“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Many believers start their walk with God full of excitement and wonder, experiencing immediate answers to prayer and feeling His presence so strongly. But as time goes on, they notice things begin to change—prayers aren’t answered as quickly, trials increase, and suddenly, what once seemed easy now requires greater effort.
They wonder what’s going on and endless questions run through their heads: “what did I do wrong?” “Did I commit an unconscious act or sin?” “Where did I go wrong?”
Most are now stuck as a result.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your faith journey, you’re not alone. Spiritual growth happens in stages, just like physical growth. In this teaching, we’ll explore the four key stages of walking with God, how to recognize where you are, what to do next to keep growing, and how to walk daily in faith.
Stage 1: The Baby Stage (Milk) – Immediate Answers to Prayer
When you first start your walk with God, it feels like prayers are answered almost instantly. You ask, and He responds. This is a time of excitement, learning, and building trust in God’s faithfulness.
Signs You’re in This Stage:
✅ Your prayers are answered quickly.
✅ You feel God’s presence easily.
✅ Your faith is growing, but still young.
✅ You depend on God’s grace more than spiritual discipline.
Biblical Example:
Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-18) – God provided manna daily without them working for it. Similarly, when we’re spiritual infants, God often makes things easy for us to build our trust in Him.
Challenges at This Stage:
⚠️ You might expect all prayers to be answered instantly.
⚠️ You could struggle when God seems “silent.”
⚠️ Your faith may still be dependent on feelings.
What’s Next? How to Grow:
➡️ Build a foundation in the Word: Move beyond relying on experiences—start studying Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15).
➡️ Develop a prayer habit: Stay consistent in prayer, even when answers take longer (Luke 18:1).
➡️ Practice gratitude: Thank God before you see the results (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Personal Reflection:
I remembered those days – very encouraging and exciting. There were days when those answers came while I was still praying
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
Stage 2: The Waiting Season – Developing Endurance
As you mature, you’ll notice that prayers aren’t answered as quickly. God begins teaching patience, endurance, and trust in His timing.
Signs You’re in This Stage:
✅ Answers to prayer take longer.
✅ God is teaching you to walk by faith, not by sight.
✅ You feel stretched in your spiritual walk.
✅ You are being trained in patience and discipline.
Biblical Example:
Abraham waiting for Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7) – God promised him a son, but it took decades. Why? Because waiting built Abraham’s trust and refined his faith.
Challenges at This Stage:
⚠️ Doubts may creep in—“Did God hear me?”
⚠️ You might feel discouraged or tempted to act on your own.
⚠️ Spiritual dryness can set in if you focus on delays instead of God.
What’s Next? How to Grow:
➡️ Embrace the process: Waiting seasons refine your faith (James 1:3-4).
➡️ Pray with expectancy: Keep asking, seeking, and knocking (Luke 11:9-10).
➡️ Deepen your relationship with God: This is a time to worship, study, and grow.
Personal Reflection:
Praising and worshiping keeps His presence, and faith, alive in your life.
Stage 3: The Meat Stage – Fasting & Spiritual Discipline
At this stage, you realize that prayer alone isn’t always enough—some breakthroughs require fasting, spiritual warfare, and greater discipline.
Signs You’re in This Stage:
✅ You sense God calling you to fast.
✅ You experience spiritual warfare.
✅ You discern deeper spiritual realities.
✅ God requires a greater level of commitment from you.
Biblical Example:
Jesus fasting before ministry (Luke 4:1-14) – Before stepping into His full purpose, Jesus fasted for 40 days, defeating the enemy’s temptations.
Challenges at This Stage:
⚠️ Fasting requires sacrifice and commitment.
⚠️ Opposition from the enemy increases.
⚠️ Others may not understand your spiritual discipline.
What’s Next? How to Grow:
➡️ Incorporate fasting into your life: Start with small fasts and build up (Matthew 6:16-18).
➡️ Recognize spiritual warfare: Understand when battles require more than just prayer.
➡️ Stay disciplined: Make fasting, prayer, and the Word part of your lifestyle.
Personal Reflection:
There was a time in my life when all I did was fast – I’d finish one and sensed to go on another. I didn’t understand – I just did. Then, one day, I heard a pastor preached that there was a season in his life when all he did was fast, back-to-back. I knew God was letting me know, through his sermon, why I did similar.
Stage 4: The Strong Meat Stage – Carrying Greater Kingdom Responsibility
At this point, God is calling you to a life of greater purpose, responsibility, and alignment with His will. Breakthroughs require persistence, faith, and obedience.
Signs You’re in This Stage:
✅ You experience deep revelation and authority.
✅ Your prayers shift from personal needs to Kingdom assignments.
✅ You feel the weight of spiritual responsibility.
✅ God entrusts you with greater tasks.
Biblical Example:
Daniel’s 21-day fast (Daniel 10:12-14) – His prayers were heard on day one, but spiritual opposition delayed the answer. His persistence led to breakthrough.
Challenges at This Stage:
⚠️ The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming.
⚠️ Greater obedience is required.
⚠️ The enemy resists those advancing the Kingdom.
What’s Next? How to Grow:
➡️ Seek divine strategy: Ask God for wisdom in how to pray, fast, and act (Proverbs 3:5-6).
➡️ Stay aligned with God’s will: True breakthrough comes from obedience.
➡️ Embrace the process: Spiritual maturity comes with refining.
Where Are You in Your Faith Walk?
Understanding the stages of walking with God helps us navigate seasons of faith without feeling lost or discouraged. Each stage serves a purpose, and knowing where you are can help you take the next step forward.
Which stage do you find yourself in? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to help you navigate your journey!
The Power of Belief in Action: Keeping Faith Alive
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
Hebrews 11:3 KJV
There’s a popular saying: “If you believe you can, you can; and if you don’t, you can’t.” This statement, often associated with self-confidence and determination, has a deep-rooted connection to faith. Faith isn’t just a religious concept; it is the foundation of everything we do, whether we acknowledge it or not. Every day, we make decisions based on faith — faith in people, systems, ourselves, and, most importantly, God.
Yet, many struggle with walking in faith, often equating it with wishful thinking rather than the powerful force that shapes our lives. But what if faith is more than just a passive belief? What if it is an active choice that determines our outcomes? How does faith work? How do we unknowingly exercise it? And, how can we consciously walk in faith to experience the fullness of life?
Faith Is Already at Work in Your Life and Mine
Most people don’t realize that they operate in faith daily. Consider these examples:
- You sit in a chair without testing it first because you trust it will hold your weight.
- You board an airplane without inspecting the pilot’s credentials or the mechanics of the aircraft.
- You deposit money in a bank and trust that it will be available when you need it.
- You make plans for tomorrow, believing that life will continue as expected.
All of these actions require a level of faith. Though we often attribute them to logic or experience, the reality is that we act on an unseen assurance that things will work out as they should.
true faith requires believing before seeing
If we can operate in this kind of faith in everyday matters, how much more should we trust in the power of God to lead our lives?
Faith Is the Substance of Things Unseen
Hebrews 11:1 gives us the perfect definition of faith:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith isn’t just an abstract belief — it is substance and evidence. It is tangible in the spiritual realm, even if it is not immediately visible in the physical world. Many struggle with faith because they want to see before they believe, but true faith requires believing before seeing.
Imagine an architect designing a building. The structure does not yet exist, but he sees it clearly in his mind. His faith in the blueprint leads to action, and eventually, the building stands as proof of what he first believed. This is how faith works in our lives — believing and acting upon what is not yet seen until it becomes reality.
Faith Requires Action
James 2:17 reminds us:
“Faith without works is dead.”
It is not enough to say we have faith — we must act on it. Walking in faith means moving forward even when we don’t have all the answers. It also mean:
• Taking steps toward your goals, even when they seem impossible.
• Speaking life over your circumstances, even when things look bleak.
• Trusting God’s promises, even when they haven’t manifested yet.
Faith is what moves mountains (Matthew 17:20). But mountains don’t move by just thinking about them; they move when we take action based on our belief.
Doubt Is the Opposite of Faith
Just as faith propels us forward, doubt holds us back. The opposite of “If you believe you can, you can” is “If you don’t believe, you can’t.”
In Matthew 14:28-31, Peter walked on water toward Jesus. But the moment he doubted, he began to sink. His faith allowed him to defy natural laws, but his doubt made him fail. This teaches us that faith and doubt cannot coexist. To truly walk in faith, we must:
- Guard our thoughts—What we dwell on influences our belief system.
- Speak faith-filled words—Our words shape our reality.
- Surround ourselves with faith-builders—Being around negativity weakens faith.
How to Walk in Faith Daily
If faith is so powerful, how can we strengthen and walk in it daily?
- Feed Your Faith with God’s Word
Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Faith is like a muscle — it grows with exercise. The more we read, hear, and meditate on God’s promises, the stronger our faith becomes.
- Speak and Declare What You Believe
Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” When we speak words of faith, we align our lives with what we believe. Instead of saying, “I’ll never make it,” declare, “I can do all things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13).
- Take Action, Even When It’s Uncomfortable
Walking in faith often requires stepping outside of our comfort zones. Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). If God is leading you, trust that He will guide your steps.
- Reject Fear and Doubt
Fear paralyzes faith. Instead of dwelling on what could go wrong, focus on what God has promised. Remind yourself of past victories where faith brought results.
- Trust God’s Timing
Faith doesn’t always mean instant results. Many give up because they don’t see immediate answers. But just as a farmer doesn’t expect a harvest the day after planting seeds, faith requires patience. Trust that what you believe for will come to pass in due season.
Final Thoughts
Faith is not wishful thinking — it is a powerful force that shapes our lives. Every day, we already operate in faith, whether we acknowledge it or not. But when we intentionally choose to walk in faith — believing, speaking, and acting on God’s promises — we unlock a level of life that is unstoppable.
So the next time you hesitate because of fear or doubt, ask yourself: What would happen if I truly believed I could? Then, walk boldly in faith, knowing that with God, all things are possible.
Think-Talk 