Trust Fall: Childlike Faith
Childlike Faith
Have you ever seen a child play the game “trust fall”? They don’t stop to evaluate risk or measure distance, they just fall, expecting someone to catch them.
A pastor friend of mine once had a little girl do this to him. She yelled, “Trust fall!” and went straight back without hesitation. He almost didn’t catch her, but she wasn’t worried. In her mind, of course he would.
That’s the essence of childlike faith. And that’s exactly what Jesus points to when He invites us to follow Him.
When God calls, it’s not with cautious calculation; it’s with complete trust.
Think about Noah. God’s call to him wasn’t a polite suggestion: “Hey, when you think about it… what do you think?” No, it was a direct call to obedience.
Maybe you’ve thought: “Well, God never called me to go anywhere or change anything, that’s for pastors.” Oh, yes, He does. For pastors, it may look like the next calling or the next place He’s sending them. For some, it’s retirement. For others, it’s stepping into something new.
And maybe you’re sitting here thinking your days of “trust falls” are over. But what if these are the days of some of the greatest trust fall moments of your life?
Have you ever asked God, “Why not me? What’s my calling now?”
Look through Scripture:
Faith is a trust fall into God’s arms.
By faith, will I let go of my rut-secured life?
A pastor friend of mine once had a little girl do this to him. She yelled, “Trust fall!” and went straight back without hesitation. He almost didn’t catch her, but she wasn’t worried. In her mind, of course he would.
That’s the essence of childlike faith. And that’s exactly what Jesus points to when He invites us to follow Him.
When God calls, it’s not with cautious calculation; it’s with complete trust.
Think about Noah. God’s call to him wasn’t a polite suggestion: “Hey, when you think about it… what do you think?” No, it was a direct call to obedience.
Maybe you’ve thought: “Well, God never called me to go anywhere or change anything, that’s for pastors.” Oh, yes, He does. For pastors, it may look like the next calling or the next place He’s sending them. For some, it’s retirement. For others, it’s stepping into something new.
And maybe you’re sitting here thinking your days of “trust falls” are over. But what if these are the days of some of the greatest trust fall moments of your life?
Have you ever asked God, “Why not me? What’s my calling now?”
Look through Scripture:
- Noah
- Abraham
- Moses
- David
- Esther
- Mary
- Paul
Faith is a trust fall into God’s arms.
By faith, will I let go of my rut-secured life?
Our church is in a season of growth, and with growth comes growing pains.
The nursery is huge!
Vacation Bible School keeps getting larger and larger.
Sunday School is better than ever.
And with all of that, it may mean some of us need to make changes. Maybe it looks like giving up Sunday night or Wednesday night control and instead serving in the nursery. Maybe it means rearranging your schedule. Maybe it even means giving beyond the tithe.
Some might say, “I’m already giving and doing all I can.” And to that I say Amen! But maybe now it’s time to get out of God’s way and let Him show you what you can do. Stop telling God what you can do and let God tell you!
Because here’s the truth: a growing church requires more from all of us.
There are really only two kinds of churches today:
Churches are either moving forward or moving backward.
And tonight, you’re going to see a budget that reflects growth, a budget that shows forward movement. If you’re looking for a forward church, a loving church, you’re here! But that’s going to require one thing from all of us: a trust fall.
Here’s what’s amazing: this message was prepared months ago, before we ever reached this point. God already knew what was coming.
God already had the ark wood ready for Noah.
God already had the stone David would need for Goliath in place.
God already had the tree growing that would one day be used for the old rugged cross.
So the question for us today is this:
Will I be like Isaiah, saying, “Yes Lord, send me”?
Or will I be like Jonah, looking for the next boat out of here?
The nursery is huge!
Vacation Bible School keeps getting larger and larger.
Sunday School is better than ever.
And with all of that, it may mean some of us need to make changes. Maybe it looks like giving up Sunday night or Wednesday night control and instead serving in the nursery. Maybe it means rearranging your schedule. Maybe it even means giving beyond the tithe.
Some might say, “I’m already giving and doing all I can.” And to that I say Amen! But maybe now it’s time to get out of God’s way and let Him show you what you can do. Stop telling God what you can do and let God tell you!
Because here’s the truth: a growing church requires more from all of us.
There are really only two kinds of churches today:
- Dying churches
- Living churches
Churches are either moving forward or moving backward.
And tonight, you’re going to see a budget that reflects growth, a budget that shows forward movement. If you’re looking for a forward church, a loving church, you’re here! But that’s going to require one thing from all of us: a trust fall.
Here’s what’s amazing: this message was prepared months ago, before we ever reached this point. God already knew what was coming.
God already had the ark wood ready for Noah.
God already had the stone David would need for Goliath in place.
God already had the tree growing that would one day be used for the old rugged cross.
So the question for us today is this:
Will I be like Isaiah, saying, “Yes Lord, send me”?
Or will I be like Jonah, looking for the next boat out of here?
Big Idea: Faith means letting go of control and trusting God completely.
That kind of trust fall into God’s arms isn’t just for “spiritual things.” It shows up in every part of our lives, in our:
- Witness
- Finances
- Family
- Friendships
- Jobs
- Relationships
Mark 10:13-31
Blessing the Children
13 People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them. 17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother. 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In Mark 10, Jesus blesses the little children and then challenges the rich young ruler. Those two moments aren’t random, they’re deeply connected.
The children come with open hands, ready to receive. The ruler comes with full hands, unwilling to let go.
One group receives freely; the other clings tightly.
And through both, Jesus is teaching us what faith really looks like.
Blessing the Children
13 People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them. 17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother. 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In Mark 10, Jesus blesses the little children and then challenges the rich young ruler. Those two moments aren’t random, they’re deeply connected.
The children come with open hands, ready to receive. The ruler comes with full hands, unwilling to let go.
One group receives freely; the other clings tightly.
And through both, Jesus is teaching us what faith really looks like.
Childlike Faith Trusts God With The Process.
Trusting God doesn’t mean overanalyzing or trying to control every step. Faith is a trust fall, it’s letting go and believing that God will catch you. That’s exactly how God wants us to approach Him.
Mark 10:13
13 People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Here, we see two sets of people demonstrating faith:
Think of it like this: the parent says, “Let’s go swimming,” and gets you to the lake. The child trusts the parent enough to jump in, knowing they won’t drown. That’s the kind of faith Jesus is asking for: childlike faith, believing that God will.
It’s the same process with salvation. Someone prayed for you, trusting God to work. You were drawn to Him and responded with a wholehearted trust fall into God’s arms, just like a child.
We don’t earn our way into God’s Kingdom; we receive it with open hands.
Mark 10:13
13 People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Here, we see two sets of people demonstrating faith:
- The parents bringing their children, believing Jesus would heal and bless them.
- The children themselves, trusting He will.
Think of it like this: the parent says, “Let’s go swimming,” and gets you to the lake. The child trusts the parent enough to jump in, knowing they won’t drown. That’s the kind of faith Jesus is asking for: childlike faith, believing that God will.
It’s the same process with salvation. Someone prayed for you, trusting God to work. You were drawn to Him and responded with a wholehearted trust fall into God’s arms, just like a child.
We don’t earn our way into God’s Kingdom; we receive it with open hands.
Salvation is a gift, not a project.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
A child trusts because they know they can’t do it themselves, they depend on someone bigger.
Just like that little girl trusted my friend to catch her, childlike faith trusts God will catch us every time.
“Faith is not believing that God can, it’s trusting that God will.”
God not only wants us to trust Him in the process, but He also wants that trust to define what we possess…
A child trusts because they know they can’t do it themselves, they depend on someone bigger.
Just like that little girl trusted my friend to catch her, childlike faith trusts God will catch us every time.
“Faith is not believing that God can, it’s trusting that God will.”
God not only wants us to trust Him in the process, but He also wants that trust to define what we possess…
Childlike Faith Trusts God Over Possessions
The rich man in Mark 10 couldn’t follow Jesus because he trusted his stuff more than his Savior.
Love for “stuff” can outweigh love for God.
Mark 10:21–22
The rich young ruler believed in God, but he didn’t trust Him enough to let go. What he held onto ended up holding him back.
Jesus wasn’t trying to take from him; He was trying to free him.
And here’s the truth we all have to face:
You can’t divide your faith, it’s impossible.
Think of it like a trust fall. You can’t fall backward if you’re clutching onto something in front of you. Imagine trying to play the game while gripping the rail, you won’t fall, you’ll resist. What you cling to keeps you from surrender.
So what’s the answer? If clinging holds us back, then faith means letting go.
And that’s exactly where Jesus points His disciples next.
Love for “stuff” can outweigh love for God.
Mark 10:21–22
Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
The rich young ruler believed in God, but he didn’t trust Him enough to let go. What he held onto ended up holding him back.
Jesus wasn’t trying to take from him; He was trying to free him.
And here’s the truth we all have to face:
You can’t divide your faith, it’s impossible.
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Think of it like a trust fall. You can’t fall backward if you’re clutching onto something in front of you. Imagine trying to play the game while gripping the rail, you won’t fall, you’ll resist. What you cling to keeps you from surrender.
So what’s the answer? If clinging holds us back, then faith means letting go.
And that’s exactly where Jesus points His disciples next.
Childlike Faith Trusts God and Presses On.
You can’t follow Jesus while still insisting on control.
Following Jesus means pressing on, with surrender as your captain!
Mark 10:29-30
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come.
When you let go, you discover God’s blessings are greater than anything you gave up.
Following Jesus is faith with surrender.
Luke 9:23
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
Trust isn’t a one-time fall… it’s a daily choice to let go and lean back into God’s arms.
Philippians 3:14
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
This is what the writer of Hebrews points to in the “Trust-Fall Hall of Fame”:
Trust fall is not “once and retire.”
It’s over and over again. And the joy is in the trust, the laughter that comes from knowing God always catches you.
That’s the Christian life: daily trust falls into God’s love.
You see, trust-fall childlike faith isn’t naïve—it’s courageous.
The world says, “Hold on tighter.”
Jesus says, “Let go and trust fall, I Am here.”
Following Jesus means pressing on, with surrender as your captain!
Mark 10:29-30
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions —and eternal life in the age to come.
When you let go, you discover God’s blessings are greater than anything you gave up.
Following Jesus is faith with surrender.
Luke 9:23
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’”
Trust isn’t a one-time fall… it’s a daily choice to let go and lean back into God’s arms.
Philippians 3:14
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
This is what the writer of Hebrews points to in the “Trust-Fall Hall of Fame”:
- Abel: trusted God with his offering.
- Enoch: trusted God with his walk.
- Noah: trusted God by building an ark.
- Abraham: trusted God by leaving home.
- Sarah: trusted God for a child.
- Isaac: trusted God in blessing his sons.
- Jacob: trusted God’s promises to future generations.
- Joseph: trusted God’s deliverance in Egypt.
- Moses: trusted God to lead Israel out.
- Rahab: trusted God when she hid the spies.
- Gideon: trusted God against Midian.
- Barak: trusted God alongside Deborah.
- Samson: trusted God despite his failures.
- Jephthah: trusted God in battle.
- David: trusted God as king.
- Samuel: trusted God as prophet.
Trust fall is not “once and retire.”
It’s over and over again. And the joy is in the trust, the laughter that comes from knowing God always catches you.
That’s the Christian life: daily trust falls into God’s love.
You see, trust-fall childlike faith isn’t naïve—it’s courageous.
- It looks like letting go of control.
- It looks like refusing to cling to false securities.
- It looks like believing God will catch you every single time.
The world says, “Hold on tighter.”
Jesus says, “Let go and trust fall, I Am here.”
Trust Fall Challenge
Release It
Name one thing you’ve been holding onto for security (money, comfort, or control). Pray: “Jesus, I give You this. I trust You to catch me.”
Do It
Take one practical action this week that proves you’re trusting God instead of holding on.
Share It
Tell a trusted friend what you did and how God showed up.
Memory Verse:
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5–6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
No Comments