Growing in Faith by Kinya

The name Growing in Faith is deeply personal to me. It’s not just a name – it’s where I am at with my relationship with God. I am not just saying “I’m growing in faith”, I am currently living it, wrestling with it and learning to fully trust in God.

For the longest time, over self reliance disguised itself as strength in my life – a trait I was proud of and thought should be admired. Being a Christian, it was hard for me to notice it as a problem because morally it didn’t seem wrong.

The realization came when someone close to me received something they had been trusting God for. If I’m honest, they were trusting God in a way I did not quite understand. I believe God used that moment to show me where my faith in Him stopped. I realized that I had been equating my faith in God with my own effort – and because my own strength is limited, frustration naturally followed.

In my experience self reliance feels like tunnel vision. Because I became so fixed in my own way, forgetting God can move beyond my plans. I limited Him without realizing. Leaving little room to experience His might, His miracles and even his love through other people. It offered a false sense of security too, one that came from feeling like I was in control. And a fragile peace that depended on how much I could do or fix.

When my efforts seemed fruitless, instead of turning to God I turned inward, blaming myself for not doing more so I pushed myself harder, and in those moments resting felt wrong. Yet when my efforts seemed to succeed, pride crept in making me trust even more in my own way.

But I thank God because indeed “all things work together for good to those who love Him...” (Romans 8:28). Someone else’s answered prayer became an invitation from God to learn surrender, a humbling yet freeing lesson.

Now when I start to feel like I’m not doing enough, I remind myself that “it is God who brings the increase and I am secure in Him.” And when guilt whispers that I shouldn’t rest without “fixing things” first, I pray and surrender those thoughts to God – because nothing is truly under my control and this Word solidifies that:

The angel told me to give Zerubbabel this message from the LORD: “You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by my spirit.”

Zechariah 4:6

Beyond the name, Growing in Faith as a blog is also an act of dependance on God. I am learning to rely on Him for the words to write and for the courage to share because it is all for His glory.

All our journeys with God are unique.