There are times in every believer’s life when God seems silent, progress feels nonexistent, and the promises once held onto with joy now sit heavy with disappointment. In seasons like these, it’s easy to wonder whether God is still working—or if He ever was. But Scripture testifies to an unchanging truth: even when we cannot see it, God is at work in the lives of His people. His pace may be slower than we want, but His process is sure. And His plan has not been abandoned.
The God Who Begins Is the God Who Finishes
Philippians 1:6 offers a powerful anchor for weary souls:
“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
This verse speaks of divine continuity. God does not abandon the work He starts. When He calls a person, convicts them of sin, draws them to repentance, and brings them into the family of faith, He commits to completing that work. Sanctification—the process of being conformed to the image of Christ—is not left up to our willpower or performance. It is a divine work initiated and sustained by the Spirit of God.
In moments of confusion, delay, or dryness, the believer can rest in this promise: if God started a work in you, He will finish it. His grace is not revoked. His call is not retracted. His hand is not withdrawn.
What Progress Really Looks Like
One reason we grow discouraged is that we define progress in worldly terms—external success, measurable growth, open doors, or recognition. But spiritual progress often moves slowly and is measured in faithfulness, not visibility.
Consider the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities often take years to grow and mature. They are not manufactured by effort but cultivated through surrender. God is far more concerned with forming Christlike character than fast-tracking us into positions of influence or visible impact.
True maturity is shown in the believer who continues to trust God in the silence, who resists sin when no one is watching, who serves without applause, and who clings to Scripture when feelings fade.
Do not despise slow growth. God does some of His deepest work beneath the surface.
Waiting Is Not Wasted
Throughout Scripture, God consistently calls His people to wait. Abraham waited for Isaac. Joseph waited in slavery and prison. David waited to take the throne. Israel waited in exile. And the church waits even now for Christ’s return.
Waiting is not a passive time; it is a refining one.
Isaiah 40:31 says,
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Waiting teaches dependency. It removes false confidence. It exposes idols. It stretches faith. And in that process, God strengthens His people—not so they can avoid hardship, but so they can walk through it with endurance.
If you are in a waiting season, do not assume God is inactive. He may be doing His most necessary work in hidden places. Waiting well is an act of worship.
God’s Faithfulness Is Not Measured by Your Feelings
Feelings fluctuate. Faith does not. One of the enemy’s most effective tactics is to use emotional weariness to cast doubt on God’s presence. If we feel dry, discouraged, or disoriented, we might assume God has left us. But Scripture teaches that God is present even in silence.
Psalm 46:1 reminds us,
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
He is not a distant observer but a present refuge. He upholds the weary, strengthens the faint-hearted, and walks with those in the valley. Feelings of distance do not equate to divine absence.
In fact, maturing believers often go through spiritual seasons where the emotions once associated with God’s presence fade. This is not abandonment—it is refinement. God desires believers who walk by faith, not just by feeling.
Keep Doing What You Know to Do
When direction feels unclear and passion wanes, the temptation is to stop moving altogether. But Scripture repeatedly calls believers to continue in faith, even when the way is not visible.
Galatians 6:9 exhorts:
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Continue in the Word. Stay planted in the local church. Remain faithful in prayer, even when it feels dry. Confess sin. Pursue holiness. Serve others. These are not empty rituals; they are spiritual lifelines.
Much of the Christian life is about perseverance—choosing to keep walking even when the path feels obscure. And in that perseverance, God meets us with grace.
What About Failure?
Many believers fear they have disqualified themselves from God’s call because of past sin, moral failure, or prolonged seasons of disobedience. But the call of God is not built on our worthiness; it is rooted in His mercy.
Romans 11:29 declares,
“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
This was written in the context of Israel’s failure, but it reveals a broader truth: God’s purposes are not undone by human weakness. While sin has consequences, it does not cancel the promises of God. The believer who repents and returns finds grace—not punishment, not shame, but restoration.
This is not a license to live in sin but a call to return boldly. God’s call still stands. His grace still restores.
Encouragement for the Journey
If you feel stuck or stagnant, remember:
- God is still working in you, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
- The Christian life is not always exciting, but it is always purposeful.
- You are not disqualified because of weariness or failure.
- Growth takes time. Faith takes endurance.
- God is faithful, even when you feel weak.
Hebrews 10:23 gives this charge and this hope:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hold fast.
God has not forgotten you. He is not done with you. The promise still stands. The Spirit is still working. And the outcome is not in doubt.
So stay rooted. Keep walking. Trust the slow, sanctifying work of the Lord.
In due time, you will see the harvest.
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