scenic view of flowing river on a forest | Does your spiritual growth feel slow? Learn why healing isn't a race, how God works through every season, and why slow growth is still beautiful growth.

Have you ever wished your healing would hurry up? Or that you would have more spiritual growth by now?

Maybe you expected your anxiety to disappear after you started praying more. Maybe you assumed healing would happen quickly once you began counseling, reading your Bible consistently, or learning healthier coping skills.

Instead, it feels like you’re taking one step forward and two steps back.

If that’s where you find yourself today, I want you to hear this:

Slow growth is still growth.

One of the biggest lies our culture tells us is that spiritual growth and progress should be fast, visible, and measurable. If we aren’t constantly improving, we assume we’re failing.

But God’s work in our lives rarely follows that pattern.

We Live in a Culture That Celebrates Speed

Everything around us tells us faster is better.

Fast shipping.

Quick results.

Instant answers.

Even spiritual growth has become something we’re expected to achieve as efficiently as possible.

It’s no wonder we become discouraged when healing doesn’t happen on our timeline.

We begin asking questions like:

“Why am I still struggling?”

“Shouldn’t I know better by now?”

“Why does this still affect me?”

Those questions are understandable.

But they often come from measuring our growth by the world’s standards instead of God’s.

Healing and Spiritual Growth Is Not the Same as Productivity

One of the greatest misconceptions I see is the belief that healing and spiritual growth should always look productive.

We assume every day should feel better than the last.

Every prayer should bring immediate peace.

Every hard conversation should permanently solve the problem.

But healing doesn’t usually work that way.

Growth is often quiet.

Sometimes the greatest evidence of spiritual growth and healing isn’t that you no longer struggle.

It’s that you recover more quickly.

You respond more gently.

You ask for help sooner.

You recognize old patterns before they take over.

Those changes may feel small.

But they matter deeply.

God Often Works Slowly

Throughout Scripture, we see that God is rarely in a hurry.

Abraham waited.

Joseph waited.

David waited.

The disciples spent years walking beside Jesus before they fully understood who He was.

God has never seemed concerned with rushing transformation.

Instead, He patiently forms His people over time. (Read more about this here!)

While we often want immediate change, God is interested in lasting change.

Those are rarely the same thing.

Faithfulness Happens in Small Steps

Sometimes we underestimate the power of ordinary obedience.

Choosing to pray when you don’t feel like it.

Opening your Bible even when your mind feels distracted.

Taking a deep breath before reacting.

Reaching out for support.

Showing yourself grace after a difficult day.

None of those moments may feel dramatic.

Yet each one is evidence that God is continuing His work in you.

Spiritual growth and faithfulness is often built through hundreds of small choices that no one else ever sees.

Be Careful Not to Compare Your Spiritual Growth Journey

One reason slow growth feels discouraging is because comparison speeds up our expectations.

We see someone else’s confidence and assume they arrived there overnight.

We see someone else’s peace without knowing the years of surrender, grief, counseling, prayer, or healing that shaped it.

Comparison only tells part of the story.

God isn’t asking you to grow at someone else’s pace.

He’s inviting you to stay close to Him today.

Renewing Your Mind Takes Time

Learning to think differently doesn’t happen overnight.

Real transformation isn’t about trying harder or becoming the “perfect Christian.” It’s about slowly replacing fear-based thinking with God’s truth, one thought at a time.

Renewing your mind is a lifelong process—and that’s okay.

God isn’t discouraged by the pace of your growth.

If your healing and spiritual growth feels slow today, don’t confuse slow with stagnant.

Roots grow before fruit appears.

Seeds spend time beneath the soil before anyone sees evidence of life.

God is often doing His deepest work in places that feel invisible.

Keep showing up.

Keep taking the next faithful step.

Keep trusting the One who promised to complete the good work He began in you.

Because slow growth is still beautiful growth.

Recognizing a harmful narrative is the first step. Learning how to unlearn it is the next.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Maybe this post reminded you of something you’ve needed to hear for a long time:

God isn’t measuring your spiritual growth against someone else’s timeline.

And yet…

You may still find yourself comparing your journey to others.

Wondering why healing feels slower than you expected.

Questioning whether you’re doing enough.

Or quietly believing you should be further along by now.

The truth is, recognizing that belief isn’t the same as unlearning it.

If you’re ready to move beyond simply identifying the harmful narratives you’ve been carrying and begin learning a practical, faith-integrated process for changing them, I’d love to invite you to join me for my live workshop:

Unlearning Harmful Christian Narratives

A 75-Minute Live Workshop

Together, we’ll explore how to recognize, understand, challenge, and replace the fear-, guilt-, and shame-based beliefs that keep us feeling stuck—so you can begin responding with greater grace, truth, and freedom.

📅 Friday, August 28 | 12:00 p.m. Eastern
 🎥 Live online • Guided workbook included • 14-day replay

→ Reserve Your Spot Here

P.S.

As both a therapist and a Christian, I’ve learned that many of us aren’t struggling because we don’t know the truth—we’re struggling because we’ve spent years believing something else. That’s why I’m so passionate about helping Christians not only recognize harmful narratives but begin unlearning them.

Continue the Journey

Continue the Unlearning Harmful Narratives Series

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Disclaimer: While Britt is a licensed therapist, this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.