Mike Focht 7/5/2024
We must realize and accept that most of our spiritual growth happens imperceptibly. Real spiritual maturity develops in layers of days, months, and years. Our faith requires time and quantity to produce real quality. Since growth is a slow process, so is the recognition of it.
This fact is stated clearly over and over again in the Scriptures. Solomon would say, As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
Jesus Christ would say, The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
The growth of a baby in the womb and a plant’s life can be seen over time but are unseen moment by moment. So, a Christian’s spiritual life and maturity can be seen most often through months and years as opposed to hours or days. This truth is crucial for us to realize and accept.
We will quickly become discouraged if we do not accept that our spiritual growth is a slow process often completed outside our perception. When we do not see the fruit we desire, we will be tempted to create that fruit through artificial means. God is not pleased with synthetic fruit. We may not like to admit it, but what Jesus stated so clearly to His disciples remains true: For without Me you can do nothing.
We must continue to abide in Him by submitting ourselves to His commands and keeping them with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Most of our inward growth will go unnoticed by everyone but Jesus Christ Himself. It is a step of spiritual maturity to surrender to the fact that slow growth is God’s design.
Do not become frustrated trying to measure all of your progress. God’s work is not less efficient because it escapes our reason or gaze. The fruit will be evident soon enough with the proper sunlight, water, and soil. And even then, you don’t need to understand how it got there. You simply need to thank God for it.