing their own gifts, believing humility means self-sacrifice without personal fulfillment.

• But Proverbs 31 describes a woman using her talents (in business, artistry, and homemaking) to create a thriving home and life—not just working tirelessly.

  
  

This is why God calls both men and women to develop their individual skills and gifts.

• Proverbs 18:16 – "A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great."

• Proverbs 22:29 – “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before obscure men.”

  
  

Just as men must learn humility by working together, women must learn humility by recognizing and embracing their God-given gifts. Children naturally explore both teamwork and personal growth, and Jesus may have been pointing to both aspects of humility in His teaching. A child’s humility is reflected in their openness to learning, their willingness to experiment, and their ability to let go of pride and fear. Through play, children are humble enough to try new things, make mistakes, and ask for help. They don't have the ego barriers that can hinder spiritual growth.

A Child’s Imagination—Embracing Both Realms

Children are naturally imaginative, seeing endless possibilities in both the seen and unseen realms. Their ability to believe without limits is something adults often lose. However, true spiritual maturity does not dismiss imagination—it refines and directs it.

For Men: Imagining the Unseen (The Spiritual Realm)

Men are naturally drawn to what is tangible and practical—they discuss machines, buildings, systems, and things they can control. While this focus is valuable, it can limit their ability to imagine the unseen—faith, miracles, and spiritual authority.

Jesus commanded His disciples to cast out demons, heal the sick, and walk in spiritual power—all things that cannot be seen (Mark 16:17). Just as a child believes in things beyond his sight, men must expand their vision to trust in the supernatural power of God.

• Mark 16:17 – “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.”

• 2 Corinthians 4:18 – “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

• Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

  
  

Just as children believe without proof, men must develop imagination for the unseen realm, learning to trust in spiritual warfare, divine guidance, and supernatural intervention rather than relying solely on what is tangible.

For Women: Imagining the Seen (Creating Beauty & Action)

Women are naturally attuned to the unseen realm—they think deeply about relationships, emotions, and spiritual matters. However, they sometimes struggle to bring their imagination into the tangible world—to create, build, and act with boldness.

A child’s imagination is not just passive—it creates. A child draws, builds, sings, and makes beauty tangible. Women are called to bring their vision into reality, using their imagination not just to dream, but to shape the world around them.

• Proverbs 31:22 – “She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.” (The Proverbs 31 woman creates beauty and works with her hands.)

• Exodus 35:35 – “He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers… and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.” (God blesses creativity and craftsmanship.)

• Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Women must use their imagination to shape their life and home.)

  
  

Just as children make their imagination tangible, women must bring beauty, joy, and order into reality—creating homes, art, and legacies that reflect the glory of God. A child’s imagination is reflected in their ability to see beyond what is present, to create new worlds, and to explore endless possibilities. Children have an unrestrained capacity to dream, to envision what could be, and to find wonder in everyday life. Through their imaginative play, children show us the importance of embracing creativity, thinking outside the box, and trusting in the power of possibility. They don't allow limitations or doubts to stifle their sense of adventure.

• Albert Einstein once said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.”

• Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Imagination provides us with vision—the ability to see beyond our immediate surroundings and envision the future. This verse teaches that without imagination and vision, we lose our direction.

• Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Transformation comes through renewed thinking and imagining possibilities that align with God’s will.

  
  

A Child’s Desire to Grow: Embracing Independence

Children naturally want to mature and become more independent. As they grow, they start to explore self-reliance, trying to do things on their own—whether it’s tying their shoes, learning to cook, or making their own decisions. This desire for growth and independence is part of their developmental process, and it’s something that parents and caregivers nurture. Similarly, as spiritual children, we are called to grow into maturity in our faith.

• Ephesians 4:13-15 – "Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming."

• Hebrews 5:12-14 – "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness."

• Colossians 1:28 – "He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." Maturity is the ultimate goal, and spiritual growth is essential to fulfilling God’s purposes in our lives. Lack of maturity means missing out on becoming the person God created us to be.

What Jesus Really Meant by Childlike Faith

When Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3), He was not commanding believers to remain spiritually immature. Rather, He was highlighting specific qualities of children that align with faith— a curiosity to know, a humility to learn, an imagination to believe, and a desire to fly (independence to use what he or she learned and wield it).

A child is dependent on their parent, but they are also eager to grow, ask questions, and seek understanding. A faith that matures is not one that loses trust in God but one that deepens in discernment, wisdom, and personal responsibility.

How to Shift from Blind Faith to Seeking Faith

Many people struggle with knowing how to transition from passive, unquestioning faith to an active and engaged pursuit of God. Here are the steps to make that shift:

Recognize if You Have a Passive Faith

• Ask yourself: Am I actively seeking God’s wisdom, or am I passively accepting what I was taught?

• Do I make assumptions about God without questioning?

• Do I ignore contradictions or new insights out of fear?

  
  

Examine Your Beliefs Against Scripture

• Find verses that challenge or confirm your assumptions.

• Seek wisdom, not just familiarity—the Bible repeatedly calls for seeking understanding.

• Example: I once believed being single was holier than marriage, but when I examined Scripture deeply, I realized that barrenness was considered a curse in Deuteronomy.

  
  

Observe the Fruits of Your Belief

• Does your faith lead to peace, joy, and alignment—or exhaustion, resentment, and disillusionment?

• If your belief is making you tired, bitter, or stuck, it may not be from God.

  
  

Take Action to Align with New Truths

• Once you identify a faulty belief, change your habits to reflect new understanding.

• Example: After realizing that God desires fruitfulness, I allowed myself to desire marriage rather than rejecting it as unspiritual.

  
  

Learn God’s Timing in Transformation

• Growth takes time, and God doesn’t demand immediate perfection—only a willingness to seek.

• The Physical World points to God's patience - Agriculture seeds take time to mature from a seed planted to a crop harvested and Babies also take time from conception to birth.

• And just as a Baby grows into a child, and a child matures into an independent, capable adult in society... so we will need time to question, experiment, learn, and develop into capable and thriving adults for God's Kingdom.

Signs of a Maturing Faith

A faith that is growing into maturity is marked by:

• Seeking Understanding – Instead of settling for surface-level beliefs, a mature faith actively searches for wisdom and truth (Proverbs 4:7).

• Taking Personal Responsibility – No longer dependent on others for spiritual growth, mature believers take ownership of their relationship with God (Philippians 2:12).

• Exercising Discernment – A mature faith does not accept every teaching blindly but tests all things against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

• Persevering Through Trials – Instead of seeing hardships as signs of failure, mature believers endure and grow through them (James 1:2-4).

  
  

Conclusion : Why Spiritual Maturity Matters

Childlike faith was never meant to be the final stage of belief—it is the foundation upon which a mature, discerning, and powerful faith is built. Jesus’ call to childlike faith was not about remaining naive but about embracing the qualities that lead to growth, wisdom, and leadership with God.

A child’s desire to grow is fueled by a longing for freedom—the ability to make decisions, to learn, and to function independently. I think we all want that freedom. And many times we misunderstand where true freedom comes from. It does not come from a lack of responsibility (like a child), and it does not come from the absence of rules and control.

True freedom comes from developing the internal discipline to govern oneself wisely.

This ultimately is why I disagree with praising the belief of having a "Childlike faith". I think some people tend to think of their childhood days as the last time they had freedom, because they didn't have responsibilities, bills, etc. But a child is not free. A child is externally governed by parents. (And now schools and teachers, sports and coaches, and every other authority figure you can imagine unfortunately but that's a different topic for another day.)

• Galatians 4:1-2 illustrates this principle: “What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.”

I think true freedom is when we learn to rule - starting with ourselves and then eventually others. I believe God’s design for maturity is about learning self-governance, wisdom, and responsibility so that we can be trusted with greater authority. I understand many people will think that a King for example does not have true freedom as he has many responsibility. But a King has more freedom than a slave, and a CEO has more freedom than his employees.

I believe true freedom comes with authority, and it is clear that God cannot give us this authority until we reach maturity. He cannot entrust us with spiritual leadership, discernment, or influence if we are not prepared to handle it. Just as a child starts with small steps and skills he must learn, I believe God teaches us in the same way. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." And as we mature, only then can we step into our God-given roles to Lead and disciple others in wisdom (Hebrews 6:1), Make righteous judgments and decisions (1 Corinthians 6:2-3), Develop an intimate, deep relationship with God beyond surface-level faith.

Thus a mature faith does not replace childlike faith; it fulfills it. True faith is not about remaining in spiritual infancy but about growing into the fullness of what God has called us to be.

I thank you for your time and I hope you have a great day!

Jacqueline Marie