Training wheels, though, are not just used for cycling. Most of us go through life with the training wheels on in at least one area of our lives – where we are dependent on some form of support system that will prevent us from failing. While these support systems provide a degree of stability, they also prevent us from becoming all that God wants us to be. God’s intention for all of us is to reach a point of maturity - where we are not reliant on these external influences and support systems. The Apostle Paul describes maturity as a point when we are no blown of course by every wind of adversity the hits us (Ephesians 4:14).

Most cyclists know that training wheels are not intended to be a permanent fixture on the bike - they are meant to be a temporary measure that can be used and removed. While they provide stability to the bike, they also limit its performance. They slow you down and prevent you from being able to lean in on sharpen corners, as they are intended to keep the rider upright. No one is going to win the Tour de France on a bike with training wheels, but a survey of the riders may reveal that they once used training wheels as a child.

So what are some examples of ‘support systems’ that we may be dependent on? Peter Scazzero, in his challenging book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”, uses the term “false identities” or “masks” to describe some of the “training wheels” that we may be relying on. He talks about the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness and how satan offered three false identities to Jesus, to prise him away from his God-given life and identity.

Training Wheel 1: Success

“If you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:3)

Here Jesus was, thirty years into his life on earth, and he had not yet started his public ministry. He had been brought up in relative poverty and obscurity, miles away from the political and religious centre of Israel. What had he achieved? Alone and starving in the heat of the wilderness. What had he accomplished?

Our culture, community, family, and even our church asks us the same question? What have we accomplished? What contribution have we made? How have we demonstrated our usefulness? Often we can find that we are driven by internal and external pressures to prove that we are worthwhile. So we strive after the illusive stream of successes and achievements that will demonstrate that we have accomplished something. These successes can be in our work, family, church or relationships. When we hit barriers we push harder and move faster, or feel a sense of shame or failure which may lead to us blaming others for our current predicament.

Whilst the desire for accomplishment and success are not wrong in themselves, there is a problem when our “successes” are the only things that are keeping us “upright”. Effectively, success has become a training wheel - compensating for an internal sense of inadequacy. Success may have been helpful to get us thus far, but if it is the only thing that is holding our lives up, then we need to start a journey toward discovering our God-given identity. Effectively, the training wheel of success needs to be removed and we need to learn to find our balance and sense of achievement in the risen Christ, rather than our meagre accomplishments.

Jesus’ response is telling: “People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.” It is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3 which says “…real life comes by feeding on every word of the Lord”. That’s what a life without this training wheel looks like - finding our worth and value in God’s inexhaustible love, rather than chasing after earthly success.

Training Wheel 2: Popularity

“Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off!…”” (Matthew 4:5-6)

Jesus was an unknown in Jerusalem - the religious and political centre of the nation - the place where it really mattered. He needed to make an impact, to make sure people turned their heads. What better way than to throw himself off the highest point of the temple and for the crowds to see angels catching Jesus and gently placing him in the midst of the astonished crowd. With that sort of angelic endorsement, he would be the talk of the town - the centre of everyone’s attention.

Some of us are addicted to what others think of us. We need their approval and place a high premium on what they think about us. We’re careful about our reputation, making sure that we behave and act in ways that will win the approval of others.

When our identity and sense of self-worth are wrapped up in what others think about us, then our emotional lives are being propped up by training wheels. Whilst these may be a helpful temporary measure, it’s not a sound platform on which to build our identities. True freedom comes when we no longer need to be somebody special in other people’s eyes, because we know that we are loveable, valuable, children of the King of Kings.

Training Wheel 3: Possession

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”” (Matthew 4:8-9)

Much of our culture measures success by what people own. We chase jobs that will enable us to build wealth, so that we can buy the ‘right’ items that will reinforce our image – whether that be through cars, clothes, houses, or even marrying into the ‘right’ family. Effectively our status and identities depend on our material wealth. Our lives are being stabilised by the fickleness of this world’s riches.

Jesus’ life ran strongly against this cultural force. Instead of grasping possessions and status, he gave them up and stepped into this world in poverty (Philippians 2:5-8). His identity was not based upon his material comfort, possessions or status, but in the security of knowing the Father’s view of him: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Breaking free from this training wheel involves recognising who we are in Christ Jesus, and finding a release through serving His purposes rather than being trapped by the agendas of this world.

Riding Free

Sometimes the training wheels can become such a part of our lives that we fail to recognise them. However, their consequences may be clearly evident in our lives – fear, self-protection, possessiveness (of people and things), manipulation, self-promotion, self-indulgence, and a need to distinguish ourselves from others.

Riding free of these training wheels means living our God-given life and remaining faithful to our true self. It entails distinguishing our true self from the demands and voices around us, and discerning the unique vision, calling and mission that the Father has given to us. It is not a selfish life, living as though no one else counts, but living from a place of loving union with the Father – just as Jesus did.