Why Spiritual Growth Feels So Slow

One of my hobbies is photography. I particularly enjoy standing before a beautiful flower and trying to honor its fleeting beauty. Sitting with flowers has helped me understand the significance of Paul talking about the fruit of the Spirit. He could have told us about "the character of the hard-working Christian." If he had, we'd think we need to grit our teeth and push harder to please God. But fruit doesn't happen because you push harder. Flowers and fruit develop because a living plant is nourished by the sun, rain, and soil. It's the final part of a slow, unhurried, but inevitable process. Sometimes we hear stories of God changing people's lives in dramatic ways. But orchards don't grow overnight. Fig trees can take three years to produce fruit. Year to year, you can't see much of a difference. But one day, you go outside and realize there's something to eat. At the same time, God doesn't want us flopping around like dead fish. Dallas Willard explained that grace is not opposed to effort, but to earning. We're invited to be active participants in God's renovation of our souls. Nor is this a lonely, self-imposed goal. Paul wrote to a community that knew and loved each other. The Spirit's fruit develops as we love one another. And keeping in step with the Spirit isn't like trying to run with a friend who does marathons every weekend. The Spirit sets a pace in our lives that enables us to take the next step from where we are today. One day, we'll be like Christ. In the meantime, spiritual growth isn't something we can manufacture. It's the byproduct of staying connected to the vine and one another. You can ask my wife.

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