Sometimes We Grow And Don’t Know It

by David Wilkerson

“Some believers can tell you all about their spiritual growth. And you can clearly see the changes in their lives. They testify to you about how the Holy Ghost has vanquished the enemy for them, and you rejoice with them in their victory.

Yet these kinds of Christians are the exception. Most believers are totally unaware of any spiritual progress in their lives. They pray, read the Bible and seek the Lord with all their hearts. There’s no obstruction to spiritual growth in them.

But they can’t discern any growth in themselves. I’m an example of this type of believer. I know I walk in the righteousness of Christ, yet I never sense I’m making progress. In fact, I occasionally get down on myself whenever I do or say something un-Christlike. It causes me to wonder, “I’ve been a Christian for years. Why don’t I ever learn?”

I think the Thessalonian Christians were stunned when they heard Paul’s glowing assessment of them (see 2 Thessalonians 1:3). They probably thought, “Me, growing exceedingly? Paul must be kidding.”

Yet Paul knew that spiritual growth is a secret, hidden thing. Scripture likens it to the unseen growth of flowers and trees: “I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon” (Hosea 14:5–6).

God is telling us, “Go to the lilies! Just try to watch them grow. I’m telling you by day’s end you won’t see any growth whatsoever. But know this; I water the lily every morning with the dew I send—and it’s going to grow.” The same is true of most spiritual growth. It’s imperceptible to the human eye!

When some people get saved, they never seem to struggle with a besetting sin. They testify, “The moment I came to Jesus, the Lord took that temptation out of me. And I’ve been free ever since.” I know many former drug addicts who’ve had this experience.

But for multitudes of Christians, it’s a different story. Years after their conversion, an old corruption has broken loose in them—something they hated and never wanted to see again. Yet no matter how hard they struggle, that one remaining lust simply won’t let go. Over time they grow discouraged. Their soul cries out, “How long, Lord? When will this chain ever be broken?” And eventually the devil comes to them, saying, “You’ll never make it. You know there’s no way you could grow spiritually in this kind of condition.”

Take heart, friend—I’ve got good news for you. You are growing in the midst of your struggle! In fact, you may be growing by leaps and bounds because of your struggle.

Rest assured—if you have the fear of God in your heart, you’re going to emerge from the storm much stronger. You see, when you’re doing battle with the enemy, you’re exercising and calling forth all the graces and powers of God. And even though you may feel weakened, those graces and powers are strengthening you. For one, you’re becoming more urgent in your praying. And, second, you’re being stripped of all pride. So, the storm is actually putting you on “spiritual guard” in every area of your life”

Adjustment Needed

The Lord has had me in a place of “unlearning” and re-evaluating much of what I thought that I knew.

It can be unsettling to discover that some of the “positions” I have taken have been wrong! The Lord is allowing a shaking to take place and it requires adjustment on my part. It’s all good, but it can be a rude awakening, sometimes painful, and ever so humbling!

It’s very interesting how the Lord works, isn’t it? If we ask for more patience with people, then He will bring us into contact with those that irritate and annoy us! If we want to be more loving, then we’ll meet up with those who test our capacity for unconditional love! The Lord will bring us into situations where we are tested in the very area that we are seeking growth.

These lessons “at the Master’s feet” are becoming more frequent and more intense in my life. They are necessary lessons! I find myself looking on with wonder at what the Lord is doing…

“What are you telling me, Lord?”

“Really, Lord, is that true?”

“Oh, Lord! You’re saying that I’ve been wrong in my way of thinking?”

“Show my Your ways, Lord, because they are perfect and they lead to Life!”

When the Lord shows us where we need to be corrected, we can either accept it or reject it. God forbid that we would reject it, but if we accept it, then an adjustment must take place: a change of course; an openness to the Lord’s way of looking at things.

I found this, by T. Austin-Sparks, that speaks of the adjustment needed:

“The question which confronts us all is this: can the Lord lead us on into His fullness in Christ without continually bumping up against something in our own carryover of, not fixed truth but our fixed limit of its meaning; or something in our fixedness of position in any direction or connection? Steadfastness, unmovableness, faithfulness, etc., are to be to the Lord and to the foundation realities of the faith, and also in the purpose for which and to which He has called us in life and service; but adjustableness is an essential to growth and increase in light and fullness. At the same time, we cannot change and move on only as there is a basic work of the Cross by which the strength of nature, even as it impinges upon Divine things, is set aside.”

So, I wait at the Master’s feet, for more correction, more adjustment, and a further stripping away of all that is not of Him. HE is the potter and we are His clay, being molded more and more into a vessel unto honour.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21