Instant oatmeal, easy mac and cheese, instant coffee, and getting in shape in 6 weeks are just a few of the instant things out there. God chooses a different path than the instant path. So naturally, we have a lot to learn and, at the same time, unlearn.
Although God could instantly transform us, He has chosen to develop us slowly. Jesus was intentional in developing His disciples. Just as God allowed the children of Israel to take over the promise land “little by little,” so they would not be overwhelmed, He chooses to work in incremental steps in our lives.
Why does it take so long to grow up? Number one, we are slow learners. God shows us, teaches us, and yet, how often do we find ourselves reverting back to old patterns of behavior? Number two, we have a lot to unlearn. It took years to break the situation and we want an instant fix. Since most of our problems – and all of our bad habits – didn’t develop overnight, it’s unrealistic to expect them to go away immediately.
There is no pill, prayer, or principle that will instantly undo the damage of many years. It requires the hard work of removal and replacement. Growth is often painful. There is no growth without change, there is no change without loss, and there is no loss without pain. We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self defeating and self destructive because, like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable.
Every change involves loss of some kind, and yet you must let go of the old to experience the new. You must unlearn the past to learn a new future.
The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. Romans 13:12 (Message)
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