We all recognize that learning helps us to grow- whether it is learning a new skill, a new perspective, or a new fact. However, it is equally as important to our growth to look for ways to “unlearn”, in order to truly make space for all of this new growth. Sometimes we unlearn a bad habit once we gain knowledge that it is harmful. Sometimes we unlearn a limited perspective, because we can now see the world through the eyes of another, and so on. This can truly be applied in most any area of life. Even in, especially in, faith and religion.
Even though He remains the same, we are always learning, growing, and changing, as is the world.
For example…maybe you suffered abuse or hardship from a parent, and struggled to see God as a loving father. When you were able to heal and to truly see God as good, and just, what perspectives or understanding of Him (or yourself) did you have to unlearn? Or, maybe you had a loving father, and this made it easy to accept God as so, but you struggled with hatred or judgment to understand why others responded so differently, or lived so differently. Then, you made a meaningful relationship with someone different than yourself that helped you to really grasp grace and unlearn these responses.
This may feel deeply theological for you, or maybe not. Maybe it is much simpler than that in a lot of ways. I think so. I think often times while the unlearning can come less easier than the learning, we can’t fully experience true growth without it.
God has been helping me to unlearn a lot about “productivity” this last year, that has helped to create for more growth in my perspective of worth.
In what areas might you ask God to work on your heart to unlearn something, or in what areas are you struggling for growth that this might be the solution?
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