Am I Growing in Spiritual Maturity?
Inside: Are you growing in Christ—or stuck in spiritual infancy? This post offers biblical encouragement and thoughtful questions to help you reflect and mature in your walk with the Lord.
Are You Growing in Spiritual Maturity?
As Christian women, it’s important to pause every now and then and ask ourselves: Am I growing in the Lord? Am I becoming more like Christ, or have I become comfortable just staying where I am?
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul exhorts us to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” That’s not a call to doubt our salvation but to honestly reflect on whether we’re living in a way that reflects the life of Christ within us.
It’s possible to walk with the Lord for many years and still be spiritually immature in certain areas. So let me gently ask: Are there places in your heart or habits in your life that show signs of spiritual infancy?
Here are a few self-reflective questions to consider:
1. Are you often frustrated with others in the body of Christ?
Do you find yourself easily irritated, quick to assume the worst, or slow to forgive? God’s Word reminds us that love is patient and kind—not envious or easily angered (1 Corinthians 13). Immaturity shows itself in division and strife. Maturity moves toward unity, grace, and humility.
2. Do you crave recognition or struggle when others are praised?
This can sneak in quietly, whether it’s wanting to be noticed for serving or feeling discouraged when someone else receives the encouragement you longed for. Spiritual growth teaches us to be content in serving for the Lord’s glory, not our own.
3. Are you growing in your knowledge and application of God’s Word?
We all start as babes in Christ, needing milk. But God desires that we grow up in Him through His Word (1 Peter 2:2). Are you daily feeding on the Scriptures—and letting them shape your thoughts, choices, and relationships?
4. Are your feelings easily hurt?
We all have tender spots, but if we constantly find ourselves offended, it may be a sign that we need to grow in love for God’s truth and trust in His sovereignty (Psalm 119:165). Maturity brings stability, even in hard situations.
5. Are you content in the season God has placed you?
Spiritual babies are never satisfied. There’s always something more they want or something to complain about. But mature believers learn the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:11)—trusting that God knows what is best and is always working for our good.
6. Are you seeking purity in your walk?
Just like toddlers can’t keep clean on their own, we need God’s Word and Spirit to cleanse and guide us daily (John 15:3). If we’re playing too close to sin—whether in our entertainment, thoughts, or habits—it’s time to take it seriously and turn back to Christ.
7. Are you joyful when others are blessed?
Jealousy has no place in the heart of a mature believer. Rejoicing with others (Romans 12:15) is a sign that our eyes are fixed on Jesus—not comparing or coveting, but trusting that He gives each of us exactly what we need.
Spiritual Growth Takes Time—but It Requires Intention
“In my own pastoral and personal Christian experience, I can say that I’ve never known a man or woman who came to spiritual maturity except through discipline. Godliness comes through discipline.”
~ Donald Whitney
Spiritual growth is a journey, and it doesn’t happen automatically. But the Lord has given us all we need to grow in Christ through His Word, His Spirit, and His church. And the beautiful thing is—He’s patient with us.
If the Holy Spirit is gently pressing on your heart in any of these areas, don’t shrink back in shame. He doesn’t convict to condemn—but to lead us into greater freedom and joy in Christ.
“…walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”
~ Colossians 1:10
May we each commit to grow in the Lord—to leave behind spiritual immaturity and press on toward maturity, for His glory and the good of those around us.
Want to Go Deeper?
If this topic of spiritual growth has stirred your heart, I highly recommend the book Maturity by Sinclair Ferguson. It’s a thoughtful and biblically rich guide to understanding what true Christian maturity looks like—and how we can grow in Christlikeness every day. It’s been such a blessing in my own walk with the Lord.
