Experts Are Just Those Who Mastered Learning: A Setback is Preparation

Let’s talk about learning. When you think about what it means to be a learner you may think about terms like student, school, or college. Those are the terms we identify with learning right? We may even proclaim the importance of being a “life-long learner,” and that is what I want to chat about today.

It is not just the responsibility of parents or teachers to impart knowledge. It is the student’s (or person’s) responsibility to create opportunities for themselves to constantly pour into themselves for development. Why should we care about our development? Because if you do not grow you miss opportunities, you are easily misled, you succumb to a life that is not fulfilling, and more importantly you inhibit the learning process for those to come. Who will educate those that come after you and nurture those folks if you have nothing to teach? Putting it a bit more practical:

1. How can you help someone learn to count money?

2. How can you help someone learn to read?

3. How can you help someone learn to build their faith?

4. How can you help someone learn to accumulate wealth?

5. How can you help someone learn to forgive?

6. How can you help someone learn from their setbacks or struggles?

These are just a few examples, I want to discuss number 6 though for the sake of this devotion. I was encouraged to write about this topic because I was struggling with learning how to post something on social media for my business. I tried endlessly to figure it out by googling it, asking knowledgeable people, I even gave it the—”let me just try to do it myself first” approach. In all of that I wrecked my little brain trying so hard to figure it out. I was stressing over it so much while taking note of others doing it (which only made me more tenacious). I finally figured it out when I stopped stressing. I don’t have a secret sauce answer either. I just know that I stepped away for a bit, I told myself you will figure this out. If not today, tomorrow you will try again. I researched other social media pages where people had done what I was attempting to do and eventually, with ease, two clicks and it was done!

Another thing happened on that same day, someone reached out to me on social media for advice about something I had accomplished. I was so excited to help because I remembered the feeling and wanted someone to show me the way. I happily replied to the DM and explained all that I could in hopes of helping.

We are all just trying to figure it out and sometimes it is hard to ask for help for a number of reasons. Sometimes you are afraid to be embarrassed and other times you don’t want anyone to know what you’re doing. Whatever the case may be, it is tough navigating it alone. True learners help other learners and they create pathways for those that come behind them. We like to think that someone is an expert at something when really they have just mastered being a learner.

Taking this idea of learning a step further when it comes to our faith, I urge you to see your faith life the way you see learning as survival tool. We learn and then we teach those that come after us so that they have the best chances in life. What about those around you on your job or your friends that need that same chance to know God?

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The servants of God (which is us as Christians) must consistently learn so that we may do good work, spreading the love of Christ.

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank you for teaching me and creating a spirit of learning within me. Help me continue to seek your wisdom and share your truth with anyone around me. To build my own faith and to help others have the same chance to know. Father I know I am not perfect and I fall short, I may even become frustrated when I am learning. Help me not to give up and always try again. ~ Amen