Time to Grow

Growth often happens in the unseen hours—God is never in a rush, but always right on time.

Devotional Credit: Abide Above
Photo Credit: Unsplash

Today’s reflection from Miles Stanford reminds me that spiritual maturity cannot be rushed, manipulated, or fabricated—it must be formed. God is not slow; He is thorough. In a world trained to prize speed and results, the Lord lovingly invites His children into a different rhythm: rest and wait. Not inactivity, but active dependence. Not delay, but divine timing.

We often misinterpret God's timing as indifference, especially when our needs press hard and His answers seem slow. But Scripture is filled with the stories of those God loved deeply and yet delayed visibly—Abraham, Joseph, Moses. Their lives were shaped in the hidden seasons, where persistent faith was forged in the silence. These weren't detours—they were the curriculum of holiness.

The waiting is not wasted. Every slow unfolding of God's plan is meant to form the likeness of Christ within us. There are no shortcuts in the school of grace. He disciplines because He delights. And in this slow, sacred work, He brings forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who are willing to rest, trust, and grow.

✍🏼 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture

I have not forgotten you. I have not overlooked your need or your longing. I see you—every ache, every question, every quiet act of obedience. I am not slow as you count slowness. I am patient and intentional, working in you a glory that far outweighs your present circumstances.

I placed you in My school of grace, not to frustrate you but to form you. Abraham waited, and I made him the father of nations. Joseph endured prison, and I exalted him to save multitudes. Moses wandered, and I prepared him to lead a people. Their trials were not punishments—they were preparations.

You are not behind. You are not delayed. You are on My timeline. What you call waiting, I call growing. The silence is not a pause—it is a chamber where roots grow deep. Let your soul wait only upon Me. Let your expectations rest in My faithful hands.

I am making you a partaker of My holiness. Trust that what I allow, I redeem. And what I delay, I deepen. Let Me do the shaping. You just remain in Me.

Scriptures referenced: Psalm 37:7; Psalm 90:9; Hebrews 12:10–11; Psalm 62:5; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 8:18–25

🧺 Real-Life Analogy

It’s like trying to bake a loaf of sourdough bread. You mix the ingredients, knead the dough, and then… you wait. The rise doesn’t happen on your schedule. You can’t force it by turning up the heat or poking at it. The best bread takes time to ferment and rest, so that the final flavor and texture can be developed. Rush the process, and it collapses. But wait, and it becomes something rich and nourishing.

🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence

Father, I thank You that I am not behind—I am being prepared. You are never late, never distracted, and never indifferent. You are forming Christ in me with great care and eternal purpose. I rejoice that the delays I once feared are the very places You are producing lasting fruit. I rest in the pace of Your grace, trusting that my times are in Your hands and my growth is in Your keeping. You are the One who makes all things beautiful—in Your time.