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7 Biblical Truths to Remember When Progress is Slow

On December 2, 2025 by

I saw this sign on my walk the other day and thought, “Boy, isn’t that how progress feels right now!”

SLOW.

Whether it’s getting healthy, finishing a degree program, or aspiring to some other life goal, staying the course can often seem monotonous or even impossible.

If that resonates with you, keep reading for 7 biblical truths on how to press forward even when it feels difficult.

1. Surrender to God is key.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.“

Proverbs 16:3

Before we make our plans, write down goals or take that first step toward fulfilling our dreams, it is pivotal that we do not skip our Foundation. Instead of trying to build something before our hearts are right, we must do our due diligence and allow God to be first and center. For, without a fully surrendered life to God, all of our plans are futile.

Action Steps:

  1. Surrender. Give God everything and then ask Him to have His way in your life.
  2. Every day, I pray a prayer such as this and I encourage you to do the same because you will start to see your life change: “Lord, I submit myself to you today. Use me as You will. I want to be whole-hearted and fully surrendered so that you can accomplish Your purposes in me. I lay down my own will, my hopes, my dreams, my timeline, the way I think things should be. And I trust in your sovereignty over my life.”

2. Seek for inward change.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.“

Psalm 51:10

Before we can see results on the outside, we must allow God to do the mind and heart work necessary for real and lasting change. This includes our personal relationship with God, our character, thought patterns, intentions of the heart, and how we treat others. If these things are out of sync, it doesn’t matter what we try to change on the outside. Our inward heart will always come to the surface to reveal who we really are.

Action Steps:

  1. Ask God to change your heart and mindset and reveal to you the things that are keeping you from growth. I guarantee, these are prayers He always answers!
  2. Let go of negative mindsets and unfruitful speech. Think and speak positively about your life and what God can do!
  3. Read good books that will help push you in the direction you want to go. I usually have my Bible studies in the mornings and read a chapter of a good transformative book at night.
  4. Take notes on everything you read. Be committed to learning. This is a game-changer!

3. Be crystal clear about your purpose.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…“

Proverbs 29:18

I admit, this has been the Achilles heel of my existence. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve always had goals… somewhere… somehow… someday… (insert shrug emoji here.) But there is a difference between merely having goals and feeling a deep inner purpose and calling that we must rise up to. Instead of “maybe someday…” let’s be absolutely sure of our callings and do something about it now.

Action Steps:

  1. Journal: What is God’s purpose for my life?
  2. What brings fulfillment to my soul?
  3. What are my values and what kind of person do I want to be?
  4. What contributions do I want to give to the world? How do I want people to remember me?

4. Set challenging but attainable goals.

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost,
whether he has enough to complete it?”

Luke 14:28

Be specific and clear. Be purposeful and know why you want to move forward. This is really important and is true for any kind of progress we want to make or anything we want to achieve. Create a specific and attainable goal. And then count the cost. Break your big goal down into many small goals to help you stay motivated and confident.

Action Steps:

  1. According to your God-given purpose and values, write down the steps it is going to take to become the person God sees in you.
  2. What are the habits you need to develop to get there? What habits should you break?
  3. Are you in the health you need to be in to accomplish these goals?
  4. Then, set time and date limits for yourself, so that you will be more apt to completing each step and living with purpose.
  5. Review your goals every week and the steps you can take that week to achieve them.

5. Action breeds motivation.

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.“

Hebrews 12:11

We often wait for motivation before we get up and do something. But often, motivation never comes and we continue to sit on the couch, unprepared and passing up opportunities. But when we have a deep-rooted purpose and vision for our life, following through with discipline becomes easier. Still, there are times we may feel stuck or discouraged and need a little push in the right direction.

Action Steps:

  1. Force yourself to get up and do one thing toward your goal. For me, that might mean finishing a blog post or getting my steps in for the day. Your one thing may look completely different than mine, but the goal is to get yourself back into alignment with your purpose.
  2. Go for a walk. This always helps me clear my head and I often have a new perspective when I return.
  3. Turn off the distractions. Log out. Turn notifications off. Put your phone out of reach. Whatever it takes to get your focus back.
  4. Clear the clutter. Often times, our minds become cluttered along with our surroundings, and it can be debilitating.
  5. Find an accountability partner. Ask your spouse, friend, family member, or a mentor to help hold you accountable to your goals.

6. Find a mentor/coach.

“Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.”

Proverbs 15:22

So often, I’ve thought: “I can do this on my own. I can research and find the answers.” But actually doing it is harder than it looks. Not to mention, so much time is wasted trying to figure things out without a proper guide. If you’ve tried and tried and failed like me, maybe it’s time to consult an expert.

Action Steps:

  1. What is one thing you need to become better at in order to achieve your goal?
  2. Seek out an expert in that field and talk with them about your goals.
  3. You most likely will have to pay for their services. Mentorship is about investing in the person you want to become.

7. Don’t give up.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

The hardest part of progress and growth is the actual growing part. It won’t be easy. But anything worthwhile is worth fighting for and pressing toward. Remember, change doesn’t happen overnight. You will fail and you will try again. But that’s the process of learning. Make adjustments as necessary, but don’t give up! Stay the course and keep trusting in God to help you fulfill your goals. I know He will give you the strength you need!

What goals are you working toward? How do you continue to move forward when you feel stuck? Please let me know in the comments! And if this post has helped you in any way, please pass it along to someone who needs the encouragement. 🙂

For more on becoming diligent in your life, check out:

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