Finding Encouragement When Growth Feels Slow

Have you ever woken up in the morning, looked out the window, and seen nothing but a thick, gray blanket of fog? You know the trees are there. You know the road is there. However, you just cannot see them. Sometimes, our walk with the Lord feels exactly like that morning mist. We are doing the right things, praying, reading, and serving, but we feel stuck. We look for the "fruit" of joy, peace, or radical transformation, but all we see is the fog of our daily routine or the heavy clouds of a difficult season.

If you feel like your spiritual progress is moving at a snail’s pace, I want to encourage you today. The fruit in the fog is still growing, even when you cannot see it. In fact, some of the most delicious fruit in your life is being produced right now in the middle of your uncertainty. Spiritual growth is rarely a lightning bolt of change; instead, it is usually the slow, quiet work of the Spirit over many seasons.

Why Does Growth Feel So Slow?

We live in a world that demands instant results. If we want food, we microwave it. If we want information, we search for it on our phones. Consequently, we often approach our relationship with God with the same "on-demand" expectation. We think that if we spent thirty minutes in the Word this morning, we should feel like a spiritual giant by noon. When we don't feel that surge of "growth," we start to worry that we are failing or that God has moved on to someone more productive.

Specifically, we must remember that God is a Gardener, and gardeners are never in a hurry. He is not interested in producing plastic fruit that looks good but has no substance. He is interested in the real thing. Real fruit takes seasons. It takes rain, it takes heat, and yes, it often takes a lot of time in the dark soil before anything breaks the surface.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Your job is not to manufacture the fruit. Your job is to abide in the Vine. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is the one doing the heavy lifting of transformation. If you are staying connected to Jesus, growth is happening, whether you "feel" it today or not.

Wisdom from 50 Years: The Hardest Years Produced the Best Fruit

I have been in ministry for over 50 years. I have seen mountain peaks and walked through very deep, dark valleys. When I look back at my life, specifically my time as a missionary in the mountains of Peru or my more recent battles with Stage 4 cancer and COVID-19, I realized something profound. The years when I felt the most "stagnant" or "foggy" were actually the years of the greatest growth.

When Betty and I were facing those health crises, there were many days when I didn't feel "spiritual." I felt tired. I felt weak. I felt like I was just trying to keep my head above water. In those moments, it didn't feel like I was growing; it felt like I was breaking. Therefore, I had to learn to trust the Vine even when I couldn't see the fruit.

Looking back, I can see that those "foggy" years made me Bigger on the Inside. The grace I experienced while lying in a hospital bed was more transformative than any "productive" day I ever had in an office. God used the fog to prune away my self-reliance and replace it with a deeper trust in His finished work. He taught me that His love for me wasn't based on how many souls I reached that year, but on the fact that I am His child.

Stop Judging the Harvest by Today’s Feelings

One of the biggest mistakes we make is judging our spiritual maturity by our current emotions. For example, you might feel a lack of "fire" today. You might feel distracted or even a bit numb. That does not mean you aren't growing. Farmers do not dig up their seeds every morning to see if they’ve sprouted yet; if they did, the seeds would never grow!

Instead of looking at your growth day to day, look at it year to year. Think back to where you were two or three years ago. Do you have a little more patience than you used to? Are you a little quicker to trust God's goodness when things go wrong? Even a small "yes" to those questions is evidence of the Spirit's work.

Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

The "due season" is God’s timing, not ours. You might be in a season of root-building right now. Roots aren't pretty, and nobody sees them, but they are the most important part of the tree. Without deep roots grown in the "foggy" seasons of life, you won't be able to sustain the fruit that comes in the sunshine. This is a vital part of your Personal Development as a believer.

Abiding is Enough

I want to take the pressure off you today. You aren't failing just because you aren't feeling an overwhelming sense of joy or peace right now. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is simply show up and stay connected to the Lord.

Abiding isn't about running faster; it’s about resting deeper. It’s about believing that The Big Leap of Faith is simply believing God loves you exactly as you are, right here in the middle of the fog. He isn't disappointed in your "slow" progress. He is the one who designed the pace of your growth!

“God is not disappointed in you. He is not measuring your worth by your consistency.” This truth changed my life. When I stopped trying to perform for God and started resting in His love, the fruit began to grow naturally. Loved people become loving people. It is a natural byproduct of being in His presence.

A winding path through the trees reminds us that the journey is often obscured, but the light is always breaking through.

Trusting the Gardener’s Hand

When you can’t see the fruit, trust the Gardener. He knows exactly what nutrients you need. He knows when you need the "rain" of a difficult trial and when you need the "sunshine" of a season of rest. He is not an absentee landlord; He is a Father who is intimately involved in every detail of your life.

If you are in a season where everything feels slow, take heart. You are not being graded. You are being held. The fog will eventually lift, and when it does, you will see that the Lord has been producing something beautiful in your character that could not have grown any other way.

Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:"

God is committed to you. He is the author and the finisher of your faith. You can rest today knowing that His grace is enough, His timing is perfect, and His love is unconditional.

FAQ: Encouragement for the Journey

Why do I feel like I am backsliding when I try so hard to grow?

Feeling like you are struggling often means you are becoming more aware of your need for God’s grace. Growth often looks like realizing we can do nothing without Him, which drives us to deeper dependence. Remember, your standing with God is based on Jesus' finished work, not your daily performance.

How can I tell if I’m actually growing spiritually?

Growth is best measured over long periods rather than daily feelings. Look for small shifts in your reactions: are you a bit more peaceful in traffic, or more likely to pray when worried? These "small" things are the real fruit of the Spirit taking root in your life.

What should I do when I feel "numb" toward God?

Keep abiding. Even when the emotions aren't there, continue your simple habits of grace: read a few verses, talk to Him honestly about your numbness, and rest. "Rest doesn't come after you fix yourself. Rest comes first." God’s love for you is not dependent on your emotional intensity.

Ready to dive deeper into resting in God's grace?

Listen to the Followed By Mercy podcast for more encouragement: https://followedbymercy.buzzsprout.com
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly wisdom: @waustingardner
Discover resources for your ministry journey at Alignment Ministries: https://www.alignmentministries.com
Read more about resting in His love: The Big Leap of Faith