Peeling Back the Layers: The Onion of Faith and Transformation

In the movie Shrek, there’s a famous scene where Shrek compares himself to an onion. He tells Donkey, “Ogres are like onions. Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.” While Donkey doesn’t fully grasp Shrek’s analogy, there’s something profound about the idea of having layers that go beyond the simple exterior. The more you peel back, the more complexity and depth you find inside. The same can be said for our own spiritual lives. Just like onions, we are layered beings, and God often peels us back one layer at a time, transforming us and making us into something new.

This process of transformation is not always easy or painless. Just like peeling an onion can make us tear up, God’s work in our lives can cause us discomfort as old habits and ways of thinking are stripped away. But in the end, it’s a journey of growth, transformation, and renewal—a journey that starts with salvation but continues every day as we walk in faith.

The First Layer: Denying Self and Submitting to God

The journey of transformation begins with a single, crucial step: denying our own self-desires and submitting to God’s will. This is the first layer that comes off, much like the thin, protective skin of an onion. Before the real work can begin, we have to surrender to God and allow Him to take control.

Jesus says in Luke 9:23, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” This denial of self is not a one-time event. It’s something that must happen every day. Just like peeling an onion starts with removing that outer layer, walking with God starts with giving up the things that hold us back—the things that keep us from fully surrendering to Him.

Romans 12:2 adds, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will." This transformation begins with a conscious decision to submit to God, allowing Him to change our desires, attitudes, and actions.

Vulnerability: Peeling Back the Protective Layers

Once that first layer of self is peeled away, we become vulnerable to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.

Vulnerability is often uncomfortable, just like how peeling back the onion releases its strong scent and brings tears to our eyes. But it’s in this vulnerability that God can begin His true work of transformation.

2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" When we let go of our old selves and make ourselves vulnerable to God’s work, we become new creations. The protective layers of pride, self-reliance, and worldly thinking are stripped away, revealing a heart that is ready for change.

However, this is just the beginning. Transformation is a continuous process that requires us to constantly peel back the layers of our lives. If we stop growing, those new layers of our faith can become stagnant and even rotten.

The Journey of Growth: Peeling Back More Layers

The Christian life is not a one-time transformation but a journey of continual growth. As we walk with God, He continues to peel back more layers, revealing areas of our lives that need to be refined, corrected, and transformed.

Philippians 1:6 promises us, "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." God doesn’t leave us half-transformed. He continues to work on us, peeling back the layers of selfishness, bitterness, pride, and fear until we reflect His image.

But as with an onion, if we stop allowing God to peel back those layers, they can become stagnant. Instead of growing and becoming more like Christ, we risk becoming spiritually rotten. Paul speaks about this in Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

We must put off the old layers of our former selves and continue putting on the new, every day.

How God Transforms Us: The Journey of Faith

So how does this transformation happen? It starts with the road to salvation, but it doesn’t end there. Salvation is the foundation upon which our transformation is built, but we must continue to grow in our faith, seeking God’s guidance and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

One of the key ways we grow is by seeking fellowship with other believers. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." When we surround ourselves with fellow Christians, we find edification, love, and support that help us grow and peel back more layers of our old selves.

Another essential aspect of growth is prayer. Through prayer, we draw closer to God and build a relationship with Him that allows us to understand His will for our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

As we grow closer to God in prayer, He begins to work in us, changing our desires, attitudes, and actions to align with His will.

The Armor of God: Putting on the New Layers

In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul gives us a powerful metaphor for how we can protect ourselves on this journey of transformation. He describes the “armor of God”—spiritual tools that help us stand firm in our faith and resist the temptations of the old self.

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes"

(Ephesians 6:11).

Each day, we are called to put on this armor, arming ourselves with truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. This daily process is much like putting on new layers of an onion—each layer adds strength and protection as we grow in faith.

Common Human Habits vs. God’s Will

We all have habits that go against God’s will—whether it’s pride, impatience, bitterness, or the desire for control. These habits are the old layers of our former selves that God is trying to peel away.

James 4:7-8 tells us, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you."

It’s through submitting to God and resisting the habits of the flesh that we allow Him to transform us into the new creation He intends us to be.

A Lighthearted Cajun Touch: Cooking with Onions

And of course, no discussion of onions would be complete without a bit of Cajun cooking! In Cajun cuisine, onions are a key part of what’s known as the "holy trinity" of cooking: onions, bell peppers, and celery. These three ingredients form the base of countless Cajun dishes, from gumbo to jambalaya to étouffée.

Just like how onions are central to Cajun food, they’re central to our faith journey too. In the same way that peeling back an onion reveals deeper, more flavorful layers, walking with God reveals deeper truths about ourselves and our relationship with Him.

So, next time you’re chopping an onion to start a delicious Cajun meal, let it be a reminder of the layers God is peeling back in your life. Whether you’re preparing a comforting bowl of gumbo or a hearty jambalaya, the onion stands as a symbol of the spiritual transformation God is working in you.

Peeling back the layers of our faith is a journey—one that requires patience, vulnerability, and a willingness to let go of the old self. But as we walk with God, we become new creations, transformed by His love and grace. We grow closer to Him through fellowship, prayer, and daily submission to His will. And just like an onion, we reveal more of who God created us to be, one layer at a time.

Remember, this journey is not about perfection but about progress. As Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:12-14, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me… I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Keep pressing on, keep growing, and let God peel back the layers of your life, revealing the beauty and depth within.