7 Signs You’re Growing in Christ (Even If You Don’t Feel It)

What if you’re doing better than you think you are? Do you ever feel like no matter how much you pray, read your Bible, or go to church, you’re still not growing spiritually? I’ve felt this way before—like I was stuck in the same struggles, praying the same prayers, and wondering if I was really changing at all. But the truth is, growth in Christ doesn’t always show up in these big, super obvious ways. In this video, I’ll show you seven subtle yet surprising signs that you’re actually growing in your faith—even if you don’t realize it.

Sometimes it’s easy to feel like we’re putting in a lot of work when it comes to our spiritual growth. We’re doing all the spiritual disciplines, but even with all that, we can still feel like we’re stuck and not growing at all, or we’ve plateaued, which makes us question if we’re really growing at all . But here’s the thing: growth isn’t always linear or perfectly exponential. Sometimes it looks like mountains and valleys that ultimately lead to growth. The hard part is that while we’re in it, it’s not always easy to see.

The good news is growth shows up in our everyday lives, even when we don’t notice it. We can’t measure growth by how much work we put in, because the Bible makes it clear that true spiritual growth comes from God alone. Yes, we can control what we do—our prayers, our study, our fellowship—but it’s God who brings the growth. Not only in the family of believers, but also personally in our hearts, minds, and souls as we become more like Christ. We can’t change our own hearts—only God can do that. But when we position ourselves in His presence and practice spiritual disciplines, we create more opportunities for that growth to take root. So just because you don’t always feel like you’re growing doesn’t mean you’re not. Today, I want to share a few ways you’re actually growing in Christ—without even realizing it—and each one is tied to the fruit of the Spirit.

NUMBER 1: Discerning God’s Voice (Faithfulness)

The first sign that you’re growing is that you’re getting clearer at discerning the voice of God. I remember personally struggling to know if I was truly hearing from God or not. It was especially difficult when I was battling anxiety—I’ve talked about that in a previous video. But as time went on, I began to notice that I was quicker to decipher whether a thought was from God or just my anxiety, because I had started picking up on patterns over time. That growth came from operating in the fruit of faithfulness—staying true to God in my relationship with Him, even when I didn’t feel like things were growing the way I wanted them to. So being able to more clearly hear and understand God’s voice is a sign of spiritual growth. It’s not always perfect, but over time, your discernment sharpens, and the time it takes to know whether it’s God or not becomes shorter.

NUMBER 2: Less Easily Offended (Self-Control)

A sign that you’re growing is that you’re not easily offended. Someone who is easily offended is operating in the flesh. They’re focused on themselves, proving themselves, and worrying about what other people think. Being easily offended is often rooted in pride. But when you trust God with others—and you trust what He says about you—your identity becomes rooted in Him. That means what other people say, think, or do has less and less impact on your attitude and your response. So instead of holding grudges, you choose forgiveness, compassion, and reflecting the love of Christ. Romans 12 reminds us that we don’t overcome evil with evil; we overcome evil with good. But when we try to fight evil with evil, evil ends up overtaking us, and we lose self-control.

When we choose to respond the way Jesus did—in love—we reflect Him. Now, I’m not saying don’t have boundaries. I’m not saying don’t have standards. But I am saying don’t let evil overtake you. Because when that happens, there’s no difference between you and the person who offended you. People can’t even tell you apart. Letting go of offense more readily is a sign of growth. Things that used to upset you don’t anymore, and give you space to have better control over yourself and your actions. This is sometimes hard to notice, because you just don’t get upset and find yourself calmer in situations that once angered you. 

NUMBER 3: Feel Less Rushed (Patience)

When you’re growing in God, you start to feel less rushed because you begin to trust God’s timing more. You don’t feel like, “If this doesn’t happen now, it’ll never happen,” because you know that everything is working out in God’s perfect timing. You don’t feel like you have to hurry up and force something to happen, because you understand it’s not ultimately up to you—it’s up to God. He’s the one who brings it to pass. This is the fruit of patience at work. Waiting no longer feels like punishment. Instead, you begin to see it as part of God’s process of sanctifying you, preparing you, and loving you right where you are. Now, I’ll be honest—this is one area the Lord has had to grow me in, because I like things to happen right now, quick, fast, and in a hurry. I’ve struggled with that feeling of wanting things to move on my timeline.

I remember last year, I was headed to a conference in Tampa, Florida. I was supposed to meet up with a friend, but our plans fell through, and we just weren’t able to make it happen. I felt anxious because I really wanted to see her and wasn’t sure when or if I’d ever get the chance again. So I texted her, apologizing over and over that it didn’t work out. Her response stopped me in my tracks. She said, “Girl, it is no worries. I trust that the Lord will allow us to meet up, and when He does, it’ll be His perfect timing.”

That gave me such a sense of peace. It revealed her spiritual maturity because, while I was a little panicked, she was completely calm and trusting. And guess what? She was right. This year, I went back to that same conference. She picked me up from the airport, and we spent the entire Sunday afternoon together—enjoying each other’s company, encouraging one another, and being refreshed in our fellowship. It was so timely. Through her example, God taught me an important lesson about patience and trusting His timing over my own. So if you’re struggling right now with wanting to rush something to happen, recognize that it’s an opportunity to grow your faith. Trust God’s timing. If it hasn’t happened yet, there’s a reason—even if you don’t know what it is. Choosing to trust Him in that is a sign of spiritual maturity. 

NUMBER 4: More Content in Different Seasons (Peace)

Number 4. You find yourself content in seasons that once made you anxious. Maybe you used to feel anxious in your single season. You questioned if you’d ever get married, wondering if it would ever happen for you, and you just wanted to rush out of that season. But now you find yourself enjoying it. You’re traveling with your girlfriends, doing what you want to do, and even appreciating coming home and enjoying the life God has created for you. You’ve found contentment where there used to be anxiety.

Or maybe you’re in early motherhood, and at first you thought, “I can’t wait for these kids to grow up—I’m tired of changing diapers!” But then your heart starts to shift. You begin to appreciate the fact that you even have children. Suddenly, that messy house becomes a blessing, because it means your kids are home, alive, and active. That’s what it looks like to operate in peace. Your mind becomes more focused on what God is doing, rather than on what you feel you’re not getting. And the truth is, God is always doing so much more in our lives than what’s not happening. That perspective produces a peaceful contentment in us as we mature in Christ.

NUMBER 5: You Give More Without Hesitation

Number five: You’re not hesitant to give because you trust God to provide. When I first started living on my own, tithing felt pretty simple. But then I got married, had kids, and suddenly we had a mortgage, college debt, loans—all the responsibilities of adult life. And as a stay-at-home mom at the time, I’d think, “Lord, we could really use that 10%!” But still, we stayed committed to giving. And time after time, I saw God come through so faithfully. I call it my “ravine season,” based on Elijah’s story in the Bible. Elijah announced there would be a drought in the land, and then God sent him to a ravine to hide. A ravine is a valley with a little water running through it. While he was there, God provided water from the stream and sent meat and bread brought to him by ravens. Day by day, God gave Elijah exactly what he needed—no more, no less. It reminds me of how God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness: just enough for each day.

I’ve experienced that kind of provision myself. I remember a time when I needed an exact amount of money, and when I opened my mail, there was a check for that exact amount. Things like that would happen again and again. And those experiences grew my faith. They taught me to trust that God will provide. So now, when God prompts me to give a certain amount, I don’t hesitate like I used to. I don’t even question it, because I’ve seen how He provides. That kind of trust to give is a sign of spiritual growth and maturity. 

NUMBER 6: Respond More Gently (Gentleness)

Number six: you respond more gently in situations that used to trigger you because you know that God is fighting your battles. You understand that you don’t have to defend yourself—God will. As you walk with God and grow in Him, you start to realize you can respond with gentleness. You don’t have to prove anything, because what God has for you is for you. Nobody can snatch it away. You don’t have to treat people like enemies or threats when you know that God is your protector. And you begin to see that there is real strength in gentleness. Acting harshly, yelling, or trying to bulldoze your way through every situation isn’t strength—it’s weakness and immaturity. Needing to “win” every argument often comes from insecurity and tying your identity to how others see you. But when you’re grounded in who you are in Christ, and you know that He has your back, you realize you have nothing to prove. You don’t need to raise your voice. You don’t need to cuss anybody out. You don’t need to gossip or tear someone down to make yourself feel better. That’s the fruit of the Spirit—gentleness—at work, growing in your life.

NUMBER 7: Experiencing More Joy

As you continue to grow in Christ, you inevitably start to notice more joy in the simple things instead of constantly chasing the next big thing. Oh my gosh, y’all, I’ve done this—thinking, “If I can just get to 100,000 subscribers… if I can just make this much money… if I can just hit this revenue goal… if I can just have this kind of house or this kind of kitchen…” But you’ve got to be careful, because that mindset can sneak in and make you believe the lie that you can’t be happy until you have those things. But the Bible makes it clear—joy is not circumstantial. Joy is an inheritance of those who place their faith in Jesus Christ. We even have a whole Bible study on Galatians inside the Beloved Women app that talks about this. Joy isn’t something you chase—it’s a gift from God you receive. And it’s less about circumstances and more about God’s presence in your life.

I was recently at a retreat, and one of the icebreaker questions we asked each other was: “What’s one thing making you happy or joyful in this season?” People shared things like promotions, milestones, or big accomplishments. And while I thought about some exciting things—like launching Beloved & Co Business Membership, our family trip to Washington, D.C. this summer, and all the good things happening this year—what really stood out to me was one random Tuesday. The kids were home from school, my husband was off work, and we had a simple day together. I slept in, made breakfast, and we sat around the table laughing and eating. Later, I took a walk, we relaxed watching TV, and I sat on the porch with my son as we colored together. By the end of the day, I thought, “I wish every day could be like this.” It was simple, it was slow, and it was full of joy.

That’s the kind of shift that happens as you mature in Christ. You start to realize you don’t need all the external things to have joy. You begin to appreciate the small, everyday moments that remind you you’re alive, you are loved, and God is with you. So remember—growth doesn’t always look dramatic. It’s often gradual. And if you see even small shifts like these in your life, let it be encouragement to you: they are signs that God is growing His fruit in you. So remember, spiritual growth doesn’t always happen overnight or in dramatic ways. Most of the time, it’s these small, everyday shifts—the ways you forgive, the peace you carry, the joy you find—that reveal God is truly at work in your life. And if you noticed even one of these signs in yourself, be encouraged: it means the Spirit is growing His fruit in you.

If you’d like to continue growing in your faith with practical Bible studies and encouragement, I’d love to invite you to join us in the Beloved Women App. Inside, you’ll find video Bible studies, guided prayers, and a supportive community of women pursuing God together. You can download it today in the Apple or Google Play store, or simply visit BelovedWomen.org to learn more. Thank you so much for watching today’s video, and until next time, be beautiful, be blessed, and be loved.