A friend of mine said these words in the middle of our conversation. He only mentioned it once, but two weeks later I am still thinking about it. Question: How long does it usually take a seed to grow and mature? Answer: slowly. Take wheat for example. It is planted in mid-September to mid-October and isn’t harvested until mid-June. That means wheat seed needs a full 9 months of the year to produce its fruit!

What is true of wheat is also true of our spiritual lives. In his parable of the soil and seed, Jesus says that a seed in good soil requires “the hearing of the word, holding it fast in an honest and good heart, and bearing fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Did you catch that last part? Bearing fruit requires patience because it does not happen quickly. Spiritual growth takes time. We grow at the speed of seed.

This week I encourage you to walk through the fields of your spiritual life and see how the seeds are growing. Are the seeds of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control sprouting and growing little by little? If it is hard to notice a difference from last week or last month don’t be discouraged. God is faithful, the Spirit will bring growth as you stay in the Word, hold fast, and remain patient. Our spiritual growth moves at the speed of seed.