Childlike Faith: Kindness Toward Yourself

Sunday Rewind is a 5-day Devotional based on the weekly sermon at Resonate Community Church

September 7th Sermon, Day 4

When Jesus' disciples tried to prevent children from approaching Him, Jesus was indignant. "Let the little children come to me," He insisted, adding that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. This moment reveals something profound not just about Jesus' love for children, but about how we should approach Him and treat ourselves.

Children approach life with remarkable resilience. They fall down and get back up. They make mistakes and try again. They don't carry the weight of past failures the way adults do. They trust easily and forgive quickly – including themselves.

As we grow older, we often lose this childlike quality. We become harsh critics of ourselves, dwelling on past mistakes and allowing them to define us. We convince ourselves we're too broken, too flawed, or too late for God's purposes. We stop trying because we're afraid to fail again.

But Jesus invites us to come to Him like children – with simple trust, ready to receive forgiveness and begin again. This is a form of kindness we rarely discuss: kindness toward ourselves. It means accepting God's forgiveness when we've fallen short. It means refusing to live in regret when grace is available. It means approaching each day with the fresh expectation that God is still working in and through us.

Today, practice showing kindness to yourself by receiving God's grace and refusing to be defined by your failures.

Bible Verse

"Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." - Mark 10:14

Reflection Question

In what ways have you been unkind to yourself by holding onto past failures or refusing to accept God's forgiveness and grace?

Quote

As a child we have a lot of kindness and grace for ourselves. I think about how Jesus says that anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.

Prayer

Father, thank You for welcoming me just as I am. Help me to approach You with childlike faith – trusting in Your forgiveness, believing in Your love, and accepting Your grace. Teach me to be kind to myself as I learn and grow, remembering that You see me not as my failures but as Your beloved child. Amen.