One of the great temptations in the Christian life is to confuse arrival with faithfulness.
We come to faith, experience God’s grace, find our place in the church, and often, without realising
it, settle. Not into sin or rebellion, but into stagnation. We keep believing, serving, and attending, yet
stop growing. And yet Scripture consistently presents the Christian life not as something we
maintain, but something we are meant to grow into.
Growth is not a side issue in the life of faith. It is central.
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18)
Notice the language: grow. Not merely guard, preserve, or repeat. Growth implies movement,
stretching, discomfort, patience, and time.
Growth Is God’s Design, Not a Personality Trait
Some people seem naturally inclined toward growth. They read widely, reflect deeply, and pursue
change readily. Others prefer stability, familiarity, and the comfort of what they already know. But
biblical growth is not a personality preference; it is a calling.
Jesus’ parable of the talents makes this unmistakably clear (Matt. 25:14–30). Each servant is
entrusted with something by the master – not equally, but intentionally. What matters is not how
much they were given, but what they did with it.
The servant who buried his talent was not rebuked for immorality or disobedience, but for failing to
steward what he had been given. Fear led him to preservation instead of growth.
God does not entrust future responsibility to people who refuse present formation.
Growth Is Slow, Often Hidden, and Sometimes Painful
One of the reasons we resist growth is that it is rarely dramatic or sudden.
Paul uses agricultural language deliberately: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”
(1 Cor 3:6)
Growth happens underground long before it becomes visible. Roots deepen before fruit appears.
And just as pruning is essential for a healthy vine, God often uses seasons of discomfort, correction,
and challenge to bring about lasting maturity. If we only pursue what feels easy, affirming, or
immediately rewarding, we will avoid the very processes God uses to prepare us for what lies ahead.
Growth Must Be Holistic
Biblical growth is never one-dimensional. Scripture calls us to maturity in every area of life:
- Spiritual Growth
Growing in prayer, Scripture, obedience, discernment, and dependence on the Spirit.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation…”
(1 Pet. 2:2)
2. Relational Growth
Learning to love well, forgive freely, speak truthfully, and engage conflict redemptively.
“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ.”
(Eph. 4:15)
3. Intellectual Growth
Loving God with our minds – thinking clearly, discerning wisely, and grounding our faith deeply.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2)
4. Emotional Growth
Developing self-awareness, resilience, humility, and emotional maturity.
Jesus Himself “grew in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Even the
sinless Son of God embraced a process of growth.
Growth Is Necessary for Faithful Stewardship
There is a sobering truth we must face: what got us here will not carry us forward.
The responsibilities God places before us – whether in family, church, vocation, or calling – require
increasing levels of maturity. Without growth, what was once a gift can become a burden we are
unable to carry well.
Dallas Willard famously said: “Grace is not opposed to effort; it is opposed to earning.”
Growth does not earn God’s love – but it is the necessary response to it.
Choosing Growth Is an Act of Trust
At its core, the pursuit of growth is an act of faith. It says: God, I trust that what you are forming in
me is good. I trust that obedience is worth the cost. I trust that the future you are preparing me for
requires more than who I am today.
And so we lean in. Slowly. Sometimes reluctantly. Often imperfectly. But faithfully.
Growth is not about perfection. It is about direction.
May we be a people who refuse to settle, who embrace God’s forming hand, and who commit – again
and again – to growing into what He has entrusted to us, for His glory and the good of others.
Blessings
Nico