Childlike Thinking
Mark E. Haskins
November 24, 2025
At times, life’s circumstances can seem so complicated and overwhelming. That’s when clarifying simplicity helps dampen the distracting noise and lift the veiling fog. The most basic thing I know is that God loves me the most and knows me the best. We can each say that because we are each in His love story. From that basis, there is then the blessing of laying one heavenly precept upon another and giving Him one concern after another. Who better than a child to remind us of some of the most foundational attributes of our Heavenly Father that do not change (Hebrews 13: 8 and James 1: 17)?
As we saw in last month’s blog, Jesus values the merits of childlike insights and faith. He thanks His Father by noting, “… I give praise to you, O Father … because you have kept these things secret from the wise and the men of learning, and have made them clear to little children…” (Luke 10: 21 BBE). What are “the things” Jesus is referring to? According to some commentators, those things comprise the gospel He taught and lived—love’s acceptance, unvarnished authenticity, forgiveness, and life to the full—things freely offered by God due to His unconditional love and Jesus’ faithfulness unto His death and resurrection.
Little children do have a profound way of seeing and stating the pure essence of what’s before them. They call it as they see it and indeed, “kids [then] say the darndest things.”1 Several years ago, I received a link to an article noting some popular TV ads fifth graders at a Christian school used to describe God.2 Several of their connections are presented here and each is a wonderful reminder of a simple, but amazing quality of our Triune God. For each connection the kids posed, I have added a supporting Biblical passage or two to attest to their spot-on insights. Indeed, these kids knew truths not understood nor embraced by many wise men and women.
If you have gray hair, you may recall some of the advertising tag lines that the children chose to indicate the beautiful simplicity of some of God’s attributes. In the connections they make, profound and dear gospel messages are manifested (Matthew 11: 25), not the childish, frivolous infatuations the Apostle Paul warns against (Ephesians 4: 14). Pause, and enjoy this childlike thinking. Let these light-hearted, childlike insights put a smile on your face for there is “… a time to laugh …” (Ecclesiastes 3: 4 ASV) and “… a cheerful heart is a good medicine …” (Proverbs 17: 22 ASV). More importantly, let your heart be filled with praise and appreciation for the truths these children declare and that we are blessed to know.
“God is like a FORD. He’s got a better idea.”
“… The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil’s ways” (I John 3: 8 MSG)
“God is like SCOTCH TAPE. You can’t see Him but you know He’s there.”
“… the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: who is the image of the invisible God … in him were all things created … things visible and things invisible … ” (Colossians 1:13-16 ASV)
“… The kingdom of God cometh not with observation … for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21ASV)
“God is like HALLMARK CARDS. He cares enough to send His very best.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3: 16 ASV)
“God is like DELTA. He’s ready when you are.”
“… for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:8 ASV)
“Blessed is the God and Father of Jesus Christ our Lord, the all-merciful Father, the God ever ready to console,” (II Corinthians 1:3 TCNT)
“God is like TIDE. He gets the stains out that others leave behind.”
“He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all.” (Hebrews 9:12 MSG)
“God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC. He brings good things to life.”
“The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I have come that they may have Life and may have it in greater fullness.” (John 10:10 TCNT)
“He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.” (I Peter 2:24 BBE)
“God is like DIAL SOAP. Aren't you glad you have Him? Don't you wish everybody did?”
“You yourselves are our letter--a letter written on our hearts, and one which everybody can read and understand.” (II Corinthians 3:2 TCNT)
“Be glad in the Lord at all times: again, I say, Be glad.” (Philippians 4:4 BBE)
A question to ponder is: Which of these declarations do we take for granted and why do we do that? Or maybe the better question to pose is: Are we living each day thankful for, and cognizant of, each of these attributes of God in our lives? If not, why not? We need to remind ourselves and highlight for others that the gospel (the good news) is quite simple. These kids nail it. Moreover, these attributes (and others not highlighted here) of God are not mere niceties to adorn the image of our Heavenly Father. Each is centrally emblematic of who He is and what He wants us to experience. Let’s acknowledge, simple does not mean it is easy to live in these good-news realities every moment of every day. We are invited by our loving God, however, to seek His help to do so. We can give Him our burdens, worries, and religious “To Do” lists. Are we harboring any of these today? We can come to Him every day to experience all of His unwavering and unalterable attributes. In this Thanksgiving season let’s be especially thankful for all that we know about Him and especially for His invitation into the greatest love story the world has ever known. For all of who He is we exclaim: “Thank you and Amen!”
1 This phrase is from Art Linkletter’s long-running, very popular TV show. Please see: Myrna Oliver and Valerie Nelson (May 26, 2010), “Art Linkletter, broadcasting pioneer who created ‘Kids Say the Darndest Things,’ dies at 97”, available at https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-26-la-me-art-linkletter-20100527-story.html (accessed 4-2-24). There are many YouTube clips showing some of his interviews with kids that will have you chuckling if you’d like a lighthearted moment.
2 Evan Mehlenbacher (May 24, 2008), “Finding God in the ads…”, available at https://spiritview.net/finding-god-in-the-ads/ (accessed 10-24-25). This article does not provide details on how the student assignment was framed or undertaken.
NOTES: MSG (The Message) Scripture taken from THE MESSAGE, Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. ASV (American Standard Version), Published in 1901, in the public domain. BBE (Bible in Basic English), Published 1949/1964, in the public domain. TCNT (Twentieth Century New Testament), Revised Edition, Published in 1900-1904 by Fleming H. Revell Company, in the public domain.
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