In a world that prizes scientific empiricism and rigorous rationalism, Christians are often placed on the defensive. We are frequently asked the ultimate "gotcha" question: “Can you prove that God exists?”
If we are honest with ourselves, the answer is no, at least, not in the way a scientist proves the boiling point of water or a mathematician proves a theorem. We cannot capture the Creator of the universe in a test tube or subject Him to the constraints of the scientific method.
However, recognizing that we cannot "prove" God does not mean our faith is irrational. While we cannot provide a mathematical proof, we are called to provide reasonable evidence for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). We must learn to articulate why we believe what we believe.
The Problem with Starting with Man
The fundamental divide between modern secular thought and Christian faith lies in where we begin our inquiry.
Rationalism and empiricism start and end with man. They rely on human senses and human intellect as the final arbiters of truth. If a truth claim cannot be observed, measured, or deduced by human reason alone, it is discarded.
But here is the inherent flaw: If you start your search for truth with yourself, you will never move beyond yourself. You create a closed system where God, who is by definition greater than His creation, is excluded by design.
The Wisdom of Becoming Like Children
Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, knew that the things of God were not accessible through the pride of human intellect alone. He understood the barrier that our adult cynicism and self-reliance place between the Divine and us. In Matthew 18:3, He gives a profound instruction:
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
We often mistake this call to "childlike faith" for "childish thinking." They are not the same. Childlike faith is not a blind, irrational leap; it is a posture of humility. Biblical faith is not a blind leap into the dark; it is evidence-based trust.
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as the "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Much like how you sit in a chair because you have evidence of its structure and a history of it holding your weight, our faith is built on the historical evidence of God’s faithfulness, the testimony of Scripture, and the witness of our own lives.
Children accept profound truths not because they have performed the experiments themselves, but because they have total confidence in the person speaking to them, a parent or a teacher. A child trusts the parent, and therefore, trusts what the parent says.
Faith in the Person, Then the Promise
Our faith works the same way. We do not begin with a cold, empirical investigation of biblical "facts" to see if they hold up to human scrutiny. Instead, our faith begins with a relationship.
We accept the truths of Scripture because we have placed our trust in the Person of God. When you know the character of the Father, the reliability of His Word follows naturally.
This humility is the gateway to understanding; as Psalm 25:9 reminds us, "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way." When we stop trying to put God on trial and start walking by faith rather than mere sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), we begin to see what Romans 1:20 declares: that the invisible qualities of God are clearly seen in the very creation around us.
If you find yourself wrestling with doubt, remember that it is not a sign of failure. In Mark 9:24, a desperate father cried out to Jesus, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" This honest vulnerability is the starting point of a mature faith.
- The World's Approach: "I will believe it only if I can prove it to my own satisfaction."
- The Biblical Approach: "I trust the One who speaks, and therefore I receive His Word as truth."
A Reasonable Trust
Choosing to trust God is not an abandonment of reason; it is an acknowledgment of the limits of our own perspective. We live in a world that demands we remain the center of our own truth. But when we humble ourselves like children, we stop trying to put God on trial and start walking in the light of His revelation.
We don’t start by demanding proof; we start by accepting an invitation. When you stop trying to put God under your microscope and start walking in the light of His Word, you’ll find that the "evidence" wasn't missing, it was just waiting for you to see it through the eyes of a child.
We have plenty of evidence, the historical reality of the Resurrection, the internal witness of the Holy Spirit, the transformative power of the Gospel in human lives, but all of it is seen most clearly through the lens of a heart that has already decided to trust the Father.
Are you looking for proof, or are you looking for the Person? Because when you find Him, you’ll find that everything else begins to make sense.
Reflection Questions:
- What is one "evidence" of God’s character you have witnessed in your own life?
- If you started your day assuming God is present rather than demanding He prove His presence, how might your decisions change?
- As you consider this journey of faith, how do you personally navigate the tension between your intellectual questions and your need for relational trust with God?
- What is one area of your life where you have found that trusting God’s character has helped you better understand His Word?
Exploring life, one thought at a time.
Rumishael C. Ulomi, Founder & Spiritual Leader
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