Have you ever wanted a glow-up so badly that you wished you could just skip to the part where you already had it? Clear skin. Better grades. More confidence. Making the team. Nailing that skill you’ve been working on. Finally figuring out how to put in contacts without feeling like you’re fighting for your life. Or maybe you just want better friends. More independence. A little less awkwardness. Basically: Can I just level up already?! Honestly? Same.
We live in a world where almost everything is instant. Want Chick-fil-A? Tap a button. Need something from Amazon? Overnight shipping. Want to watch a movie? Simply pick one and press play. So it makes sense that we sometimes expect our own growth to work the same way. But it doesn’t. (Bummer, right?) But good news! God actually gives us a pretty clear picture of what becoming looks like… and it happens one step at a time.
STEP ONE: CHECK IN WITH JESUS
First things first: wanting to grow is a good thing. Wanting to get better at something, try something new, become stronger, grow in confidence, or level up in an area of your life isn’t something you need to feel guilty about. God created you to grow! But before you start chasing the next version of yourself, check in with Jesus. Because God isn’t just looking at what you want. He cares about why you want it. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God reminds us that while people look at outward appearances, “the Lord looks at the heart.” So before you go after that goal, take a second and ask yourself: Why do I want this? What do I think this will change? Am I doing this because I’m excited to grow or because I’ve decided I’m not enough as I am? Am I comparing myself to someone else? Those questions matter. Because there’s a big difference between “I’m grateful for who God has made me and I’m excited to see who I’m becoming” and… “I need to become someone else because who I am right now isn’t good enough.” One comes from gratitude. The other comes from comparison. So dream big, sis. Set goals. Work hard. Want the glow-up. Just make sure you’re checking your heart along the way. You don't have to become more because you're not enough. You can grow because you’re grateful for what God has already done… and excited about what He’s still doing.
STEP TWO: LET THE WORK DO ITS THING
Then comes the part we don’t always love: The work. James 1:2-4 shares a pretty wild progression when it comes to becoming: Trials → perseverance → maturity. In other words, some of the things that challenge you are also the things that are shaping you. The hard practice. The failed attempt. The test you didn’t ace. The friendship that didn’t work out. The thing you have to keep trying even though you’re officially over being bad at it. Those moments aren’t proof that you’re failing. (Read that again, sweet girl.) It’s actually proof that something is happening! You’re becoming. Perseverance doesn’t magically appear one morning. You build it every time you decide to keep going. And every time you keep going, something in you gets stronger.
STEP THREE: ACCEPT THAT YOU CAN’T MICROWAVE A GLOW-UP
I know. Rude! We want results now. We want to be good at something now. Confident now. Strong now. Disciplined now.
Great at relationships now. But real growth takes practice. You don’t become amazing at a sport because you practiced once. You don’t suddenly become a great student because you had one really productive study session. And you definitely don’t become confident because you woke up one morning and told yourself, “Okay, today I’m just going to be confident.” You’ve gotta put in the reps. A little. Then a little more. Then a little more. 2 Corinthians 3:18 describes our transformation as going “from glory to glory.” Not from glory to finished. From glory to glory. Growth upon growth. Step upon step. That’s how becoming works. It’s not one giant leap. It’s a whole bunch of little choices that add up over time.
STEP FOUR: DON’T QUIT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN’T SEE IT YET
This might be the hardest part. Galatians 6:9 tells us not to give up doing good because, at the right time, we will reap a harvest. At the right time. Not instantly. Not on your timeline. At the right time. Think about how weird it would be to plant a seed, stare at the dirt for three days, and decide, “Well, I guess this isn’t working.” That’s crazy, right? But sometimes that’s exactly what we do with ourselves. We work hard for a little while, don’t see a huge difference, assume nothing is happening, then quit. But just because you can’t see the growth doesn’t mean there isn’t growth happening. And can I let you in on a secret, friend (Come in close for this one.)? I know the work is hard, but it is so worth it! Pinky promise. The harvest is sweeter than you can imagine, my girl, so DON’T GIVE UP before you get to enjoy it!
STEP FIVE: REMEMBER... BECOMING ISN’T ARRIVING
Here’s the good news: You don’t have to become the “final version” of yourself right now. Because (mic drop!) there isn’t one. Life is full of becoming. You will grow. Learn. Change. Try things. Fail. Try again. Discover things about yourself. Discover things about God. Outgrow some things. Become more of who you were created to be. And then do it all over again. And again. And again. And… you get the point. So if you’re in the middle right now—if you’re not where you want to be yet—welcome to being human! Don’t rush it. Don’t quit because it feels slow. And don’t mistake “not there yet” for “not making progress.” God is still working. You are still becoming. And becoming? Was never supposed to be instant. XOXO!
GO DEEPER
Want to take this a little further? Grab your Bible and journal, find a cozy or quiet spot, put on your favorite playlist, and spend a little time hanging out with Jesus. Read each passage below and the whole section around it. Ask Jesus what He wants you to notice and write down anything that stands out to you.
1 Samuel 16:7… God looks at the heart.
Philippians 1:6… God is still working in you.
James 1:2–4… Perseverance grows you.
2 Corinthians 3:18… We are transformed from glory to glory.
Galatians 6:9… Don’t give up before the harvest.
Take your time. Read it. Sit with it. Ask questions. See what God shows you. You might be surprised by what He’s been growing in you all along!