When Growth Feels Stalled

Has your growth stalled?

That was the question we wrestled with in this week's Thrive Together message from Ephesians 3:14-21. Spiritual growth isn’t always linear. Sometimes we feel stuck. No matter how much we want to move forward, something just isn’t clicking. If that’s where you are right now, you’re not alone. And you’re not finished.

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians gives us the roadmap to move forward again. The secret? It starts with going deeper before going higher.

Rooted: Growth Begins with Surrender

Paul starts with a posture of humility. "For this reason I kneel before the Father." (Ephesians 3:14) Before we grow stronger, we have to bow lower. Humility is where growth begins. The world tells us to stand tall and be independent, but real growth happens when we surrender and recognize that our true identity comes from God alone.

You can’t grow strong unless you’re rooted in surrender.

Paul reminds us that we are part of a bigger story. We are named and known by the Father. If you’ve been defining yourself by your failures, your past, or the world’s labels, it’s time to kneel. Root yourself in God's identity for you.

You’re not just surviving...you’re part of God’s family, and He wants you to thrive.

Strengthened: Growth Requires Power from Within

From rootedness comes strength. But not the kind the world celebrates. "That He may grant you to be strengthened with power in your inner being through His Spirit." (Ephesians 3:16)

We don’t grow spiritually through self-effort. True strength is supernatural. It’s powered by the Holy Spirit, who anchors us in Jesus and reshapes how we see the world. Like a dying battery replaced with a new one, we need constant renewal from the Spirit. Without His power, we’ll burn out. With His power, we become unstoppable.

So ask yourself daily: Am I running on empty, or am I drawing strength from God? Don’t just try harder. Invite the Spirit to strengthen you from within.

Amazed: Growth Overflows in Praise

Finally, Paul leads us from strength to amazement. "Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think..." (Ephesians 3:20)

When you’re rooted in humility and empowered by the Spirit, something incredible happens. You begin to grasp just how massive God’s love is. And that sense of awe transforms into genuine worship.

Praise becomes the overflow of amazement.

It’s not forced. It’s not fake. It’s the only natural response when you realize how great God is and how much He desires to work in and through your life. When life feels routine or worship feels dry, maybe it’s time to get back to the basics: Root yourself in Him. Let Him strengthen you. And stand amazed again.

Your Invitation: Keep Pushing the Wall

Maybe you’re hitting the wall right now. Growth feels stalled. Progress seems impossible. You wonder if things will ever move forward again.

Don’t quit. Keep pushing the wall.

In music, sports, and life, pushing the wall is where champions are made. Not by breaking through it instantly, but by pressing against it daily until it finally shifts.

Spiritually, that wall won’t move by sheer effort, but it will move through surrender, strength, and awe.

So:

• Kneel. Check your posture and root yourself again.

• Ask. Seek the Spirit’s strength for your inner being.

• Worship. Let amazement fuel your praise.

  
  

And if you feel spiritually empty or lost today, remember that true growth starts at the cross. Jesus paid the price to bring you home, to root you in His love, and to begin a brand new work in you.

Want to go deeper? Watch the full sermon here: [Insert Link]

You were made to grow. Don’t stop now.