Maturing in Childlike Faith: Discovering Trust, Wonder, & Safety in Abba’s Arms

The Invitation Back to Wonder

The world says, “Grow up. Toughen up. Take control.”

Jesus says something entirely different:

That’s not exactly the kind of maturity we’re taught to pursue, is it?

But in the Kingdom, maturity looks a lot less like independence and a lot more like intimacy. It looks like trust,  tenderness, and wonder, an ultimately ongoing dependency.

There’s a kind of maturity that hardens us—where we protect ourselves from being hurt, reject our need for help, and dull our sense of awe. But that isn’t the maturity of Love. The maturity Jesus leads us into actually makes our hearts more tender, more trusting, and more in tune with wonder, which is maturing into childlikeness.

Childlike faith isn’t a phase to outgrow. It’s a posture to return to. Because the One we call “Abba” isn’t looking for polished perfection. He’s looking for sons and daughters who are willing to crawl up into His lap and simply rest, knowing that Love is all good and all powerful and all for us!

Designed to Depend: Why You Don’t Have to Have It All Together

Have you ever felt like needing something was a weakness? That if you were just a little stronger, a little more faithful, a little more “put together,” you wouldn’t be struggling?

That’s the lie of independence talking.

The truth is, you were never created to do life apart from Love. You were designed for connection, for union, for utter dependence on the One Who made you, Who loves you, and Who gave Himself up for you!

God designed us to need Him. This is not a defect—it’s divine.

In the natural world, maturity is often defined by how self-reliant we become. We raise our children to “do it themselves,” and celebrate independence as a milestone of growth. But in the Kingdom, maturity means recognizing our perpetual, joy-filled need for the One Who is the Source of Life.

It means trading the pressure to perform for the permission to be held, undergirded, guided, and empowered.

Jesus said:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5 (NIV)

Nothing. Not “less.” Not “a little.” Nothing of eternal value can come apart from Him—and yet, how often do we consistently operate in this way?

When we insist on carrying burdens that were never ours to carry, we wear ourselves out. When we try to carry what only God can, we crumble under the weight. But when we learn to live dependent by design, something beautiful happens:

• Our hearts rest.
• Our striving ceases.
• Our fruit multiplies.

Because abiding in Love doesn’t limit us—it liberates us.

You were created to be dependent—because you were created for union. And God doesn’t shame your need. He delights in being your Source.

Your Father Isn’t Mad At You—He’s Mad About You

So many of us carry wounds from imperfect parents and authority figures. We’ve been raised in systems that taught us to earn love, prove our worth, or tiptoe around authority figures to avoid punishment. And sadly, for many, this has profoundly shaped how we see God.

We start to believe lies:

• “He’s disappointed in me.”
• “He’s withholding because I messed up or haven’t done well enough.”
• “He loves me (because He has to), but He doesn’t really like me.”

But none of that is true. Not even in the slightest.

God isn’t a distant or volatile parent. He’s not emotionally unpredictable. He doesn’t withhold affection when we fail. He’s the safest, most consistent, most present, and most enthusiastic Parent you’ll ever know.

Romans 8:15 tells us:

You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ – Romans 8:15 (NKJV)

This is Who God is. He’s Abba. And He’s better than any earthly father or mother you’ve ever known.

You’re not a problem for Him to fix.

You’re not a disappointment He’s tolerating.

You’re a child He utterly  adores.

Even when we resist. Even when we fail. Even when we run away like the prodigal—He runs to meet us with open arms. He doesn’t say, “I told you so.” He says, “Welcome home.”

He’s not mad at you.

He’s utterly mad about you.

Wonder Is Not Immaturity—It’s Maturity in Love

Somewhere along the line, many of us picked up the idea that spiritual maturity means stoicism. That a serious Christian is a solemn one. That the more we grow, the less room there is for emotion, imagination, or awe.

But losing our sense of wonder isn’t maturity at all, but evidence that something precious has gone dormant.

Jesus never outgrew wonder. He marveled at faith. He wept over cities. He rejoiced in the Spirit. He welcomed children and said the Kingdom belonged to such as these.

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. – Mark 10:15 (NIV)

The Kingdom is not accessed through theological mastery or personal accomplishment. It’s received with open hands, open eyes, and an open heart—like a child receiving a gift they know they didn’t earn but deeply treasure.

Real maturity in Love doesn’t make us hardened—it makes us soft. It restores the sparkle in our eyes, the bounce in our step, and the “yes” in our spirits. It causes us believe again, hope again, dream again. Maturing in childlike faith lets us laugh freely, cry deeply, play joyfully, and trust wildly.

Because the God Who made the stars still wants to take you stargazing. The One Who made your heart still wants to thrill it. The One Who gave you imagination still wants to fill it with glimpses of glory.

When we embrace childlike wonder, we become more alive to the beauty of God and the goodness and beauty of life. Not because everything is easy—but because we know Who is holding it all.

Learning to Trust Again: What a Safe Parent Looks Like

Let’s be honest—trusting like a child is easy when you’ve never been hurt. But most of us have lived enough life to know great disappointment, ​​often one after the other. Many of us have learned to brace for impact, to lower our expectations, to protect our hearts.

If that’s you, take a deep breath. God understands. He doesn’t shame your hesitations. He holds space for them. And then—bit by bit—He begins to heal them.

Because He is not the One Who broke your trust. He’s the One Who’s restoring it.

It’s okay if your childlike faith feels rusty. It’s okay if you’ve been burned by authority figures, wounded by religion, or wearied by waiting. None of that disqualifies you from trusting again. It just makes your journey more precious.

God is not asking you to launch into blind faith. He’s inviting you to lean into proven Love, Who inspires faith.

And He’s incredibly patient. He’s not in a hurry. He will earn your trust as you experience Him to be faithful, gentle, and kind. He’ll meet you in the places that ache and slowly—but surely—rebuild your confidence in His goodness.

One encounter at a time.

One whisper at a time.

One moment of nearness at a time.

You may not be able to leap into His arms just yet—but can you lean? If you can’t lean, can you look in His direction? Can you breathe and ask, “Abba, would You show me You’re safe?”

That prayer is enough.

Because that’s the kind of Parent God is… He delights in your nearness, not your performance. He welcomes your questions. He embraces you in your pain. And He will never shame you for needing Him.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. – Psalm 103:8 (NIV)

This is the Abba you can trust.

This is the Love you can lean into.

And this is the journey back to childlike faith.

Not by pretending.

Not by forcing.

But by experiencing the safety of His embrace—again and again.

Let God Be Your Safe Place

You don’t need to have it all together to come close to God. In fact, the closeness you long for is found in embracing your need.

You were never meant to outgrow childlike faith.

You were never meant to stop wondering, stop needing, or stop trusting.

And you definitely weren’t meant to carry the weight of life on your own.

From the beginning, you were designed to:

• Rest in Love’s embrace,
• Receive like a child,
• And live in holy dependence on a God who never stops delighting in you.

As you return to childlike trust, you’ll find a deeper maturity than you ever knew was possible—a maturity rooted in Love. You’ll discover that it’s okay to have needs, it’s okay to need your Papa, and you’re safe in His arms, 

A Prayer to Receive

Papa,

Thank You that You never outgrow me.

Thank You that I can always come to You—messy, needy, unsure—and still be met with joy.

Help me rediscover what it means to trust like a child.

Restore my wonder. Heal my heart.

And let me feel again how safe I am in Your arms.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Love, Catherine Toon

Want more resources on childlike faith? Check out my blog How to Operate in Purity and Power – Part 1: The Dynamic Connection between Innocence and Wisdom