The Slow Virtues

 

Scripture: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

I wish there were quicker ways to become more spiritually mature.  Despite the many self-help Christian books available for our consumption, the hard truth is that there is no easy path to spiritual growth.  

God knows I've tried to find an easier way, but all my searching has only brought me butkis. 

Case in point, I've longed for greater patience, to rely more on God, to trust that there is a greater purpose at work in my life, to be free from attachments, and a host of other virtues.  I've prayed for these things, desired them, sought them, and instead what I got was a season of uncertainty, waiting, and silence.  

But all the while I've been in the wilderness, I've been slowly finding that all of these virtues have taken hold in some fashion in my life.  

The path has not been easy, but I'm growing more reliant on God, developing a greater understanding of patience, I'm letting go of attachments that have hindered my growth, and I'm discovering anew that there are far greater purposes for me than I could have imagined.   

The lessons are far from over, and I have a long way to go, but I'm growing.  

In a world addicted to fast results, spiritual growth can feel discouraging. We want breakthroughs, not slow-moving transformation. We want habits to change overnight, prayers to be answered immediately, and clarity to come without wandering. 

Yet Scripture consistently speaks of growth in the imagery of sowing, watering, and waiting — not microwaving, which wasn't invented yet, but you get my drift.

The slow virtues — patience, gentleness, faithfulness, humility, perseverance, and quiet trust — don’t draw praise or headlines. They are formed through ordinary repetition: the daily choice to speak kindly, forgive again, show up for someone, or pray when emotions feel flat. We rarely notice them developing, yet they are the very qualities that shape Christ-likeness in us.

Fast change can be dramatic but often unstable. Slow change sinks deep roots. Think of how the fruit of the Spirit grows — not through achievement but through abiding (John 15). Our worth isn’t measured by visible spiritual accomplishments but by the long obedience that gradually forms the inner life.

Some days you will see no progress. Some seasons will feel like regression. But the Spirit is faithful in hidden soil. And when a harvest finally appears, it will not be fragile — it will be real.

So today, resist the lie that only dramatic growth counts. Heaven celebrates every small yes, every quiet surrender, every unnoticed act of kindness. The kingdom is built on seeds, not spectacles.

Prayer: 

God, today let me live into the hope that you are doing a good work in me, even though I have trouble seeing the effects immediately.  Give me patience for myself, and the courage to trust your loving purposes.  Amen. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What areas in your life are you looking to experience transformation?  What have been your obstacles in achieving it?

2. What would it look like to let go of striving for spiritual growth and simply let God work in your life?

3. What practices could you take up that would help you trust God more and in your own effort less?