By Haley Majernik
“I’d want adults to know how much I love God and how I feel about God. Maybe adults sometimes don’t get how much I love God.”- Participant in Youthfront’s Children’s Advisory Council
If you want to hear the most true and wonder-filled theology, sit in a room with a group of 7 to 10 year-olds and ask them where they see God. They’ll tell you about thunderstorms, hospital beds, birthday parties, and the quiet moments when they feel scared at night. Their words hold honesty, imagination, and a deep trust that God is near and paying attention.
As adults, we often assume that theology- the study of the nature of God and religious belief- belongs to scholars, pastors, or adults who know a lot. Especially as parents, we don’t always recognize that children practice theology every day. Our children are not just future disciples but current theologians. They already reflect on who God is, how God works, and what God is like in their world. Listening carefully shows us that children’s thoughts about God are unguarded, clear, and full of insight—often more authentic than the responses adults offer.
Thanks to a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant initiative on Nurturing Children through Worship and Prayer, Youthfront has had the opportunity to sit with elementary-aged children and learn from them. By taking the posture of listening, we’ve gained insight into how children experience God through prayer and worship.
When asked when they feel God’s presence, many children shared about noticing God during hard times as well as joyful, celebratory moments. Children show remarkable ease in connecting with God anywhere.
“I felt God when my grandma was dying and everyone there started praying.”
“I felt God when I had a big tornado storm and He cleared it away. It made me thankful.”
“On my birthday when I felt happy and excited.”
“When I jump off a diving board, sometimes I feel like He’s making a splash next to me.”
Children believe God listens to them. They share their worries, mistakes, gratitude, and hopes. They are honest and don’t feel the need for flowery words or religious jargon. God is accessible to them, and they trust that God hears their prayers.
“I talk to God about how much better I can get at video games.”
“I talk to God about my thoughts and feelings.”
“Thanking God for keeping me safe.”
“Loving me.”
“If I’m mad at my friends, I talk to Him for help.”
Oftentimes, children meet God through creativity and imagination. When asked about their favorite ways to spend time with God, children spoke of singing, cooking, coloring, baking, and playing sports. For children, play isn’t a distraction from the spiritual life but a pathway to connect with God.
“Cooking, I like to cook noodles and cookies. I get to cook with God.”
“When I play sports like baseball. I hang out with my friends and have fun.”
“Just being in nature and just walking around at the park or somewhere.”
Children also carry big questions and they aren’t afraid to ask them. Their questions remind us that faith is not about certainty but curiosity. When children ask questions, our role may not be to provide quick answers but to wonder alongside them.
“How did God make the animals?”
“Was “the purge” real?”
“Why do we get hurt?”
“How can I help God with His work?”
“What did it feel like when the relationship was hurt?”
When we view children as theologians, our faith community is invited to expand its understanding of God. Prayer and worship are richest when all ages of Christ’s image-bearers have the space to express and practice wonder, joy, grief, and curiosity.
- What if next time a child asks a question about God we resist the urge to answer quickly but instead, we explore and wonder together?
- What if we let our children’s prayers shape our prayers?
- What if as adults, we re-learn how to see God in swimming pools, video games, lightning, hospital rooms, and cooking?
Perhaps our children and grandchildren aren’t just learning from us, but also showing us each day how to connect with God in worship and prayer.
A Family Practice
Start by asking:
“How do you like to spend time with God?”
“If you could ask God anything, what would you ask?”
Then, just listen. No answers, no teaching, just curiosity.
Next, spend time with God together but let your child(ren) lead!
Follow their ideas and their pace.
You might:
- Blow bubbles and watch them float heavenward
- Color, draw, or doodle prayers
- Build with Legos or sculpt with clay
- Explore outside looking at the rocks, trees, or bugs
- Sing and dance together
- Play a game
By following their lead, you honor their role as theologians as they think, question, and see God in everyday life. The goal isn’t the activity itself but it’s creating space for wonder, curiosity, and connection with God.
About Haley Majernik: Haley serves as Coordinator of Children’s Ministry at Youthfront, working closely with Youthfront’s programs for elementary children and with local churches and children’s/family pastors. She also leads key projects for Youthfront’s Strengthening Ministry with Children initiatives. Haley and her husband are parents to two teenage boys.
