Help…why do I feel stuck in my Spiritual Growth??
Many Christian women long to see the fruit of the spirit growing in their lives.
We read the words in Galatians and desire love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to shape our daily lives.
BUT…
We find ourselves feeling stuck and quietly wonder:
Why does spiritual growth sometimes feel slow?
If you’ve ever found yourself striving harder, trying to be more patient, more loving, or more peaceful, only to feel discouraged, you’re not alone.
The good news is that spiritual fruit does not grow through striving. It grows through abiding in Christ.
In this article you will discover:
- What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?
- Why Many Christians Struggle to See Spiritual Fruit
- The Secret to Spiritual Growth: Abiding in Christ
- What the Fruit of the Spirit Looks Like in Everyday Life
- Why Spiritual Fruit Takes Time to Grow
- Why Midlife Can Be a Beautiful Season for Spiritual Fruit
- A Simple Way to Begin Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
- How Spiritual Fruit Is The Evidence of God’s Faithful Work
What Is the Fruit of the Spirit?
The Fruit of the Spirit is most easily explained in Galatians 5:22-23.
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-Control
This fruit is the work of God’s spirit inside of us.
While it may be easy to exercise this fruit without reading the Bible or studying the scriptures, when life is hard or when we are challenged in any way, what truly lives inside us is what will spill out.
Spiritual Fruit is the work of God through Bible study and prayer.
This kind of fruit cannot be manufactured apart from the Holy Spirit living inside the soul of a Christ follower.
It’s so much more than behavior modification, however, our behaviour will change as we abide in God’s word.
The Fruit of the Spirit is the evidence of God’s work in us, not proof of our own effort.
Why You May Not Be Seeing the Fruit of the Spirit Yet
I’ve discovered over the years these 5 Things Blocking the Fruit of the Spirit.
These include:
- Unforgiveness
- Hurry
- Distractions
- Fear of surrender
- Self-reliance
If one of these stood out to you, this will help you reflect deeper:
→ [What Might Be Blocking the Fruit God Wants to Grow in You?]
And the most common struggle is striving instead of abiding.
REMINDER:
We were not called to be “good”, we are invited to abide.
Did you grow up like me hearing as a little girl that I should, “be a good girl.” And the meaning behind it was to use my good manners, be polite, and follow the rules.
Don’t get me wrong! Children must be taught these social skills. BUT….
The Church also used this messaging.
The problem was that living a Christiain lifestyle is more than good manners and following the “do this and not that” rule system to qualify as a good person.
So what was the “secret”?
The Secret to Spiritual Growth (It’s Not What You Think)
Let me “spill the tea” for you…
If I were sitting across from you in a coffee shop, each of us enjoying our favorite cup of comfort, I’d lean in to be sure we were looking eye to eye with one another to be sure you were really hearing what I have to say…
I’d tell you that you’re doing better than you think. You’re making the effort to find out how to grow in faith and to nurture your spiritual development.
Don’t get discouraged if you’re not where you think you should be.
You’re exactly where God knows you are.
Becoming a godly woman takes time and effort and there are no short cuts.
And here’s the tea…
The secret to spiritual growth is abiding in Christ.
Abiding means we choose to dwell, to stay, to spend time with the One who loves us the most as we read and study His word, the Bible.
Did you know, though, that Bible reading and spending time in stillness before God is the most overlooked spiritual practice most Christians practice.
Jesus told us in John 15 exactly how we are to produce spiritual fruit. He said:
“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.”
My friend, we must remain connected to Jesus, the Vine, if we are to produce spiritual fruit. There is no way around it.
We have so many excuses why we don’t have time, space, or the understanding to read the Bible.
But what if we treated our time with God as the most important appointment we have each day?
Instead of scrolling our phones, instead of consuming another podcast- even if it’s Christian based. Consuming endless news cycles or streaming entertainment.
Oh, sure. Christian women are busy and involved in church activities, small groups, and church attendance which is part of abiding in Christ. We strive to do good works and to serve others. But we don’t need to strive; we can abide.
Here’s the truth of the matter:
Fruit is not something we force; it is something God produces as we remain connected to Christ.
We must be willing to rest in the presence of God with our Bibles open and our hearts ready to receive what God wants to reveal through His Word.
Otherwise, we may become Christian women who reveal “some” fruit, but not the “much more fruit” Jesus said we could have.
I go deeper into this here:
→ [The Difference Between Self-Improvement and the Fruit of the Spirit]
What the Fruit of the Spirit Looks Like in Everyday Life
I can still remember the day when I literally demonstrated everything BUT the fruit of the Spirit.
It’s a long story that involves a trash bin and the neighbors watching and listening as I yelled at my husband.
Not one of my finer moments!
What the Fruit of the Spirit Looks Like in Everyday Life
Everyday life brings us opportunities to display the fruit of the Spirit to those around us.
Yes, I said, “opportunities”. Ones like:
- our relationships
- stressful situations
- Conversations
- difficult seasons
And conflict. (ouch).
Each of these areas bring out the best and the worst in us.
The question is, will the fruit of the Spirit spill out? Or reactions of our old self?
My old self wants to lash out, to be angry over small things, to be unforgiving and hold onto an offense.
My old self wants to be self-reliant and in control at all times. My old self wants to be right even when I’m wrong.
But when I am abiding in the Word, taking the time to be still and quiet before the Lord…
I find the fruit of the Spirit enables me to be more like Jesus and less like who I am without Him in my everyday life.
Here are real-life examples of how this shows up daily:
→ [How the Fruit of the Spirit Shows Up in Everyday Life]
Why Spiritual Growth Feels Slow (But Isn’t Stuck)
Maybe you’ve gotten off track in your spiritual disciplines, or maybe you’re brand new to being a Christ follower. Maybe you’re a midlife Christian woman over 40 who sees this season as a new opportunity for growth…
No matter where you are on your journey, you are not behind.
You’re positioned for growth no matter your starting point.
The Bible teaches us that salvation is instant the moment we surrender our lives to Jesus.
But our spiritual transformation takes time, it’s a gradual formation of the work of the Holy Spirit patiently working in us and through us to produce spiritual fruit.
Be patient with yourself as God tenderly does his work in your heart as you seek to abide in Him.
Spiritual growth and the fruit of the Spirit takes time because it’s about the journey, the relationship we have with Jesus, rather than the arrival of spiritual maturity.
If this is where you are right now, you may want to read:
→ [Why Spiritual Growth Feels Different in Midlife]
Why Midlife Can Be a Beautiful Season for Spiritual Fruit
As a midlife woman over 40 I’ve been discovering new patterns of living. I’m still adjusting to the empty nest (do we ever get over them leaving home?) but I’ve also discovered my routines allow for more of the following:
- quieter rhythms
- deeper reflection
- wisdom from life experience
- time for God’s word
The good news about this beautiful season is that it’s a time for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God and His word.
No matter our current level of spiritual fruit, it’s a season for more fruit as we choose to draw closer to Him.
I don’t have to slow down in this season: I’m granted the privilege of growing and this is why midlife can be our most fruitful season.
A Simple Way to Begin Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
If you’d like to begin intentionally studying the Fruit of the Spirit, I’ve created a simple Fruit of the Spirit Bible Reading Plan designed especially for Christian women who want to grow deeper in their faith.
This printable guide will help you spend time in Scripture and reflect on how God is growing spiritual fruit in your everyday life.
This reading plan is simple, but meaningful, easy, yet powerful.
I created it especially for Christian women like you; the ones who want to know, live, and share God’s word without the overwhelm.
Let me know how you enjoy it!
Spiritual Fruit Is Evidence of God’s Faithful Work
If you sometimes feel discouraged in your spiritual growth, remember that fruit does not appear overnight.
But as you remain connected to Christ, spending time in His Word and allowing His Spirit to shape your heart, the evidence of spiritual fruit will become visible.
Not through striving.
But through abiding.
Get Started Today!
Remember how I said you’re doing better than you thinK?
No matter your current level of spiritual growth, you can begin today to take the next best step as you release the need to strive and embrace the rest and peace of abiding.
Get the Fruit of the Spirit Bible Reading Plan
AND, join my Facebook group!
My friend,
If this article encouraged you today, please leave a comment below to say hello!
Love and Grace,
De Anna
