This past weekend, instead of the gradual shortening of daylight, we fell back to Standard Time. Like the seasons of the year and of life, most change is so gradual we don’t notice—until one day, we look up and say, “Wow!” Then there are those sharp clock-change moments: the first day of kindergarten and college; the first day on the job, marriage, birth of children, divorce for far too many of us; fall’s retirement and winter’s health crises—again for far too many of us.

The leaves’ changing colors have been predictably gradual here at Vanaprastha, month to month, week to week, day to day. Within our seasons of life, we tend to change gradually, too: physically, emotionally, spiritually, the latter of which I wrote about last week. Gradual processes mirroring Scripture. 

For a comforting, seasonal Friday Happy Hour recipe, see my Substack post here.

Spiritual Growth is Gradual

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18 KJV

The path of the just is a gradual change from darkness to light. A natural, spiritual process. Sunrise, first light, dawn revealing God’s path of righteousness and truth. As with light increasing, so with the steady gain of wisdom and faith along His path.

Gradual growth encourages believers to seek the illuminated path rather than stumble in the dark. To embrace a life of progress, learning, and slow transformation. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:18. Christian growth is a Spirit-led maturation process, described in 2 Peter 3:18 as growth …in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 

Amen, the best gradual “Wow” that ever happened to me.

God’s Revelation is Gradual

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, Galatians 4:4 NIV

God’s plan and character were revealed gradually, at least in our way of thinking about time, in prophetic stages leading up to Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s word. In Galatians 4:4, Paul states that God sent Christ into the world intentionally, at the exact moment in history. God as Son came down from heaven and stepped into this world fully human, born of Mary, and a Jew born under the law to fulfill the law perfectly.

What does this mean for us? Redemption. Galatians 4:5 says to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because humans cannot keep God’s law perfectly, no matter how hard we try, we are condemned. But, Jesus paid the penalty for sin and freed us from its curse. This “adoption” into God’s family is one of those sharp changes.

A “Wow” I’m still grasping.

Growth of the Kingdom is Gradual

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29 NIV

Mark 4:26–29 contains the Parable of the Growing Seed in which Jesus describes the Kingdom of God by comparing it to a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. The seed gradually sprouts and grows, producing grain by itself as the farmer goes about his normal life. Then, at harvest time, the farmer takes up his sickle. 

To explain the metaphor, the seed is God’s Word, the Gospel of our Lord, and its growth His Kingdom. The gradual process of God’s Kingdom growth is invisible and mysterious. Even though believers are tasked to sow seeds—sharing the life and love of Jesus Christ—we do not and cannot control Kingdom growth or the spiritual harvest. That is God’s providence, His timing. Gradual and trustworthy, because when the work reaches maturity, the harvest will come.

Thy Kingdom come, the greatest “Wow” of all.

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Wisdom Builds Her House

In 2010 I left a 34-year career in education to build a mountain home with my husband. The literal house went up. Building the metaphorical one took longer. Four mysteries got in the way: my husband’s daughter, who I never met; who I was once I was neither teaching nor raising children; what really happened in 1957 when a man came to rob our house and hurt my mother; and how those things were connected. A memoir from Brandylane Publishers, in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Find it here.