Be Childlike, Not Childish

Posted on July 12, 2026 by mitchteemley
Be childlike, not childishThe Right to Become Children of God

Be Childlike, Not Childish

Jesus calls his followers to grow spiritually, and yet at the same time to become more childlike. Isn’t that a contradiction? No, because being childish is trusting in something limited and flawed, like ourselves. But being childlike is trusting in something greater than ourselves. Hence, being childlike is the natural result of coming to know the One who is infinitely greater than us–and yet in whose image we are made.

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“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
~Corrie ten Boom

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
~Rabindranath Tagore

“The reason birds can fly and we can’t, is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”
~J.M. Barrie

“All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.”
~Elisabeth Elliot

“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”
~Max Lucado

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”
~Brennan Manning

“Gratitude takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”
~Thomas Merton

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer.”
~C.S. Lewis

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About mitchteemley

Writer, Filmmaker, Humorist, Thinker-about-stuffer
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41 Responses to Be Childlike, Not Childish

  1. davidsdailydose says:
    July 12, 2026 at 10:19 am

    I love all the quotes, and your thoughts as well, Mitch. The Barrie quote sticks with me—to have faith is to have wings. I’m not going to take that literally, though!

    Reply
  2. Priti says:
    July 12, 2026 at 11:00 am

    Beautiful quotes. Well shared 💐

    Reply
  3. seaangel4444 says:
    July 12, 2026 at 11:09 am

    Thank you, Mitch! Amen! Cher xoxoxo

    Reply
  4. Andrew McDowell says:
    July 12, 2026 at 11:13 am

    Well done in explaining the distinction, Mitch.

    Reply
  5. Ab says:
    July 12, 2026 at 11:49 am

    I love this reminder to never lose our inner child. It’s what keeps most people from aging too quickly. 😊🙏

    Reply
  6. Anonymous says:
    July 12, 2026 at 12:48 pm

    Love the message! Love the quotes!

    Reply
  7. pcviii03 says:
    July 12, 2026 at 1:03 pm

    Thank you for these. I was just asking the Lord to remind me how to work for him.
    Blessings

    Reply
  8. Pure Glory says:
    July 12, 2026 at 1:05 pm

    Mitch, this is profound, becoming childlike and trusting in someone greater than ourselves. Truth in all the quotes that makes me ponder the experience of knowing God.

    Reply
  9. Mya says:
    July 12, 2026 at 2:44 pm

    Great quotes, I especially like the bird one having faith so they can fly..

    Reply
  10. Kevin Anthony S. says:
    July 12, 2026 at 2:58 pm

    Reminding myself to revert to being a child toward God

    Reply
  11. heavenlyraindrops says:
    July 12, 2026 at 3:23 pm

    Thanks Mitch.

    Reply
  12. chanél desirée says:
    July 12, 2026 at 3:46 pm

    “Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”
    ~Max Lucado

    I read a similar quote the other day that said that faith is not about asking God for what we want to happen. It’s about surrendering and trusting that He always has a plan. And it’s so true. We think faith is about getting what WE want. But God doesn’t work that way.

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says:
    July 12, 2026 at 4:19 pm

    Love the beautiful quotes!

    Reply
  14. Mary K. Doyle says:
    July 12, 2026 at 4:35 pm

    Yes. Your title and quotes say it all, Mitch.

    Reply
  15. Debby Marie says:
    July 12, 2026 at 5:01 pm

    Oh I love this and I don’t know which quote is my favorite!

    Reply
  16. Caroll says:
    July 12, 2026 at 9:41 pm

    Thank you for that valuable distinction and all these perfect quotes. I especially love Max Lucado’s ❤️

    Reply
  17. seeingliketheeagle says:
    July 13, 2026 at 2:16 am

    Beautiful quotes Mitch.

    Reply
  18. moragnoffke says:
    July 13, 2026 at 6:59 am

    Amen 🙏

    Reply
  19. bruce@ssa says:
    July 13, 2026 at 11:42 am

    Mitch, that Max Lucado quote resonated with me the most, and expresses clearly what Faith means to and for me.

    Reply
  20. LoveLifeHappiness&More💙💙 says:
    July 13, 2026 at 7:28 pm

    Well shared, Mitch!

    Reply
  21. bernadette massiah says:
    July 16, 2026 at 3:47 pm

    Thanks again for sharing and the insights drawn through your post. “”Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.””
    ~Max Lucado

    Reply
  22. keithpetersen80 says:
    July 23, 2026 at 1:25 pm

    Great distinction between “childlike” and “childish!”

    Reply

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