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Growth in God’s Kingdom is not a straight line—it is a sacred unfolding. It happens quietly at times, deep within the soil of faith, where roots stretch before fruit appears. Growth takes both grace and grit—grace that softens the heart to receive what God gives, and grit that steadies the will to keep pressing forward when the soil feels dry.
The Apostle Peter reminds us, “You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to Him, now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18 ERV).
This simple command is a call to mature faith—a faith that endures, transforms, and bears fruit.
Grace Is the Soil of Spiritual Growth
To grow is to receive. It begins with grace. God’s grace is the nutrient-rich soil that allows faith to take root. Without it, all striving becomes self-effort. With it, growth becomes transformation.
Grace teaches us that God’s love is not performance-based. He is not impressed by our speed or discouraged by our delays. Instead, He patiently cultivates us, pruning what no longer serves our purpose and watering what still needs to bloom.
In John 15:5 (ESV), Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Grace invites us to abide—to remain, to stay close. Every spiritual season—whether vibrant or silent—is a chance to abide in His presence and receive what He provides.
You may not always feel like you are growing. Perhaps your prayers seem unanswered, or your efforts unnoticed. But beneath the surface, grace is still working. The unseen roots of your faith are stretching deeper. When you cannot see fruit, trust that God is strengthening the root.
Growth under grace is not always visible—but it is always vital.
Grit Is the Strength to Keep Going
Grace may be the soil, but grit is the strength to keep tending it. Grit is spiritual perseverance—the decision to stay faithful when the process feels slow, painful, or uncertain. It is what allows you to keep showing up in prayer, keep believing the Word, and keep walking in obedience even when it costs you comfort.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this kind of grit in Galatians 6:9 (CEV): “We must not get tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time if we do not give up.”
Grit in the Kingdom does not come from stubborn pride; it comes from holy persistence. It is the determination to stand on God’s promises when your feelings fade. It is the courage to endure the pruning process because you trust the Gardener’s hand.
Every believer will face seasons where faith requires more grit than emotion—where the Word feels heavier than before. But this, too, is growth. It is the refining stage of maturity, where roots deepen through resistance. Think of a tree in strong winds: its roots grow deeper precisely because of the pressure.
So when life stretches you, do not despise it. It means your faith is anchoring itself in something unshakeable—Christ Himself.
Grace and Grit Are Partners, Not Opposites
Grace and grit are not competing forces—they are divine partners in your transformation. Grace gives you identity; grit builds your endurance. Grace says, “You belong to God.” Grit says, “Keep walking with Him.”
Many believers struggle with imbalance. Some lean fully on grace but neglect the call to discipline. Others cling to grit but forget to rest in God’s mercy. True growth comes when both exist together in harmony.
Philippians 2:13 (CEB) reminds us, “God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out His good purposes.” Grace gives you the desire; grit turns that desire into daily obedience. Grace empowers your will; grit strengthens your walk.
When you rely on both, your life becomes fruitful—not because you are flawless, but because you are faithful.
Grace without grit produces comfort without progress.
Grit without grace produces effort without joy. But together—they produce steadfast, Spirit-led growth.
The Holy Spirit nurtures both within you. He teaches you to receive mercy with humility and to endure trials with strength. And through both, He shapes you into the image of Christ.
Growing in Grace Requires Surrender
Sometimes the hardest part of growth is letting go. God cannot fill what we keep clenched in our fists. Grace teaches surrender—the willingness to release control and trust God’s timing, God’s way, and God’s results.
Spiritual growth does not mean doing more; it often means becoming less—less proud, less fearful, less resistant. As John the Baptist said in John 3:30 (ESV), “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Growth happens when you stop trying to manage every outcome and start yielding to the Holy Spirit’s flow. Grace calls you to let go of comparison, guilt, and self-condemnation. It invites you to find rest in being loved, even while unfinished.
To grow in grace is to remember that failure does not cancel calling. It redirects it. Peter himself—who wrote about growth in grace—knew what it meant to fail. He denied Christ three times. But Jesus restored him, not with condemnation, but with grace. And that grace gave Peter the grit to preach boldly, suffer faithfully, and shepherd the early Church.
If you have stumbled, take heart. Growth continues. Grace still works. God is not finished with you yet.
Grit Deepens When You Remember the Goal
Spiritual grit needs a vision. Otherwise, endurance feels like exhaustion. Peter says to grow in “the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” That means your growth’s aim is not self-improvement—it is Christlikeness.
You are not just growing stronger; you are growing more like Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 (NASB) says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.” Jesus endured suffering because His eyes were fixed on the joy beyond it. Likewise, your grit grows when your focus is fixed on Christ—not on comfort, not on outcomes, but on obedience.
The more you know Him, the more you trust Him. The more you trust Him, the more you can endure. That is the heart of grit—to keep going because you know Who walks beside you.
Remember this: grace draws you close; grit keeps you moving. Both are proof that God’s hand is still on your life.
Grace Blossoms in Seasons of Waiting
Waiting seasons can feel like wasted seasons—but they are not. They are where grace quietly cultivates your roots.
In the waiting, God reveals what needs pruning, what needs patience, and what needs peace. He slows your steps so that your faith can grow steady. Isaiah 30:18 (CEV) says, “The Lord God is waiting to show how kind He is and to have pity on you. The Lord always does right; He blesses those who trust Him.”
Grace in waiting does not mean inactivity—it means preparation. God grows you in the dark before He reveals you in the light. He uses stillness to strengthen what storms cannot break.
So if you feel hidden or forgotten, remember—you are not stuck. You are being strengthened. Growth takes time, and God never wastes the waiting.
Grit in Grace Leads to Glory
When grace and grit work together, the result is glory—not your own, but God’s. Peter ends his letter by saying, “Glory be to Him, now and forever!” (2 Peter 3:18 ERV). Every stage of growth—every pruning, every breakthrough—points back to the Gardener’s faithfulness.
Your growth gives glory to God because it reflects His patience, His wisdom, and His power at work within you. Philippians 1:6 (NASB) promises, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” That means you are still in progress, still in process, still in the hands of a faithful God.
The same grace that saved you will sustain you. The same grit that kept you standing will keep you growing. And the same God who began your story will finish it beautifully.
So keep going—rooted in grace, rising in grit, and reaching toward glory.
Reflection Questions to think about
In what area of your life do you sense God calling you to grow right now?
How have you seen His grace sustain you in difficult seasons?
What does spiritual grit look like for you—what habits or choices keep your faith anchored?
How can you surrender more fully to the Holy Spirit’s process of growth?
Affirmations to say to yourself
I am growing daily in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
God’s grace strengthens me to keep going with holy grit and faith.
My growth is unfolding according to His perfect timing and purpose.
Grace is my foundation; grit is my strength; God’s glory is my goal.
Growth in Christ is not an event—it is a journey. It takes grace to receive, grit to remain, and gratitude to rejoice. Each moment of surrender and perseverance is another step toward spiritual maturity. You are not who you once were—and you are not yet who you will be. But you are growing, day by day, into the likeness of the One who planted purpose in you.
Keep growing—with grace to rest, grit to rise, and faith to finish.