How are you doing this summer? Did you have a lot you wanted to accomplish, but maybe don’t see that much progress?
I admit that I am “that” person who will write things on my list after I have done them just so I feel good about what I accomplished.
Because, let’s be real—everything seems to take forever to get accomplished—and I really like to feel like I am working faster than a snail’s pace.
Ugh. Then I have to remind myself I am still trying to stop saying “real quick” about everything I do. “I’ve got to do this real quick…I’ll be back real quick…”
But underneath all of our consternation about what we are or are not accomplishing is a quiet whisper that we can miss.
Seeing the Quiet Work of God
Seeing the quiet work of God when progress seems slow frees us from basing our progress on outward data instead of inward growth.
God is at work all around us, but we don’t often see the big picture. The quiet work of God refines our character inwardly, while we can tend to focus on outward transformation.
Understanding the Quiet Work of God
We ask God to heal our hearts. Then wonder why old hurts still surface. Yet when we understand that God’s hand and method differ from ours, we can see that testing is often the very means of our growth, not intended to impede it but to be a catalyst for it.
We can long to become more like Christ. Then become discouraged when we still struggle with the same attitudes, temptations, or fears.
We live in a culture that celebrates instant results. Instant gratification, instant communication, instant answers, instant success.
But God rarely works instantly. He works intentionally.
Knowing the Quiet Work of God
The kingdom of God is filled with pictures of slow, faithful growth. Seeds become trees. Yeast works quietly through dough. A mustard seed becomes something far greater than anyone imagined.
God is never hurried. And neither is His work in us. Knowing how God works centers our hearts on a different timetable fixed on His glory, not ours. Our progress is not about our own shame or honor, but about God’s purposes being fulfilled in us.
Don’t Measure What God Is Growing Too Soon.
One of the greatest temptations in the Christian life is to judge today’s progress without considering God’s lifelong purpose.
Sometimes we mistake “unfinished” for “unchanged.” But those are not the same thing. If you belong to Christ, He is already at work in you.
Every act of obedience, every surrendered prayer, every choice to forgive, every moment you choose humility over pride—none of it is wasted.
Perhaps our frustration with our perceived slow progress stems from our goals not aligning with God’s. And maybe a little impatience. (Guilty!)
Sanctification often happens so gradually that we don’t recognize it until we look back.
Faithfulness Before Fruitfulness
We can wonder if we are making a difference. But God asks if we are being faithful.
Fruit belongs to Him. He brings the increase. Faithfulness belongs to us. Scripture presents growth and increase as fundamentally God’s work, not humanity’s achievement, which is GOOD news…GREAT news.
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor 3:6–7).
When we focus only on visible results, discouragement quickly follows.
But when we focus on abiding in Christ, we discover that He is producing fruit in His timing.
The Quiet Work of the Holy Spirit
Some of God’s greatest work happens beneath the surface. He is reshaping desires. Renewing minds. Softening hearts. Teaching dependence. Strengthening trust. Preparing us for what we cannot yet see.
Just because you cannot measure His work doesn’t mean He isn’t working.
Keep Showing Up
Perhaps today you feel like you’re taking tiny steps. Keep taking them.
Keep opening your Bible. Keep praying. Keep forgiving. Keep loving.
Keep trusting.
Not because every day feels significant.
But because every day placed in God’s hands becomes part of something eternal.
The God who began a good work in you has not forgotten how to finish it.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, keep my heart centered on your purposes, and help me base my progress on faithfulness to You and on your ability to complete the work You began in me. Amen.
Visit the ShameRX Blog for this week’s post, Being Steadfast When You Feel You Should Be Further Along.
All for Jesus,
Denise