Children have a way of changing the atmosphere, don’t they?
A room that feels heavy and quiet can suddenly burst into life when a little one runs through it—laughing, squealing, asking questions. I’ve noticed it with my granddaughter, Daphne. No matter what kind of day I’m having, time with her brings joy and perspective. She reminds me how to wonder again, how to laugh again, and how to trust that love is safe.
It’s this spirit that comes to mind when I read Luke 18:15–17, where people are bringing children to Jesus. The disciples try to keep them away, perhaps thinking Jesus is too important or too tired. But Jesus says,
“Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”
Not Innocence—but Dependence
We often assume Jesus admired the children’s innocence or purity, but that misses His point.
If innocence were the requirement for entering God’s Kingdom, none of us would qualify!
What Jesus celebrates is dependence.
Children don’t earn love; they receive it. They know how to come empty-handed and open-hearted, trusting that love will meet them there.
The Kingdom of God, Jesus says, is for those who come the same way—ready to receive rather than achieve.
A Lesson from Luke 18
If you look closely, Luke 18 paints a whole picture of what childlike faith looks like.
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A persistent widow keeps knocking until the judge finally listens.
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A humble tax collector cries for mercy while a proud Pharisee brags about his goodness.
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A rich ruler wants to earn eternal life and walks away sad.
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A blind man shouts for Jesus even when the crowd tells him to hush.
Right in the middle of these stories stand the children—running freely to Jesus, completely dependent, confident they’ll be welcomed.
Three Marks of Childlike Faith
1️⃣ Persistence
Children don’t give up easily.
Any parent who’s survived a grocery trip knows that! “Please, please, please, Mom—it’s on sale!”
In prayer, Jesus invites that same persistence. Keep asking. Keep knocking. Keep crying out for justice, mercy, and hope. God isn’t annoyed by your voice; He delights in hearing from you.
2️⃣ Expectation
When my father traveled for work, he always brought home a small gift—nothing big, just something that said, “I was thinking of you.” Over time, I came to expect that gift every time we met him at the airport.
That’s how God wants us to approach Him: expecting good things, not because we’ve earned them, but because we are loved. Grace is not a paycheck; it’s a present.
3️⃣ Uninhibited Love
Children don’t hold back their affection. They climb onto laps, tug on sleeves, interrupt grown-up conversations, and throw their arms around you without fear of being too much.
That’s how Jesus wants us to come—uninhibited, honest, maybe even a little messy. The widow, the tax collector, and the blind man all made a scene. And Jesus praised their faith.
What It Means to “Run to Jesus”
When Jesus said, “It is to such as these that the Kingdom belongs,” He wasn’t asking us to be quiet, polished, or perfect. He was calling us to be bold in grace—to pray persistently, to expect mercy, and to run toward God full-tilt, even if we stumble along the way.
When I think back to my own children running into my arms—laughing, bumping, tumbling—I imagine that’s how God wants us to come to Him. Not cautiously, but joyfully. Not politely, but wholeheartedly.
So when you pray this week, pray like a child—persistent, expectant, and uninhibited.
Run to God. He delights in your voice.
