What’s Growing in You?

09/04/2026

Some things in life can be faked for a little while. We can fake patience through a meeting. We can act joyful when we’re irritated. We can smile at somebody while having an entirely different conversation with them in our head. But eventually, what’s really inside us starts showing up. Paul gives us a different picture of the Christian life. Following Jesus isn’t primarily about trying harder to look like Him. It’s about staying close enough to Him that His Spirit begins producing something different in us.

Today’s verse, Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) says,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

There’s a little word at the beginning of this passage that matters: “But.”

Paul has just described what life looks like when our flesh is running the show. Jealousy. Anger. Rivalries. Envy. Division. Sexual immorality. Drunkenness. It isn’t a pretty list.

But… There is another way to live.

And notice Paul doesn’t call these things the fruit of Jeff trying harder. He calls them the fruit of the Spirit.

That distinction matters because sometimes we approach spiritual growth like a self-improvement project.

“I need to be more patient.”

“I need to control my temper.”

“I need to be more loving.”

“I need to quit worrying.”

Those may all be true. But if our solution is simply to grit our teeth and try harder, eventually we’re going to wear ourselves out.

Think about an apple tree.

You’ll never walk past one and hear it groaning, “Come on… apple… APPLE!”

It produces apples because that’s what it is, and because it is receiving what it needs to live.

Jesus used similar language in John 15 when He talked about abiding in Him. The branch produces fruit because it stays connected to the vine.

That changes the question.

Instead of only asking, “How can I become more patient?”

Maybe we should also ask, “How closely am I walking with Jesus?”

Because the Holy Spirit changes us from the inside out.

And there’s something else worth noticing here.

Paul says fruit, singular.

Not fruits.

We talked about this recently when we described it as one fruit with nine flavors. We don’t get to walk through the list and order à la carte.

“I’ll take love, joy, and peace. Kindness sounds good. Self-control? I’m going to pass on that one.”

The Spirit is forming the character of Christ in us.

And sometimes the best evidence of His work isn’t what happens when everything is going well.

It’s what comes out of us when somebody irritates us. When the plan changes. When somebody says something unfair.

When traffic stops. When the answer from God hasn’t come.
When someone gets something we wanted. When we could say something cutting and choose not to.

Those moments reveal what’s growing inside us.

That doesn’t mean a Christian never gets angry, discouraged, impatient, or frustrated. Spiritual maturity isn’t pretending those emotions don’t exist. The question is whether those emotions control us or whether we surrender them to the Spirit.

And fruit grows gradually.

Nobody plants a tree Monday morning and gets frustrated Tuesday afternoon because there aren’t peaches hanging from it.

Growth takes time.

You may look at your life and think, I still have so far to go.

Probably. And so do I.

But don’t only look at how far you have left. Look at what God has already been growing.

Maybe something that would have sent you over the edge five years ago now sends you to prayer.

Maybe you forgive faster.

Maybe you listen longer.

Maybe your first reaction isn’t always your final response anymore.

Maybe you’re learning to say no to something that used to control you.

That’s fruit.

But there’s also a challenge in this passage we shouldn’t miss. If there is consistently no fruit, we shouldn’t simply shrug our shoulders and say, “Well, that’s just how I am.”

Jesus loves us too much to leave us hiding behind that excuse.

“I’ve always had a temper.”

“I’m just impatient.”

“I’ve never been very forgiving.”

“I just say what I think.”

Those statements may describe where we started. They shouldn’t determine where we stay.

The Holy Spirit is in the business of changing people.

So maybe today the question isn’t, “Do I have all nine of these perfected?”

None of us does.

A better question might be:

What is the Holy Spirit trying to grow in me right now—and am I cooperating with Him?

Maybe it’s patience. Maybe it’s self-control. Maybe it’s gentleness with someone you’ve been pretty hard on. And maybe it’s peace in an area you keep trying to control.

Whatever it is, don’t just try harder today.

Stay connected to Jesus.

Listen when the Spirit corrects you.

Obey when He prompts you.

Repent quickly when you miss it.

Because healthy fruit isn’t manufactured.

It grows from a life surrendered to God.

Action Steps

* Read the list slowly. Ask God which part of the fruit of the Spirit needs the most attention in your life right now.
* Watch your reactions today. Pay particular attention when you’re interrupted, frustrated, disappointed, or challenged. Those moments often reveal what God is working on.
* Practice surrender instead of willpower. When you feel your flesh taking over, stop and pray something simple: “Holy Spirit, lead me here.”

Challenge for the Day

Choose one of the nine qualities in Galatians 5:22–23 that you most need today. Write it somewhere you’ll see it, pray about it, and intentionally give the Holy Spirit room to produce it in the way you respond to people today.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I don’t want to simply look more like Jesus on the outside. I want You to change what is happening inside of me. Show me where my flesh is still controlling my reactions, attitudes, and choices. Grow Your fruit in my life. Help me stay close to Jesus, listen when You speak, and obey when You lead. May the people around me experience more of Christ because of what You are doing in me. Amen.

Pastor Jeff

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