Growing in faith takes time, like growing a mature oak tree. We live in a world of drive-up windows, microwaves, and jet travel, but growing in faith is not like that. Perhaps your journey of faith seems to be taking too long.
A friend of mine asked God to give him more patience and soon after was fired for an anger problem. God used this to train this man to be more patient. He had answered the prayer in an unexpected way. The man had to face his sin, ask for forgiveness, and humble himself before the Lord. He did become more patient through this time, but it took time. Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [1]
Growing in Faith is a Process
In the parable of the growing seed, Jesus compares growing in faith or growing God’s Kingdom to a farmer planting a seed. Mark 4:26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. 29 And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” [2]
God Makes the Growth
In the parable, the farmer doesn’t understand how the growth happens. It is the same with both our individual faith and God’s Kingdom. When we are willing to allow God to work in our lives, He builds our trust in His time and in His way. As God builds individual lives, He grows His Kingdom.
God works through people to plant and tend this growth. 1 Corinthians 3: 6 I (Paul) planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.[3]
God gives us free will to follow His plans or not. If we follow God’s plan, we often must wait for God’s timing to unfold. Moses spent 40 years in the desert as God prepared to develop His plan in his life. For Moses, this was a time of testing. Testing is all part of the slow-growing process of spiritual maturity. Finally, God moves us into a place where His timing unfolds at the right time, in the right place, and with the right people.
Growing in faith takes time. To hear more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/mark-jesus-teaches-in-parables
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.