Letting Go of Certainty

Nicodemus was a religious expert, yet he comes to Jesus with questions he can't resolve. Instead of offering simple explanations, Jesus invites him to start over. These Lent practices begin in that same space – where certainty loosens its grip and we become open to beginning again.

This Week’s Practice: Letting Go of Certainty

Each day, notice one moment where you don’t immediately have an answer. It could be something small:
• A conversation that bothered you.
• A reaction you don’t fully understand.
• A decision that feels unclear.
• A question about faith you can’t quite resolve.

Instead of rushing to figure it out, pause. Simply say to yourself: “I don’t fully understand this yet.” And leave it there. Don’t fix it. Don’t explain it away. Don’t immediately form a strong opinion. Just sit with it for a few minutes.

Why This Matters
Certainty feels safe, gives us stability, and helps us move through the world with confidence. But sometimes our need for certainty keeps us from growing. In real life, this shows up everywhere.

• We rush to label people so we don’t have to stay curious about them.
• We form quick opinions so we don’t have to sit with complexity.
• We double down in arguments because admitting uncertainty feels like losing.
• We cling to familiar patterns – even unhealthy ones – because they’re predictable.

Certainty reduces anxiety, but growth often requires a little discomfort.

It requires humility to say, “Maybe I don’t see the whole picture.” It requires courage to let a conversation change you. It requires the patience to let understanding develop over time instead of forcing it instantly.

Whether you’re talking about relationships, work, identity, or faith – if we always have to be right, we rarely grow.

Sometimes the most honest thing we can say is: “I’m still learning.”