Key Signs of Spiritual Growth and Maturity

Every living thing grows, and that’s no less true of our spiritual lives, which require spiritual growth. New life in Jesus needs to be nurtured toward maturity. One of the images Jesus uses to describe the relationship we have with God in this new life is that Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches.

We are vitally connected to Him and draw our life from Him, allowing us to produce fruit in our lives (John 15:1-8). God is the gardener who prunes the vine to make it more fruitful. That fruit is “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).

How do you discern if you’re growing spiritually and are becoming more mature in the faith? There are a few ways you can tell.

Signs of spiritual growth and maturity

Becoming more like Jesus.

The Christian life is all about becoming increasingly like Jesus. The apostle Paul said that the goal of his ministry was to “present everyone fully mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28, NIV).

Hardships and trials are part of the way our faith is tested and proved, and it’s how we develop Christian character, hope, and stability (James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Romans 5:3-5). The more we become like Jesus, the more we’ll possess the same outlook He did, love people as He did, be as joyful as He was, and also encounter persecution and rejection as He did (John 15:18-27).

If you find yourself having greater compassion and love for people, especially for the people who hate you, then you know you’re becoming more like Jesus. He fully lived out the ethic of blessing those who persecute you, and of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves – He died on the cross to save His enemies (Romans 5:8).

A growing awareness of sin.

Toward the end of his life, Paul called himself “the worst of sinners” (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV). We might read that and think that either Paul is neurotic about his sin, or he’s simply exaggerating for effect.

However, the longer you walk with the Lord, the more you become aware of your sin and His holiness. That’s not to say you beat yourself up about it; Paul certainly didn’t. You don’t beat yourself up about it because you know the gospel of Jesus Christ that has taken root in your life.

The late pastor, author, and evangelist Tim Keller once wrote, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Paul was speaking from this gospel-rooted standpoint of understanding just how deeply flawed he was, but he also recognized that God through Christ loved him immeasurably. The more mature you become, the more you lose any illusions about yourself, and the more you will see God’s immeasurable love.

With greater maturity comes greater discernment and better judgment. You can see your self-justifications more clearly and become better able to analyze situations with deeper insight. You become more aware of your weaknesses and strengths, helping you to address the sins and situations that often affect you most. For instance, if you know you struggle with gambling, you become aware of the different ways that sin tries to ensnare you.

The desire to nurture others.

Becoming more like Jesus means becoming more aware of the people around you. When you become less self-focused, you begin realizing that others need nurture and care. Growing in your desire to nurture others toward maturity in Christ, moving toward them, and perhaps inconveniencing yourself greatly in the process, are indications that you’re growing and maturing spiritually.

Dealing with hardship and doubts.

The Christian life is not always smooth and carefree. It is often marked by hardships precisely because you’re a Christian (2 Timothy 3:12). Spiritual growth and maturity manifest as being better able to deal with hardships and doubts.

That’s not to say you can always take it with a smile. The Psalms of lament and the Book of Job correct that idea. Suffering is perplexing; it angers us, makes us fearful, and makes us wonder whether God cares, is powerful, or even exists. Many saints wrestled with deep doubts. The key word there is “wrestled.” They took their doubts, fear, anger, and questions to God, and continued doing so.

Clinging to the gospel.

Above all, spiritual growth and maturity grow deeper into the gospel, not out of it toward something else. A spiritually mature person believes the gospel more now than they did at first, they understand and have experienced new dimensions of its beauty, and they cling to it more closely because they know that life and salvation can only be found in Jesus (Acts 4:12).

Finding help.

The Christian life is one with its difficulties. Christians encounter hunger, deprivation, loss of loved ones, mental health challenges, difficult relationships, and more. The Christian has an important resource in the Holy Spirit as well as other Christians who are mature in the faith. One can also rely on Christian counselors for wisdom and support in times of need.

If you’re struggling with your spiritual journey, don’t lose heart. Seek help and speak with a Christian counselor who can help you cultivate a vibrant relationship with the Lord and the tools to handle the hardships that are part of daily life.