Panic Room of Certainty

Why is being certain so important to us? Maybe we feel helpless as things shift around us, out of our control.

The Bible mentions being certain and confident in Jesus (Rom 8:28) and in God’s promises (Heb 6:13-10:18). But maybe certainty in our own beliefs is really constructing something on shifting sand. And what if that kind of certainty is an obstacle to growth?

I read recently that doubt – having it, acknowledging it, embracing it is critical for all intellectual growth. There is always more to learn. This means what we think and believe at any given moment is a mixture of truth and error. Certainty could be one of the greatest barriers for growth. Certainty stops exploration, pushes away contrary ideas, and can’t help but produce arrogance: “I have nothing to learn.”

Spiritual growth is like all growth. Think about how the thoughts and ideas about life and our skills and abilities change over time. In the same way, the God we understand at 12 years of age will not do for the rest of our lives. To grow spiritually is to change again and again throughout a lifetime. It always involves letting go of outdated and perhaps cherished ideas about God, as we embrace deeper understanding.

It is fascinating that most of us, having decided what is true and right, go into a panic room of certainty, making sure nothing contrary has access. Much like physical panic rooms constructed to keep us safe from unwanted intruders, we tend to form mental panic rooms to keep out thoughts and ideas which threaten our current beliefs. We feel safe. Protected. And we stop learning.

I grew up surrounded by indoctrination – or the passing on of beliefs without the room to criticize or wrestle – about many things, including politics and religion.

Our “tribe” had arrived at truth, and everyone else, every contrary idea or thought was wrong. (We were so fortunate to be the one tribe that had figured it all out.)

For me, it has been a long journey out of this mindset (too long!) to finally see the absurdity of claiming perfect knowledge.

Many years ago I heard this statement: “If you fully understand God, then that would make you His equal.” How can the finite fully comprehend the infinite and eternal One? Instead of being frustrated by our limitations, here is an opportunity to enter into a lifelong commitment to live in wonder and awe as we continue to discover more about God, and in the process, loosen our grip on ideas we have held with certainty!

A wise person is one who throughout life maintains a posture of humility and curiosity:
“I don’t know everything.”
“I want to understand your point of view.”
“I want to understand your story.”
“I’m going to listen, read, watch, and learn.”
“I will set aside any of my certainty when I see the validity of an alternative.”

This journey can be likened to a plant initially put into a small pot. It serves it well for a time, but eventually it will not thrive unless it is re-potted into something bigger, with more room to grow. As human beings, again and again we need to be “re-potted,” making room for new ideas, new ways of thinking.

Most of my life has been devoted to matters of faith. Is there any other domain in which doubt is seen as a threat? Faith in God is wrought with mystery. The more we look at God’s greatness, the more we realize that we cannot know the depths and heights of Him. (As if anyone has come to the final and definitive understanding of God!)

Let’s not close our eyes to learning or run away from opposing ideas, but let us bow our heads in humility, realizing that we are all works in progress.