How To Know When You’re Spiritually Growing

Have you ever found yourself wondering if you’re truly spiritually growing, or if you’re just going through the motions of ministry life?

I remember sitting in my kitchen a few years back, staring at my notebook and feeling completely overwhelmed. I’d just finished preparing for Monday’s activity, written three blog posts, and somehow managed to burn dinner the night before.

As I sat there in the quiet, a nagging question crept into my tired mind: “Am I actually growing spiritually, or am I just… surviving?“

Maybe you’ve been there too.

You’re pouring into everyone else, serving faithfully, showing up week after week, but deep down you wonder if your own soul is truly flourishing or just functioning. After being in ministry since childhood and walking through seasons where spiritual growth felt invisible, I’ve learned that recognizing when we’re spiritually growing isn’t always as obvious as we think it should be.

The truth is, spiritual growth often happens in the quiet, ordinary moments, not just in the mountaintop experiences or dramatic breakthrough seasons. And sister, if you’re questioning whether you’re growing spiritually, that question itself might be evidence that you are.

Let me share seven important ways to recognize when God is growing you from the inside out.

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You’re Becoming More Aware of Your Need for Grace

One of the most beautiful indicators of spiritual growth is developing a deeper awareness of how much you need God’s grace.

This might seem counterintuitive, but, shouldn’t growing spiritually make us feel more confident and less needy? But here’s what I’ve discovered: the closer we draw to God’s perfect light, the more clearly we see our own imperfections.

When you find yourself less defensive about your mistakes and more quick to acknowledge your shortcomings, you’re spiritually growing.

This isn’t about self-condemnation or unhealthy shame. Spiritual growth is about developing the kind of gentle honesty that comes from being secure in God’s love. You’re growing when you can say, “I messed up, and I need grace,” without feeling like your entire identity is threatened.

The importance of spiritual growth shows up here because humility is fertile soil for God’s continued work in our lives. Pride blocks growth, but a heart that recognizes its need stays soft and teachable. Bible verses about growing spiritually, like James 4:6, remind us that “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.“

When you’re becoming more aware of your need for grace, you’re positioning yourself to receive even more of God’s transforming love.

Your Response to Criticism Has Changed

Here’s something I wish someone had told me earlier in ministry: how you handle criticism is a powerful indicator of spiritual maturity. I used to take every critical comment as a personal attack, spending sleepless nights replaying conversations and defending myself in imaginary arguments. But as I’ve grown spiritually, something beautiful has shifted.

Now, when criticism comes (and it will come), I find myself pausing before reacting. I’m learning to ask myself: “Is there truth here I need to hear? Is this person hurting and expressing it poorly? Or is this simply not mine to carry?” This doesn’t mean criticism doesn’t sting, it often still does, but my response has become more measured, more grace-filled, and less reactive.

How to grow spiritually according to the Bible includes learning to respond rather than react. Proverbs 27:5-6 teaches us that “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

When you can receive correction with grace and discern between helpful feedback and harmful attack, you’re demonstrating real spiritual growth. You’re developing the wisdom to know when to listen, when to learn, and when to let go.

You Find Yourself Praying for Your Enemies (Or at Least Wanting To)

Jesus set an impossible standard when He told us to pray for our enemies, didn’t He?

Yet this command becomes one of the most reliable indicators of how we’re growing spiritually. I’m not talking about praying that God would strike down those who hurt you (though we’ve all been there). I am talking about genuinely wanting God’s best for people who have wounded you.

This shift doesn’t happen overnight, and it often starts small.

Maybe you find yourself hoping that difficult church member finds peace instead of plotting ways to avoid them. Perhaps you catch yourself actually wanting reconciliation with someone who hurt you, rather than just wanting to be right. These moments reveal that God is doing deep work in your heart.

The dangers of not growing spiritually include harboring bitterness and letting offense take root. But when you notice yourself moving toward forgiveness, even slowly, even reluctantly, you’re experiencing the supernatural transformation that only comes through spiritual growth. It’s evidence that God’s love is expanding your capacity to love others, even those who don’t deserve it (just like He loves us).

You’re Learning to Rest Without Guilt

Oh, this one hits close to home. For years, I equated busyness with godliness. If I wasn’t constantly serving, preparing, or helping someone, I felt guilty. But one of the most profound ways I’ve grown spiritually is learning that rest isn’t rebellion.

It’s obedience.

Jesus modeled this perfectly. He withdrew from crowds, spent time alone with the Father, and wasn’t driven by the urgent demands of ministry. When you find yourself able to say no to good opportunities without feeling guilty, you’re growing spiritually. When you can take a day off without constantly checking your phone or worrying about what you’re not doing, you’re demonstrating trust in God’s sovereignty.

How do I grow spiritually? Sometimes it’s by learning to be still.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us to “be still and know that I am God.” This isn’t just about quiet time, though that’s important, it’s about developing the deep confidence that God’s work doesn’t depend entirely on your efforts. When you can rest without guilt, you’re showing that you understand grace at a deeper level.

Your Compassion Has Expanded Beyond Your Comfort Zone

I used to be very selective about who deserved my compassion. I had my favorites ie the grateful recipients of ministry, the easy-to-love church members, the people who responded well to help. But as I’ve grown spiritually, I’ve noticed my heart expanding toward people I used to write off.

This spiritual growth shows up in surprising ways. You’ll find yourself genuinely caring about the chronically complaining church member’s underlying pain. You feel moved to help someone who has never thanked you before.

You’ll even start seeing difficult people as hurting people rather than just problems to manage.

The importance of spiritual growth becomes clear here because expanded compassion is evidence of God’s heart taking root in yours. It’s one thing to love the lovely. It is a whole other thing to feel genuine care for the prickly, the ungrateful, and the demanding.

When your compassion begins extending beyond your natural preferences, you’re experiencing the kind of supernatural love that only comes through spiritual maturity.

You’re Finding God in Ordinary Moments

Early in my ministry journey, I thought spiritual growth only happened during dramatic prayer meetings, life-changing conferences, or crisis moments. But I’ve discovered that some of the most significant spiritual growth happens in the mundane, ordinary moments of daily life.

You’re spiritually growing when you find yourself talking to God while folding laundry, sensing His presence during your morning commute, or feeling grateful for small mercies like a good parking spot or an encouraging text. This isn’t about manufacturing spiritual experiences.

Growing spiritually is about recognizing that God is already present in every moment, waiting for us to notice.

Bible verses about growing spiritually, like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, encourage us to “pray continually.”

This doesn’t mean constant formal prayer, but rather maintaining an awareness of God’s presence throughout ordinary life. When you find yourself naturally including God in mundane moments, you’re developing the kind of authentic relationship with Him that transforms everything.

You’re Becoming More Patient with the Process

Perhaps the most telling sign of spiritual growth is developing patience with your own journey. Instead of constantly frustrated by how slowly you’re changing, you’re learning to trust God’s timing. You’re beginning to see setbacks as setup for comebacks, and struggles as opportunities for growth rather than evidence of failure.

This patience extends to others too. You are less quick to judge someone else’s spiritual journey because you understand that growth happens at different paces for different people. You’re learning that spiritual maturity isn’t about perfection.

It’s about direction.

How to grow spiritually includes learning to celebrate small victories and extend grace during seasons of struggle. When you can look back over months or years and see God’s faithful work, even through difficult seasons, you’re developing the kind of perspective that comes only through spiritual maturity.

Growing in Grace, One Day at a Time

Sister, if you see yourself in any of these seven indicators, take heart. You are growing spiritually, even if it doesn’t always feel dramatic or obvious. God is working in you, through you, and often in spite of you.

His grace is sufficient for every season, and His timing is perfect.

Remember that spiritual growth isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. There will be seasons of rapid growth and seasons that feel stagnant. Both are normal, and both serve purposes in God’s grand design for your life. The key is to remain anchored in His love, rooted in His Word, and open to His gentle leading.

As you continue to grow spiritually, be patient with yourself. Celebrate the small victories. Extend grace during the hard days. And remember that the very fact that you care about your spiritual growth is evidence that God’s Spirit is alive and active in your life.

What indicators of spiritual growth have you noticed in your own journey? I’d love to hear how God is growing you in this season because your story might be exactly what another sister needs to hear today.

Take a moment to reflect: Which of these seven indicators resonates most with your current season? Ask God to help you see the ways He’s been growing you, even in the ordinary, everyday moments of ministry life.

With grace and love,