How to Grow Spiritually When You Feel Stuck

A friend of mine once ate so much bread at Macaroni Grill that the waitstaff started taking bets on him.

The restaurant kept bringing those big loaves to the table. He kept eating them. Eventually, a waiter offered to pay for his dinner and throw in dessert if he could finish two more. My friend did not ask a single question. He told the waiter to set the bread down.

That story still makes me laugh, but the man I knew then and the man I know now hardly look like the same person. He takes his health seriously. He pays attention to nutrition, works with doctors, exercises, and follows a plan. The change did not happen because he vaguely hoped to become healthier. He trained for it.

Many of us understand that physical health requires attention, but we treat spiritual growth as if it should happen on its own. We want to feel closer to God. We want a stronger faith. We want more wisdom and less fear. But wanting growth and training for growth are two different things.

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:7–8

Paul gives Timothy a direct command: train yourself for godliness. Spiritual growth takes grace, but it also takes a plan.

Spiritual growth requires training

Training requires discipline, focus, and a willingness to move past distractions. Nobody prepares for a marathon by getting off the couch on race day and hoping for the best. A runner follows a plan. Someone who wants to get stronger does not wander around the gym doing whatever looks interesting. He learns what to do and repeats it.

The same principle applies to your soul. A godly life does not appear by accident. Godliness is a life that honors God, lines up with His Word, loves Him, and loves other people. It will not be a perfect life, but it will show a growing desire for God above everything else.

That kind of life matters now and forever. Physical training has real value. Take care of your body. Steward it well. But your body will last a few years; your soul will last forever. Many people have a detailed plan for their bodies and no plan at all for their souls.

Stop feeding the chaos

Paul begins with what to avoid: “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths.” In this passage, he is talking about false teaching and ungodly ideas that pull people away from the truth of Jesus.

Our culture gives us plenty of ideas that sound appealing but do not agree with Scripture. “Follow your truth” sounds personal and freeing. The problem is that it treats truth as something that changes with the person, the situation, or the mood. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s Word does not shift when our feelings do.

Pay attention to what is shaping your mind. Pay attention to what you hear, what you repeat, and what your family absorbs. False ideas do not remain harmless background noise. They pull our attention away from Christ and slow our spiritual growth.

Years ago, my family stayed somewhere with a pond behind the house. My children wanted to go fishing early in the morning, so I gave them one clear rule: do not get in the water without an adult. One of my sons immediately asked, “How close can I get?”

Adults ask the same question about sin. We try to manage habits God told us to avoid. We get as close as possible and hope not to get burned. First Timothy 4 does not tell us to manage ungodliness. It tells us to have nothing to do with it.

If God brings something to mind that you have been hiding, excusing, or trying to control, turn from it. Do not leave an empty space where that habit used to be. Replace it with the practices that train your heart toward God.

A practical training plan for godliness

You do not need a complicated system to begin growing spiritually. Start with five practices drawn from the basic pattern of the Christian life.

1. Trust Jesus

Spiritual growth begins with a relationship, not a checklist. Jesus saves us; we do not save ourselves by becoming disciplined enough. Trust Him as Lord and Savior. Look to Him for the forgiveness of your sin and a right relationship with God.

If you already follow Jesus, keep returning to the gospel. Your habits do not earn God’s love. They help you know, enjoy, and obey the Savior who already loves you.

2. Talk to Jesus

Prayer should not be reserved for meals and bedtime. Talk with God throughout the day. The more you pray, the more naturally your heart turns toward Jesus instead of the chaos around you.

You can begin with what God puts in front of you. When you see a couple at the grocery store, ask God to strengthen their marriage. When you see a child, pray that God will capture that child’s heart. When worry rises, bring it to Jesus before you carry it everywhere else. Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer becomes a way of walking through the day with God.

3. Read your Bible

“I’m not a reader” is often a convenient excuse. Many of us read more social media in a day than we read the Bible in a month.

Open the Bible and start. Choose a book and read a chapter each day. Follow a reliable reading plan. Write down what the passage teaches about God, what it exposes in you, and one thing you need to obey. Second Timothy 3:16 says Scripture is profitable for teaching, correction, and “training in righteousness.” You cannot train yourself for godliness apart from the Word of God.

4. Find a spiritual training partner

People often find workout partners because accountability works. Spiritual growth also happens better in community.

Find someone who cares whether you grow. Ask one another what you are reading, where you are struggling, and what God is teaching you. Join a Life Group and build relationships with people who will encourage you and tell you the truth. Men need other godly men. Women need other godly women. Couples need other couples who care about their walk with Jesus.

If you are a parent, do not outsource this responsibility. Let your children see that prayer and Scripture matter in your home. Ask what God is teaching them. Pray with them. Make room for honest questions. Be the kind of spiritual training partner you hope they will seek later.

5. Love people

Growth that never moves toward other people is badly stunted. As your love for God grows, put it to work. Serve someone. Encourage someone. Share what God is teaching you. Bring another believer along.

Jesus joined love for God and love for our neighbor. We cannot separate them without distorting both. Some of the fastest growth in your life will come when following Jesus costs you time, comfort, or attention for the good of another person.

Keep going until discipline becomes delight

New habits can feel awkward. There will be mornings when opening your Bible feels difficult and days when prayer feels distracted. Do not confuse difficulty with failure.

Keep going until your discipline becomes a delight. Over time, you will begin to crave the time with God that once felt hard to protect. The goal is not a perfect streak or an impressive routine. The goal is Jesus.

If you feel spiritually stuck, begin today. Set aside thirty minutes. Read a passage of Scripture, talk honestly with God, and text one trusted believer about what you learned. Then do it again tomorrow. Make a plan for your soul and ask God to use it to make you more like Christ.

Adapted from a sermon by Steven Morris.