July 23
The World Trains Us Out of Childlikeness
A newborn doesn't feel anxious, ashamed, or lonely. They don't fear rejection. They don't wonder if they matter. They don't suspect love's motives. Childlikeness is natural. But growing up in a fallen world builds layers over the heart.
We learn self-protection: Life teaches us that vulnerability is dangerous. We learn comparison: School, family, and culture teach us to measure ourselves against others. We learn performance: Approval becomes tied to achievement.
We learn fear: Bad experiences teach us to anticipate threat rather than goodness. We learn independence: The world celebrates the self-made person—yet this contradicts Jesus’ own definition of true greatness.
Spiritual adulthood doesn't depend on these layers. They were ways to survive, not parts of who we are.
And the Father softly invites us to set them aside.
Becoming Childlike Again: Pages 67-68
A newborn doesn't feel anxious, ashamed, or lonely. They don't fear rejection. They don't wonder if they matter. They don't suspect love's motives. Childlikeness is natural. But growing up in a fallen world builds layers over the heart.
We learn self-protection: Life teaches us that vulnerability is dangerous. We learn comparison: School, family, and culture teach us to measure ourselves against others. We learn performance: Approval becomes tied to achievement.
We learn fear: Bad experiences teach us to anticipate threat rather than goodness. We learn independence: The world celebrates the self-made person—yet this contradicts Jesus’ own definition of true greatness.
Spiritual adulthood doesn't depend on these layers. They were ways to survive, not parts of who we are.
And the Father softly invites us to set them aside.
Becoming Childlike Again: Pages 67-68