Am I Really Growing? A Spiritual Heart Check

"make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge…The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1: 5-8

Spiritual growth isn’t loud.

It doesn’t always look like shouting in church, having the right answers in Bible study, or posting scriptures on your timeline. Spiritual growth is revealed in the quiet shift of your responses, the softening of your heart, and the surrender of your will.

It’s the fruit you bear, not the noise you make.

So how do you know you’re actually growing? How can you tell if your faith is maturing or just maintaining?

Let’s take a moment to do a heart check together.

Growth Isn’t Perfection—It’s Progress

I used to believe that growing in God meant I wouldn’t struggle anymore. That I’d stop being impatient, never have another doubtful thought, and suddenly become this calm, confident, always-kind version of myself.

But real growth doesn’t mean the absence of struggle—it means the presence of fruit in spite of it.

It means:

·       You don’t snap like you used to.

·       You pause and pray instead of panic.

·       You’re quicker to forgive, slower to gossip.

·       You recognize conviction faster and repent sooner.

You may still get it wrong sometimes. But grace teaches you, not shames you.

You may still feel weak some days. But His strength sustains you.

You may still have questions. But your faith says, “I trust You anyway.”

That’s spiritual growth.

3 Questions for a Spiritual Heart Check

Let’s ask ourselves:

1.     Am I bearing fruit, or just being busy?
(Galatians 5:22–23) Is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control showing up in my everyday life?

2.     Am I open to correction and conviction?
(Hebrews 12:11) Growth is impossible without pruning. Do I allow the Holy Spirit to challenge me, or do I defend my dysfunction?

3.     Am I consistent in my pursuit of God?
(John 15:4–5) Am I staying connected to the Vine, even when life is chaotic—or am I drifting and expecting fruit without intimacy?

Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by what you know—it’s revealed in how you live, love, and lean into God in both the mountain and the valley.

Journal With Me

The Bearing Fruit EJournal includes reflection tools that help you track your growth over time—not in a legalistic way, but in a life-giving, grace-filled way. Try this journaling prompt today:

Prompt: Where have I seen growth in my life this year? Where do I feel spiritually stagnant?