when wonder is lost
It was a tale of grand adventure, full of excitement and wonder, but the plot took some turns we didn’t see coming. The innocence of childhood seems to have faded, replaced by challenges and questions we can't easily answer. The epic tale that once felt magical, now feels heavy and we struggle to remember what it was like when everything felt new and full of possibility. We try to make sense of it all, longing to find that sense of wonder again, but end up wondering how we lost touch with the very thing that once made life so beautiful.
A few years ago, I heard a man on TV defending that he had become an atheist because he didn't believe that God shows Himself to the world. Whew. That was hard to understand. I remember feeling so sad for him and wishing there was a way to awaken his heart to the reality that there are powerful displays of God's love for him, playing out in live theater, everywhere he looks...if only he would take them in.
"The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder,"
The essence of wonder isn’t just about the existence of awe-inspiring things, but about our ability to perceive and be moved by them. The world is brimming with wonders, but we have lost the ability to see them, to truly experience them with wonder, and the consequences hold profound meaning when considering the state of the human heart and the world around us.
when wonder is hidden
The Veil of Familiarity
The human heart is designed to marvel at the world around it. When we are young, nearly everything is new, fresh, and exciting — a butterfly’s wings, the way the wind moves the trees, or the sight of a colorful rainbow —but over time, we become accustomed to the sights, sounds, and experiences of our lives. We fail to appreciate the everyday miracles that were once captivating but no longer excite us in the same way.
C.S. Lewis, once reflected, "The trouble is that we do not see what is before us. We are always looking at it from the wrong angle, through the veil of familiarity, and we miss the wonder."
The "veil of familiarity" refers to how easily we take things for granted when they become a constant part of our lives. Lewis’s quote suggests that it’s not because there’s nothing left to marvel at; it's that we’ve grown blind to them. Our ability to see the extraordinary has been dulled because we have stopped looking at it with the eyes of a child, with a sense of discovery and curiosity. We walk past a blooming flower or hear the sound of birds chirping without even noticing. The sun rises each morning, the ocean waves roll in and out all day, the moon dances on them each night. Things we once marveled at become mundane, predictable, or even invisible. This is the first way wonder fades.
Reawakening wonder hidden under the veil of familiarity is the simplest to remedy. It begins with WAKING UP and choosing to see the world again through childlike wonder—acknowledging the beauty in the ordinary and reconnecting with the awe that once filled our hearts. An awareness of our condition and a renewed desire to focus our attention on the glimpses of God's presence all around us will invite wonder back into our lives and remind us WHO He is, leading us back to a place of deeper connection with Him.
For help awakening to the wonder in every day life, check out Wonderstruck - by Margaret Feinberg.
when wonder is forgotten
"Ohhh, there you are Peter."
In the classic movie, Hook, there is a scene where Peter Pan, (played by Robin Williams), has grown up and forgotten who he is. No longer the lighthearted, adventurous boy he once was, he has become a busy lawyer and has forgotten the magic of his childhood in Neverland. Now Neverland is in trouble and Peter has been called back to rescue kidnapped children from Captain Hook.
The scene unfolds as Peter stands before the Lost Boys, lost and confused himself. The world feels unfamiliar, his memories blurred by time and responsibility. As he struggles to remember who he truly is, the Lost Boys look at him with uncertainty. They don’t see the same Peter Pan they remember; the boy before them is older, with wrinkles, glasses, and the weariness of adulthood. Then one little Lost Boy steps forward. As he looks deeply into Peter's eyes he stretches Peter's face to form an awkward but unmistakable smile. In that moment, he recognizes a small glimpse of the hero he once remembered. His face lights up and he says softly, “Ohhhh, there you are, Peter...” The boy’s simple recognition calls Peter back to the wonder and purpose he had long forgotten, and in that rediscovery, Peter remembers WHO he is.
(Video clip to follow...grab a tissue)
In the fast-paced life of an attorney, Peter forgot he was living in a beautiful story — one filled with magic, adventure, and endless possibilities. As he grew older and became consumed by the mundane responsibilities of life, he forgot the thrilling sense of wonder that had once defined his world. No longer seeing himself as part of a grand adventure, Peter lost sight of the extraordinary and the wonder of Neverland slipped through his fingers, leaving him disconnected from the very essence of who he was.
Only when finally recovering his true identity, was Peter able to fulfill his purpose in saving Neverland.
A Hunger for Wonder
Much like the story of Neverland, our land of wonder began as a place filled with mystery and imagination, where curiosity led us to explore, discover, and dream. This curiosity fueled our pursuit of knowledge, leading to incredible advancements in technology that have afforded us endless opportunities and every convenience imaginable. In today’s fast-paced, modern world, we have the ability to communicate instantly across the globe, travel the world, and access limitless information with the touch of a button. With a culture focused on high productivity, efficiency, and gratification, we might expect all these advancements would bring happiness and fulfillment, but this is not the case. Instead, we are facing historic levels of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and despair.
Wonder is lost when we begin to view life through a lens of relentless obligation and expectation rather than curiosity and amazement. This shift is gradual, often unnoticed, but it leads us to a place where we forget how to marvel at the simple beauties and mysteries that once filled us with joy.
"The modern world is hungry for wonder, but it is not aware of its hunger" Richard Rohr
Behind the hustle and bustle of daily life, there lies an unspoken craving — a deep desire to experience something more than possessions, achievements, or temporary pleasures. We’ve allowed distraction to cloud our view of God and His presence, resulting in a hunger that we often can't even correctly identify. Rohr challenges us to recognize that wonder is not just a fleeting feeling, or a luxury reserved for special moments, but is essential to the condition of our hearts.
Rediscovering childlike wonder requires a shift in our schedules, our priorities, and our overall lifestyles, back to remembering and embracing who God is and who we are in Him—a reminder that He is ever-present, and we are His children, designed for purpose and relationship with Him.
when wonder is diminished
A Tapestry of Misbelief
What comes to mind when we think of God is influenced by many factors that shape our understanding and perception of Him; Childhood experiences, our friends and family, the education we receive, our church experience, and the society we live in, to name a few. These influences, and many others throughout our life, combine to form a tapestry of WHO we believe God is—which we learned from Tozer is the most important thing about us. Every person's tapestry is interwoven with some threads of truth and some threads of misbelief, which can lead to a distorted or incomplete picture of God, having long-lasting effects on our hearts, our lives, and our wonder.
For example:
A misbelief that God's love is conditional can lead to a life of endless striving or bitter rebellion.
A misbelief that God is not entirely good can lead to fear and a heart that doesn't love or trust Him.
A misbelief that God is unforgiving results in a heart held captive in shame and condemnation.
A misbelief that God is silent results in an inability to hear His voice and walk with him in wonder.
A misbelief that God is not playful results in a stoic relationship that lacks the joys of childlike wonder.
And, the list goes on...
1 John 4:8 "GOD IS LOVE"
It is important to recognize that every characteristic of God flows from a deep, unconditional love for His creation. Viewing Him through this lens can help to correct our threads of misbelief. For another example, if we hold the misbelief that He is a distant, judgmental God, constantly accusing and punishing us for our mistakes, our relationship with Him will become more about duty than delight and the sense of wonder that should come from experiencing His presence will be greatly diminished. However, if we recognize God's justice is rooted in love because He desires to guide His children and protect us from harm, we will be moved by the depth of His grace and enjoy the comfort, rest, and freedom He is offering. Filtering every belief through "God is love" helps us see that all of His actions, even the difficult ones to understand, are rooted in His deep desire for our good, allowing us to reinterpret the threads of misbelief still woven into our tapestries.
It is important to honestly reflect on what comes to mind when we think of God—not what we should believe, but what we genuinely do believe. This assessment should happen not only during moments of joy, but also in times of suffering, failure, and solitude, when we are most likely to misinterpret WHO He is. Ultimately, the way we identify and address our threads of misbelief will influence how we experience and respond to God, the desire we have to love Him, and our capacity to encounter the wonder that is at the heart of knowing Him. By carefully weaving the threads of truth and shedding the misbeliefs, we can create a final tapestry that reflects the full, wondrous picture of WHO God truly is.
when wonder is silenced
A Whisper in the Wind
From the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. He spoke to form humanity from the dust of the earth, and then He spoke to connect with the people He had created. Throughout the Old Testament, God spoke through various unusual ways—including angels, prophets, visions, dreams, even a burning bush and a talking donkey. Nothing was off-limits. As if all of this wasn’t mysterious enough, then God became a man, lived among His people, and spoke with them face to face. After His resurrection, Jesus explained that it would be best for Him to leave, so the Holy Spirit could come, offering even more intimate opportunities for conversation. It defies imagination, but we serve a radical God who will stop at nothing to redeem His creation and restore the hearts of His people. That's WHO He is.
John 10:27 – "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."
While we know that God's voice is alive and active through His written Word, the Holy Spirit also communicates in many other unique and personal ways, always in alignment with God's truth. Every day, He speaks light into darkness, through creative, spontaneous, and wondrous means. Words of instruction, guidance, and encouragement often come through open doors, desires, or dreams; while words of healing may come through prayer, people, promptings, or even pain. A perfectly timed message might come through a sermon, a podcast, a book, or a song; or it may be delivered through a displaced starfish, the sparkle of a grain of sand, or the gentle whisper of a dandelion blowing in the wind. Once you've heard the voice of God, speaking directly to you, it's a wonder you won't soon forget. A glimpse of His presence. To feel personally seen and known by God is an experience that will transform a heart in an instant.
Hebrews 3:7 – "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..."
Some hold the misconception that personal revelation or intimate communication with God has ceased. While they may read about God’s powerful, unmistakable voice in Scripture, they don't believe the same God who spoke to Moses, Elijah, and the disciples is still speaking to us today. This misbelief creates a faith where people go through the motions, yet lack the deep, personal connection that comes from hearing God's voice directly. Such a misbelief is from the enemy, as it silences wonder, robbing us of the day-by-day intimacy God desires to have as a loving Father with His children.
Wonder cannot survive in a belief that God is silent; but when we believe that He speaks, we open ourselves up to experiencing glimpses of His presence and the wonder of His voice sparks a fresh sense of excitement and curiosity in our walk with Him.
Whisper by Mark Batterson
when wonder is SHAMED
Set the captives free
I recently came across this comment on social media, "Why do Christians believe God wants everyone to hate themselves?" My heart broke because it could not be further from the truth, but this is a widely held misconception among believers and non-believers. One of the most destructive and vicious lies of the enemy, is shame disguised as humility.
In the name of humility, many Christians still view themselves as wretched, unworthy, unlovable, insignificant, and broken, even after being adopted into God's family. They continue to identify with a wicked heart, even after giving their heart to Jesus and being filled with The Holy Spirit. You might be thinking, "What's so bad about a little extra dose of humility? Doesn't the Bible call us to be humble?" But in truth, one of the enemy’s most effective ways of attacking God's kingdom is by deceiving us about WHO we are. These thoughts about our identity do not come from God and they are a cunning way to keep us from a life of wonder.
"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:17
Sowing seeds of unworthiness, shame, and condemnation is one of Satan's greatest schemes. If we agree with his false accusations, those seeds will take root, and we will remain stuck in a cycle of guilt, like prisoners in our own minds, bound by lies that we are unworthy of God’s love. When we focus inward on WHO we once were, instead of focusing on WHO we currently are in Christ, we aren't only hurting ourselves, but we are denying God's gift of grace and hiding the wonder of salvation that a lost world so desperately needs.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Some quote Jeremiah 17:9 as a defense for the wicked heart, but that is a gross misinterpretation, as this verse highlights the fallen nature of the human heart, apart from God’s transformation.
The Bible speaks often about the "wicked" and the "righteous," and very clearly distinguishes between the two. The wicked have a hatred for righteousness, are unrepentant, and live in opposition to God’s ways. They bring harm to themselves, and others and they are destined for destruction.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21
The righteous live in relationship with God, follow His ways, love others, and trust in His provision, guidance and grace. They do not live perfectly but are perfectly forgiven through the cross and are promised eternal life with God.
We are not who the world says we are. We are not who our past says we are. We are not who our family says we are. In some cases, we are not even who "the church" says we are. Only our Creator has the authority to declare WHO we are, and He declares every believer righteous in Him. If we believe something about ourselves that is different than what the Lord says about us, then we are holding on to something that is actually at war with God. These beliefs are strongholds, hiding places for the enemy.
"So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
This verse highlights how Jesus came to bring true freedom—freedom from sin and the bondage of fear, guilt, and shame. When we embrace His truth and reject the enemy’s lies, we unshackle the chains that hold us back from experiencing the full wonder of salvation and His love.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26:
The wonder of a new, transformed heart, filled with His spirit, is a difficult concept for many to take in and fully embrace as their identity, but it foundational to understanding our relationship with God as a believer. Jesus came to restore our hearts once and for all. This doesn't mean we will never be tempted by sin, but represents our deliverance from the bondage of sin, freedom from the law, and freedom to live from our heart and love Him with all our hearts.
For more on our new, regenerated hearts, see Wonder Found!
Why Grace Changes Everything - Chuck Smith/ Calvary Chapel
See Article/video by Piper on the wicked heart
when wonder is suppressed
feelings and emotions
"You can't just pretend to be happy. It doesn't work that way." – Joy
The movie Inside Out became a huge box office hit because it taps into something near to every person's heart—how we feel. We are created in God's image and whether we like it or not, part of our divine design includes the ability to feel strong emotion. Our emotions allow us to experience God's love, form meaningful relationships, and experience the world. They serve as important signals, like a type of compass, helping us understand what is happening within ourselves and around us, guiding us to what we value, and revealing where we may need to make changes in our lives. Feelings of joy reveals something that brings us fulfillment, while sadness may signal a loss, unmet needs, or something in our life that needs healing. Anger can highlight a boundary being crossed or an injustice that needs addressing, while fear can alert us to potential danger. Emotions allow us to dig deeper into our experiences, uncovering truths beneath the surface regarding what we care about, what we're afraid of, and even what we're avoiding.
Emotions are powerful, inevitable forces that cannot be ignored or indefinitely controlled. It is common to suppress overwhelming emotions out of fear, denial, or shame, hiding our true feelings in an attempt to maintain control and avoid vulnerability. However, disconnecting from our feelings is never a wise act of faith, its an act of denial and avoidance. The unresolved pain is still there, beneath the surface." (Phillips) The longer we attempt to keep our emotions contained, the more intense they become. Just as a wave that is suppressed under the water only grows larger and more forceful, unaddressed emotions will eventually lead to greater consequences—whether that be through sudden outbursts, numbness, bitterness, or even long-term mental health issues such as anxiety or depression. When we suppress our emotions, we also lose the wonder that God has designed into our emotional responses. We stop listening to the still, small voice that invites us into deeper intimacy with God. Furthermore, we lose the sense of wonder that comes with truly living.
If our heart were a garden, suppressing our feelings is like burying a seed in the dark and expecting it to bloom without water, air, and sunlight.
A flower's true beauty is born from the quiet place, hidden below the surface."
Our emotions are like seeds planted in the garden of our hearts, growing in the secret place where God alone can see. Just as seeds need sunlight and water to grow, our emotions require care to flourish. When we neglect or suppress them, it's like trying to hide the seeds deep underground, preventing them from receiving the nourishment they need to grow into healthy plants. But when we tend to them, allowing God to help us process and heal those emotions, they can grow into something beautiful and fruitful.
The Bible speaks of the secret place as a sacred space where God meets us intimately, even in the depths of our hearts. Psalm 91:1 says, "Whoever dwells in the secret place of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." In the secret place, God provides healing, comfort, and protection, even in our most vulnerable moments. When we allow ourselves to face our emotions and bring them to God, rather than suppressing them, He works in us to bring transformation. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Our emotions, like seeds in a garden, influence the course of our lives, and God wants to help us tend to them in healthy ways.
Suppressing our emotions only prevents growth and healing, but when we invite God into the secret place, He nurtures us, transforming those emotional seeds into something beautiful.
" Suppressing our feelings is like trying to hold back the tide with your bare hands—no matter how hard you try, it will break free."
To deny our feelings is to ignore a significant aspect of God’s design for us, leading to emotional and spiritual dysfunction. Instead, we should bring them before God as an opportunity for growth and understanding. Ask Him to give us clarity, insight, and wisdom, and to restore the loss of wonder that comes from living emotionally separated from Him and others. Scripture encourages believers to bring their emotions to God, as seen in the Psalms, where many of David's raw emotions are expressed in honest conversations with God. Emotions, when processed and expressed in healthy ways, can help us draw closer to God, grow in empathy, and live in harmony with others. The Bible doesn't condemn emotions themselves; rather, it offers guidance on how to handle and express them appropriately in a ay that honors God.
Wonder is the awe and appreciation that comes from experiencing life fully—embracing both the beauty and the challenges. If we close ourselves off from our emotions, we miss out on the full spectrum of human experience. We may find ourselves going through the motions, numb to the world around us, unable to see the miraculous in the mundane. The wonder that God created us to experience is found when we allow ourselves to feel deeply, engage with life honestly, and allow our emotions to be an integral part of the journey.
We are meant to embrace our emotions, we find the wonder and beauty that God has woven into every part of life. When we engage with our feelings, we become more connected to the world, to others, and to our Creator, finding joy, purpose, and fulfillment of life. By allowing ourselves to feel, we open the door to a deeper relationship with God and a more vibrant, wonder-filled life.
You can't just pretend to be happy. It doesn't work that way." – Joy
This could be interpreted as acknowledging that emotions, like the growth of a flower, need to be nurtured and dealt with authentically rather than suppressed. If we try to ignore or force happiness without tending to our deeper emotions, it’s like planting a seed but never watering it.
These ideas tie into the broader metaphor of emotions as something that needs space to grow, be understood, and be accepted—just like a flower or garden that needs proper care to thrive.
"True beauty in a flower—and in life—comes from what is nurtured on the inside, not just what the world can see."
"The true beauty of a flower first begins in the hidden work happening beneath the surface
Emotion is a gift from God but it's a gift the enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Batterson.
The Garden Within - Dr. Anita Phillips
when wonder is sin
disobedience
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Don't let the why take away your Who
Oakley - Wonder Whooo
when wonder is abandoned
Death of a Parent or Foster Care
Our fallen world can bring distraction, pain, and loss, and it can become difficult to hold on to the wonder as we once did. Or maybe, Wonderland was taken from you during childhood. You suffered neglect, trauma, or loss so great, Wonderland wasn't ever something you believed in. Abandonment, loss, neglect, manipulation, or trauma can cause deep confusion about God’s nature.
when wonder is abused
Abuse
abuse, neglect, trauma abandonment - questions we cant answer. develop wrong idea of who God is and who we are.
Why does God allow such bad things to happen to good people?
when wonder is stolen
Religious Abuse - Manipulation and Control
Define -
Family goal to control.
Love is not forced
Steals safety, love, security, innocence, most importantly your rescue
Church either to control or negligent to defend
church abuse
A christian's role
The church's role
What Jesus says
Nobody is Good
manipulation and spiritual abuse, church and family betrayal and false teachings. focus on how each one is still a result of WHO God is...who we are...give examples/
3. Church experience. Church could be a place of unconditional love and spiritual growth or a place of striving, shame and/or pain? (see Wonder Lost section)
Isaiah 1:17 (NIV) says:
"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."
This verse is part of a call for God's people to live with justice, compassion, and care for those who are vulnerable and marginalized. It emphasizes God's desire for His followers to actively pursue what is right and stand up for those who cannot defend themselves.
On a recent secular podcast, mostly concerned with issues of success and money, the host posed a question to ai:
If you were Satan, and you wanted to hold a person back from succeeding at anything, what would you do to rob, kill and destroy their heart?
1. Feed self sabotage - constantly make them question their abilities, second guess their decisions, doubt their worth, and believe they are not good enough.
2. Distractions - Overwhelm them with so many tasks and responsibilities, they can't ever focus. Make them feel like they are always drowning.
4. Discourage their dreams by saying they are bad or unrealistic. Discourage them from pursuing what they truly want in life.
5. Fear of Failure - Make them so afraid of failure they will never take the risk. Fear itself becomes the prison.
6. Perfectionism - Convince them that nothing is ever good enough. Make them endlessly refine, edit, and over think.
7. Isolation - Make them feel alone and that no one cares or understands them, causing them to feel lost and stuck.
8. Manipulate their emotions - Play on their insecurities and emotions to keep them in a state of stress, guilt, and shame and frustration. Emotional turmoil can make it difficult to ever think clearly and make positive decisions.
9. Undermine their confidence.
if you recognize any of these manipulative tactics as similar to how a cult operates, you would be correct. If you can rob, kill, and destroy a heart, you can control it. blah blah about outsoide issues. As if that isn't enough, now, in order to maintain control, imagine it is all done in the name of Jesus. So, even if by some miracle you could find the courage to rise up again your abuser, now you have to go against God Himself. All it takes is 99% truth with 1% deceit to convince a group of to drink the poison lemonade.
But now...imagine them coming from the one person you love and trust the most: Your mother. Your father. Your husband or wife. A captive in your own home. It sounds unthinkable, and yet this kindof narcistic manipulaton and abuse is happening all around us, right under our very nose. Most of the time, completely undetected by the outside world, leaving the victim lost, fearful, stuck, and alone.
One more scenario...now, imagine you're in a church, praying to Jesus for Him to set you free. You know He is the only hope you have for rescue, the church. The message of the Gospel should sound so radically different from the messages coming from their abuser, that a light begins to shine into their darkness. A small ray of hope, shouting that this is not the way it should be. Jesus came to release the prisoners, heal the brokenhearted, and set the captives free, but church is turning a blind eye. And even worse, many are
but instead of hearing messages of hope and freedom, the church doubles down on the very practices and beliefs that have held you captive for so long. ALL hope is lost. There is nowhere else to turn. Complete despair.
This is the devastating reality for far too many. Stories of adults, well into their 40's, 50's even 60's, still suffering under the damage that was done. Where is Jesus?
Sadly, this scene is playing out far too
- Research shows that 50-70% of individuals experiencing narcissistic abuse do not initially recognize the behaviors as abusive due to the manipulative tactics often used..
- If the church's representation of WHO God is isn't radically different that the God they have been shown, we are doing something very wrong. But sadly some of the ways He is misrepresented sound all too similar...
- Wretched, wicked, ... Emotions are misleading and should be suppressed. Dreams and desires are wrong. Self-love is selfish.
- Increased awareness and education about narcissistic abuse, such as through social media, books, and support groups, has been crucial in helping victims identify and escape abusive relationships.
- When the church begins to sound more like the manipulative abuser than the savior, we have a serious proble.m.
wonder embraced
Wonder Whooo
This loss of wonder, then, can also be spiritual. The beauty and mystery of God’s creation — nature, human beings, and the complexity of life itself — are designed to inspire awe and to draw us closer to God. But when we no longer see the miraculous in the world around us, we can lose sight of God’s active presence in it. Lewis is calling us to rediscover the wonder in the world, to see things as we once did when everything was new, and to realize that there is always something more beneath the surface.
Wonder is not a fleeting emotion but a doorway to deeper understanding and deeper connection with God and the world He created.To "look at things from the right angle" means cultivating a renewed perspective — one that does not take life for granted but instead looks with fresh eyes at the people, events, and details around us, seeing them with the same wonder we once had as children. It calls us to stop viewing the world with complacency and start recognizing the beauty and mystery in every moment, always remembering that the Creator is at work, filling the world with wonder for us to see and experience.