Spiritual Growth Through Everyday Struggles | Faith in the Ordinary
Introduction
Spiritual growth through everyday struggles doesn’t always happen in mountaintop moments. More often than not, it happens in mundane Mondays, unexpected detours, and even in the middle of an argument over who left the dirty dishes in the sink (again). Life is filled with struggles, both big and small, and navigating them with faith can be one of the most transformative ways we grow spiritually.
Many of us expect to feel closer to God in church services, deep prayer, or moments of undeniable miracles. But what if the greatest lessons come from annoying coworkers, traffic jams, forgotten deadlines, and parenting meltdowns? What if the detours we face daily are actually God’s way of refining us, drawing us closer, and building resilience in our faith?
In this post, we’ll explore how everyday struggles shape spiritual growth, how to navigate them with faith, and how to find meaning in the ordinary moments that make up most of our lives. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if you’re fancy like that), and let’s talk about how to grow in faith through the real, messy, sometimes frustrating moments of life.
🔗 Read: How to Find God in the Everyday
1. Spiritual Growth Through the Unexpected Blessing of Struggles 💡
Nobody wakes up excited about facing a challenge. But, what if struggles weren’t just obstacles, but actually invitations to grow into something greater? What if every difficult moment carried within it a hidden lesson, a deeper purpose, or a step toward a stronger faith? Instead of seeing struggles as roadblocks, we could begin to see them as stepping stones—opportunities to refine our character, deepen our trust in God, and build resilience that carries us through life’s ups and downs.
📖 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2-3 (NIV)
The Bible doesn’t shy away from the reality of struggles. It actually calls them an opportunity. Think about it: when do you turn to God the most? When things are easy? Or when you’re desperate for direction, strength, and peace?
Common Everyday Struggles That Lead to Growth:
✅ Patience in Delays – Long grocery store lines? Traffic? Maybe God is teaching you patience (or testing it). ✅ Conflict with Others – That difficult coworker? That frustrating neighbor? Maybe God is shaping your character through them. ✅ Financial Stress – Learning to trust God in scarcity builds faith like nothing else. ✅ Parenting Chaos – Children are both a blessing and a sanctification process in disguise.
🔗 Read: Why God Allows Struggles
2. Recognizing Spiritual Growth Through Everyday Struggles 🌱
Sometimes, we don’t realize we’re growing until we look back and see how far we’ve come. Growth doesn’t always feel like progress—it often feels like frustration, confusion, or even failure. In the moment, it might seem like we’re standing still or even going backward, but spiritual growth is often subtle and gradual. It’s in the times when we resist reacting with anger, when we offer forgiveness instead of resentment, or when we choose faith over doubt. These are the moments that shape us, even when we don’t immediately recognize them.
Signs You’re Growing Spiritually (Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It):
✅ You react differently to challenges – What once made you lose your temper now makes you take a deep breath and pray instead. ✅ You see people differently – Instead of instantly judging, you start to see people through God’s eyes. ✅ You’re more aware of your thoughts and actions – Conviction, rather than guilt, guides your decisions. ✅ You turn to prayer before panic – Instead of letting anxiety take over, you find yourself seeking God first.
Spiritual growth isn’t always big, dramatic changes. Often, it’s in the tiny shifts—choosing faith over fear, patience over frustration, gratitude over complaining.
🔗 Read: Signs of Spiritual Maturity
3. Faith in the Small, Unseen Moments: The Key to Spiritual Growth 👀
It’s easy to believe that faith is built in miraculous, grand experiences—but what if true faith is actually built in the unseen moments?
Think about David tending sheep before he became king. Moses spent years in the wilderness before leading Israel. Even Jesus spent 30 years in obscurity before His public ministry. Faith grows in the quiet, small, and uncelebrated spaces of life.
How to Find God in the Ordinary:
✅ Start your day with gratitude – Even when your coffee spills, thank God for the day ahead. ✅ Invite God into the small tasks – Washing dishes? Driving? Folding laundry? Turn it into prayer time. ✅ Look for lessons in frustrations – Every inconvenience carries an opportunity for growth. ✅ Celebrate small victories – That one time you didn’t snap in irritation? That’s progress.
🔗 Read: Finding God in the Simple Things
4. Turning Everyday Struggles into Spiritual Strength for Growth 💪
Struggles are a part of life, but they don’t have to define us. Instead of allowing difficulties to drain our faith, we can use them as opportunities to build spiritual endurance, resilience, and deeper trust in God. Every hardship, whether big or small, has the potential to refine us and bring us closer to the person God is shaping us to be.
📖 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” — Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)
Hardships teach us perseverance, and perseverance builds godly character. The key is in our perspective. Do we view struggles as punishment or as training for a stronger, faith-filled life? How we respond to challenges determines whether they will break us or build us.
Practical Ways to Turn Struggles into Strength:
✅ Reframe your mindset – Instead of asking “Why is this happening to me?”, ask “What can I learn from this?” ✅ Stay rooted in prayer – Even short, honest prayers keep us connected to God’s strength. ✅ Seek wisdom from Scripture – The Bible is filled with guidance for every type of struggle. ✅ Surround yourself with faith-filled people – Community strengthens and encourages us. ✅ Reflect on past victories – If God carried you before, He will do it again.
The next time you face an unexpected challenge, pause and shift your focus. Rather than seeing obstacles, see opportunities for spiritual growth.
🔗 Read: How Struggles Build Faith
5. Spiritual Growth Through Everyday Struggles: The Role of Gratitude 🙏
Gratitude is a powerful spiritual discipline that shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. It teaches us to see God’s presence in the everyday and strengthens our faith, even in difficult seasons.
📖 “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
How Gratitude Transforms Your Faith:
✅ It deepens trust in God – When we reflect on past blessings, we become more confident that God will provide in the future. ✅ It shifts focus from problems to praise – A grateful heart sees struggles as opportunities rather than obstacles. ✅ It cultivates joy – Gratitude reminds us that even in hardship, there are still reasons to rejoice. ✅ It strengthens prayer life – Thanking God daily builds a habit of constant communication and awareness of His goodness.
Practical Ways to Practice Gratitude:
- Keep a gratitude journal and write three things you’re thankful for daily.
- Verbally express thanks to God and others for big and small blessings.
- Reflect on past hardships and recognize how they shaped your faith.
- Use gratitude as a tool for shifting perspective during difficult moments.
🔗 Read: How Gratitude Strengthens Faith
6. Serving Others as a Path to Spiritual Growth 🤝
One of the most profound ways to grow spiritually is by serving others. Jesus himself modeled a life of humility, service, and selflessness, reminding us that faith is not just about personal growth—it’s about loving and uplifting others.
📖 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” — Matthew 20:26 (NIV)
How Serving Others Helps You Grow Spiritually:
✅ It shifts focus from self to others – When we serve, we become less consumed with our own struggles. ✅ It deepens compassion – Seeing others’ hardships reminds us to appreciate our blessings and show grace. ✅ It strengthens our faith – Acts of service allow us to see God working through us. ✅ It aligns our heart with Christ’s – Jesus spent His life serving others; we grow spiritually when we follow His example.
Ways to Serve in Everyday Life:
- Offer kind words or encouragement to someone who’s struggling.
- Volunteer at a food bank, shelter, or community outreach program.
- Serve within your church, neighborhood, or workplace.
- Practice small acts of kindness, like paying for someone’s coffee or helping a neighbor.
🔗 Read: Why Serving Others is a Key to Spiritual Growth 💪
If struggles are inevitable, we might as well use them for our good. Every hardship we face presents an opportunity to grow, learn, and become stronger in our faith. How we respond to challenges determines whether they break us, build us, or refine us into something greater. Even in difficult moments, God is shaping us, stretching our patience, and teaching us endurance. Sometimes, the lessons aren’t clear until we look back and realize how much we’ve changed because of the struggles we thought would overwhelm us.
How to Grow Spiritually Through Struggles:
✅ Reframe your perspective – Instead of asking “Why me?”, ask “What can I learn?” ✅ Stay consistent in prayer – Even short, honest prayers keep us connected. ✅ Surround yourself with faith-filled people – Community strengthens faith. ✅ Remember past victories – If God brought you through before, He’ll do it again.
Spiritual strength isn’t about avoiding struggles—it’s about learning to stand firm in them.
🔗 Read: How Struggles Build Faith
Conclusion: Growing in Faith One Day at a Time 🌿
Spiritual growth doesn’t always look like a big revelation or a mountaintop moment. Sometimes, it looks like choosing kindness when you’re frustrated, trusting God in the unknown, and learning to find joy even in life’s inconveniences.
The next time you face an annoying delay, unexpected hardship, or difficult conversation, pause. Ask God what He’s teaching you. Growth happens in these moments, even if we don’t see it right away.
What’s one everyday struggle that has helped you grow in faith? Share in the comments! 💬