Why Am I Not Growing Spiritually?

You believe in Jesus.

You may attend church.

You may read your Bible.

You may pray.

But something feels stuck.

You do not feel as close to God as you once did. Your prayer life may feel weak. The Bible may feel dry. You may wonder why you are not changing.

Do not give up.

Feeling stuck can become an invitation to look honestly at your walk with God.

Psalm 139:23 (NKJV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties.”

Ask God to show you what may be keeping you from moving forward.

Here are seven areas to examine.

Why Do I Feel Spiritually Stuck?

A Christian can feel spiritually stuck for many reasons.

You may be too busy to spend time with God. You may read Scripture without putting it into practice. Prayer may happen only during problems. You may be holding on to something God wants you to release.

You may also be trying to follow Jesus alone, carrying an old hurt, or focusing only on your own growth instead of helping someone else grow.

Feeling stuck does not mean you should quit.

Recognizing where you are stuck can become the beginning of moving forward.

You do not have to fix everything today.

Find your next faithful step and take it.

1. You Are Too Busy for God

Life gets busy.

Work. Family. Appointments. Phones. Social media. Television. Even church activities.

Good things can fill every minute of the day.

Soon, God receives whatever time is left.

Sometimes there is nothing left.

Jesus told Martha:

Luke 10:41–42 (NKJV)
“You are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed.”

Busyness can make us feel productive while our souls are becoming empty.

You do not have to begin with an hour.

Begin with ten quiet minutes.

Put down your phone.

Open your Bible.

Read slowly.

Talk with God.

One quiet moment with Jesus can change the direction of your whole day.

Your next step: Give God the first ten minutes of tomorrow.

2. You Read the Bible but Do Not Apply It

It is possible to read the Bible every day and still not grow very much.

Why?

Because reading is only the beginning.

God wants His Word to change how we live.

James 1:22 (NKJV)
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

Suppose you read about forgiveness.

Do you forgive?

You read about prayer.

Do you pray?

You read about loving your neighbor.

Do you show love?

You read about generosity.

Do you give?

You read about making disciples.

Are you helping anyone follow Jesus?

Do not read God's Word only so you can say you finished your Bible reading.

Read it looking for something to live.

Your next step: After reading Scripture, ask, “What does God want me to obey today?” Then do it.

Learn more: How to Hear God's Voice Through Scripture.

3. Prayer Has Become an Emergency Button

Sometimes we pray only when something goes wrong.

A problem comes. We pray.

Someone gets sick. We pray.

Money gets tight. We pray.

We face a crisis. We pray.

God wants us to call on Him during trouble. But prayer was meant to be more than an emergency button.

Prayer is part of our relationship with God.

Luke 5:16 (NKJV) says of Jesus:

“He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

Talk with God when life is good.

Talk with Him when life is hard.

Praise Him.

Thank Him.

Confess your sins.

Ask for wisdom.

Pray for others.

Tell Him what is on your heart.

Then trust Him.

Your next step: Before asking God for anything today, thank Him for three things.

Want to make prayer part of every day? Read How to Build a Stronger Daily Prayer Life.

4. You Are Holding On to Something God Wants You to Release

Sometimes we know where the problem is.

God's Word has shown us something, but we keep saying no.

Maybe it is bitterness.

Pride.

A sinful habit.

Dishonesty.

An unhealthy relationship.

A refusal to forgive.

Something we know does not honor God.

David prayed:

Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

We cannot ask Jesus to lead our lives while refusing to follow where He leads.

Ask God to search your heart.

Do not hide from what He shows you.

Bring it to Him.

Confess it.

Turn from it.

Ask for His strength.

Your next step: Pray, “Lord, show me anything I am holding on to that is keeping me from You.” Then be willing to obey.

5. You Are Trying to Follow Jesus Alone

God did not design the Christian life to be lived alone.

We need other believers.

We need people who will pray with us.

Encourage us.

Correct us.

Listen to us.

Walk beside us.

Help us get back up.

Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV)
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.”

Church attendance is important, but sitting in a room with other Christians is not the same as sharing life with them.

Find one or two believers who want to grow.

Open the Bible together.

Talk honestly.

Pray together.

Help each other obey Jesus.

You do not need a crowd.

Your next step: Ask one Christian this week, “Would you like to read the Bible and pray together?”

6. Hurt or Disappointment Has Made You Pull Away

Sometimes Christians become spiritually stuck because they are hurting.

Someone disappointed you.

A church hurt you.

A prayer seemed unanswered.

Life did not go the way you expected.

You asked God why.

Then slowly, you began pulling away.

God is not afraid of your questions.

Bring your hurt to Him.

Psalm 34:18 (NKJV)
“The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart.”

Do not let pain make you run from the One who can meet you in your pain.

Tell God the truth.

Tell Him you are hurt.

Tell Him you do not understand.

Tell Him you need help.

Then keep walking with Him.

Healing may take time. But you do not have to walk through it alone.

Your next step: Tell God exactly where you hurt. Then ask a trusted Christian to pray with you.

If unanswered prayer has made you feel distant from God, read How to Pray When God Seems Silent.

7. You Have Stopped Helping Others Grow

There comes a time when spiritual growth must move beyond us.

God teaches us so we can help others.

He comforts us so we can comfort others.

He strengthens us so we can strengthen others.

He gives us truth so we can share truth.

Jesus said:

Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Following Jesus eventually turns our eyes outward.

Who around you needs encouragement?

Who needs prayer?

Who needs someone to open the Bible with them?

Who needs help following Jesus?

You do not need to wait until you know everything.

Share what God is teaching you.

Walk with someone.

Pray together.

Read Scripture together.

Help that person obey Jesus.

Then teach that person to help someone else.

Your next step: Write down the name of one person you could help grow closer to Jesus. Pray for that person today.

Learn more: Why Every Christian Is Called to Make Disciples.

You May Be Closer to Growth Than You Think

If you see yourself in one of these seven areas, do not become discouraged.

Recognizing where you are stuck can be the beginning of moving forward.

You do not have to repair your entire spiritual life today.

Take one step.

Maybe your next step is opening your Bible tomorrow morning.

Maybe it is returning to prayer.

Maybe it is confessing sin.

Maybe it is forgiving someone.

Maybe it is returning to Christian fellowship.

Maybe it is trusting God with an old wound.

Maybe it is asking someone to begin walking with Jesus beside you.

Take the step God puts before you.

James 4:8 (NKJV)
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

A Simple 7-Day Spiritual Reset

If you feel spiritually stuck, try this for the next seven days.

Day 1 — Be Quiet

Spend ten minutes alone with God. Turn off distractions.

Day 2 — Open God's Word

Read one chapter of the Bible slowly. Ask what God wants you to learn.

Day 3 — Pray Honestly

Tell God where you are struggling. Do not try to impress Him.

Day 4 — Obey One Thing

Take one truth you have read and put it into action.

Day 5 — Encourage Someone

Call, text, or visit someone who needs encouragement.

Day 6 — Meet With Another Believer

Pray together. Talk about what God is teaching you.

Day 7 — Ask Who You Can Help

Pray for one person you could begin helping follow Jesus.

Then keep going.

Do not stop after seven days.

Build a life around God's Word, prayer, obedience, fellowship, and disciple making.

Spiritual Growth Needs Roots and Fruit

A healthy tree grows deep roots before we see much fruit.

Your time with Jesus, prayer, Scripture, obedience, and fellowship are like roots.

Keep building them even when you do not see fast results.

Over time, fruit begins to show.

You may become more patient.

You may forgive faster.

You may pray before you worry.

You may begin noticing people who need help.

These changes can be signs that God is working in you.

Do not compare your growth with someone else's.

Look at Jesus.

Ask:

“Am I closer to Jesus than I was?”

“Am I learning to trust Him, obey Him, and love people more?”

If the answer feels small, keep going.

Keep Growing Closer to God

Spiritual growth is not about becoming perfect overnight.

It is about continuing to move toward Jesus.

Spend time with Him.

Read His Word.

Pray.

Obey what He teaches you.

Walk with other believers.

Help someone else follow Him.

If you want a simple biblical plan for continuing to grow, read:

Christian Spiritual Growth: 7 Steps to Grow Closer to God

Download 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Faith and Grow Closer to God

Download the Free Printable Guide

Want to work through these seven areas at your own pace?

Download the free Why Am I Not Growing Spiritually? printable guide.

Keep it with your Bible, use the 7-Day Spiritual Reset, or share it with someone who feels spiritually stuck.

🌱 DOWNLOAD THE FREE PDF

Questions About Feeling Spiritually Stuck

Why am I not growing spiritually?

You may be too busy for God, reading Scripture without applying it, praying only during problems, holding on to something you need to release, trying to follow Jesus alone, carrying hurt, or focusing only on yourself instead of helping others grow.

What should I do when I feel spiritually stuck?

Begin with honesty. Ask God to show you what may be holding you back. Then choose one faithful step instead of trying to fix everything at once.

Can I read the Bible every day and still not grow?

Bible reading is important, but God's Word should also be put into practice. James 1:22 teaches Christians to be doers of the Word, not hearers only.

Does spiritual growth happen quickly?

Not always. Like a tree growing roots, some important growth happens before you see obvious results. Keep building habits of Scripture, prayer, obedience, fellowship, and disciple making.

Do I need other Christians to grow spiritually?

Christian community is an important part of growth. Other believers can pray with you, encourage you, correct you, listen to you, and help you continue following Jesus.

How do I know if I am growing spiritually?

Look for changes such as deeper trust in God, greater obedience, more patience, quicker forgiveness, a stronger prayer life, love for others, and a growing desire to help someone else follow Jesus.

You Are Not Meant to Stay Stuck

Jesus did not call you to stand still.

He called you to follow Him.

Following means moving.

Sometimes the step is small.

Take it anyway.

Open the Bible.

Pray.

Obey.

Walk with other believers.

Help someone else follow Jesus.

Then get up tomorrow and take another step.

You do not have to change everything today.

Take your next faithful step toward Jesus.

Follow Jesus. Grow together. Make disciples. Multiply.

About James Constable

James Constable is a Christian author, pastor, teacher, and disciple maker. His writing helps Christians grow closer to Jesus, live out God's Word, become faithful disciples, and help others follow Him.