A Young Child Struggling with Faith in God
My six-year-old son has doubts about God. How do I respond?
Dear Dr. Bill:
My 6-year-old son is very smart and analytical. He attends a good Christian school, and we are active in our church. My husband and I have been intentional about talking with our kids about our Christian faith. But last night during our prayer time, my son tearfully confessed that he's having trouble believing in God. How should we address this? I don't want to make a big deal out of it because our son is already prone to fixate on things. I thought this was an issue with teenagers, not 6-year-olds. Help!
— June
Dear June:
My advice to you in this situation is to RELAX. Let your son know that it's okay to have doubts about God, that God loves him more than he could ever know, and that our questions and doubts don't bother Him. Let your son know that even biblical heroes like David and Job had questions about God at times, and that they expressed them directly to Him.
You describe your son as very smart and analytical. Given his personality and intelligence, it's not unusual that he is asking questions that many people don't grapple with until much later in life. Don't let his questions discourage you, and don't think that you have to come up with all the answers. Instead, you might ask him to ponder some questions.
Take him outside on a clear evening and have him look up at the millions of stars in the sky. Ask him, "How do you think all of those stars got there?" Buy him a children's book on the human body and read it together. As you examine the remarkable complexity of our anatomy and physiology, ask him to ponder whether he believes human beings are simply products of random chance, or could it be that we were designed by a brilliant, all-powerful God?
Since your son is so bright, he may be able to engage in apologetics material that is written for older children. An excellent book on this topic is The Case for Faith for Kids by Lee Strobel. I'd suggest you order the book, read it as a family and discuss it together as you read.
June, given your son's tendency to fixate on things, what's most important in this situation is that you and your husband reassure him that it's okay to have doubts and ask questions. Rather than reacting with anxiety or panic, ask God to help you respond to his questions with confident assurance. As you explore Strobel's book, you may find that even your own faith is strengthened.
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