It’s Sunday, and I usually include a spiritual dimension to personal change. Have you ever wondered why real change takes so long? You make a decision to grow, you take a few brave steps, but progress feels slow, messy, and frustrating. If you’ve ever felt like you should be further along by now, you’re not alone.
Spiritual growth—like any meaningful transformation—is rarely instant. It’s a slow, faithful process that unfolds over time. In a world obsessed with quick fixes and overnight success, the invitation to become more like a spiritual watershed like Christ is deeply countercultural. It’s not about speed; it’s about depth. Here are some thoughts inspired by him.
Growth takes root in the unseen
Jesus often compared spiritual growth to seeds, soil, and seasons. A seed doesn’t sprout into a tree overnight. There’s an invisible process beneath the surface—roots forming, foundations strengthening. The same is true of our becoming. Much of what God is doing in us happens where no one else can see.
There are seasons when nothing appears to be changing outwardly, but trust that something is happening. The Holy Spirit is forming your character, deepening your faith, and inviting you to trust God in the slow places.
Change doesn’t always feel holy
One of the challenges of transformation is that it doesn’t always feel spiritual. It feels like doubt. It feels like discipline. It feels like failure. But Scripture reminds us that God is near in all of it. James 1:4 says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
We grow not just through inspiration, but through resistance, waiting, and honest wrestling. There’s holiness in every small act of obedience and every moment you choose to keep going.
We are transformed, not self-improved
Spiritual growth isn’t about becoming a better version of yourself—it’s about becoming more like Christ. It’s not fueled by hustle or shame, but by abiding. Jesus said in John 15:5, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Our job isn’t to force fruit but to stay connected. As we walk with Jesus—through the ordinary, the boring, the difficult—we are being shaped, pruned, and transformed by grace.
The slow work is sacred work
Transformation that lasts doesn’t happen in one weekend or with one resolution. It happens as we return to the same truths again and again. It’s the daily, unseen choices that build spiritual maturity—apologizing when we mess up, returning to Scripture, forgiving someone again, starting over when we feel like quitting.
God is not in a rush with you. He’s more interested in your wholeness than your speed. Philippians 1:6 assures us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Trust the process, even when it’s quiet
There may be times you wonder if you’re growing at all. Don’t mistake quiet seasons for stagnant ones. God often does His best work in silence. Like a vine slowly winding its way toward the sun, you are growing—even when you can’t feel it.
Instead of asking, “How fast am I changing?” maybe the better question is, “Am I still saying yes to God?” If the answer is yes—even imperfectly—you are becoming.
Growth is slow. But it’s real. And it’s sacred.
So keep showing up. Keep surrendering. Keep trusting the slow work of God. He’s not finished with you yet.
