Why Spiritual and Personal Growth Takes So Long
And How to Grow as Fast as Possible
I used to wonder why spiritual and personal growth, beyond the immediate changes at conversion, took so long. After all, Jesus often performed instant miracles. Yet, even His closest followers were still growing and transforming decades after His ascension.
Jesus didn’t perfect His disciples all at once. He has set up this world so that much spiritual and personal growth is gradual, like a seed growing into a tall tree.
Our Amazingly Complex Minds
The Bible often highlights that one of the major keys to transformation is the "renewing of our minds" (Romans 12:2). The more our thinking aligns with God’s thoughts, the more we experience powerful and lasting growth.
But our minds are incredibly complex.
Did you know:
There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on earth.
There are more neural connections in our brain than stars in the universe.
It’s difficult to imagine the number of grains of sand on a single beach, let alone across the entire planet. So, it's even more mind-boggling to think that our brains have more synapses than there are stars in the universe!
Billions of neural connections and electrical activities are happening in our brains every single day, influencing our thoughts and feelings.
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life
Research shows that our thoughts travel through brain connections like living electrical wires. These pathways can shrink, expand, or merge to form new connections. When this happens, our behaviors change.
Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian expert in brain study and therapy, says, “Research shows that 75 to 98 percent of mental, physical, and behavioral illness comes from one’s thought life. Only 2 to 25 percent of illness is from the environment.”
She explains, “Our thoughts produce words and behaviors, which in turn stimulate more thinking and choices that build more thoughts in an endless cycle.” This means that our thinking sets up cycles that influence habits, behaviors, and ultimately, how we live.
This Is So Encouraging
If we can change our thinking, we can literally change our lives! And the best part is that we can change our thinking!
Thought patterns do not have to be permanent. If you struggle with doubt, you can grow in faith. If you’re disorganized, you can become more organized. If you’re easily discouraged, you can learn to be easily encouraged.
Time + Practices = Change
As we begin to transform, remember this simple growth formula:
Time: Research shows it takes an average of 63 days to form permanent changes in our brain. Some habits take longer, but 63 days is the average. Many of us give up after just two weeks, but if you stick with it for the full two months, you’ll experience greater positive changes than over 80% of the population.
Practices: Dr. Leaf notes, “Our thoughts change our brain.” Through consistently practicing the right thoughts, we can permanently change our brain, which leads to behavioral changes. The Bible may not have today's research, but it has God’s revelation: Renew your mind, transform your life.
By taking small, consistent steps (practices) proven to produce lasting mind change, you can experience true growth and transformation.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
