Have you ever wondered if the routines you’ve worked so hard to maintain might not actually be supporting the kind of relationship with God you long for?
- Maybe you’ve started another Bible plan.
- Downloaded another devotional.
- Saved another Instagram reel.
- Bought another book.
- Tried another morning routine.
And yet, despite your sincere desire to grow, you still find yourself thinking:
“I should be further along by now.”
If that’s you, you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever felt that way, I want you to hear this:
I don’t think you’re failing.
And I don’t think your desire is the problem.
But I do wonder if your current faith routine may not be helping you grow in the best way.
Hi, I’m Deneen, and I help busy Christian women build faith rhythms that fit their real lives so they can feel close to God every day.
And, I want to help you recognize three signs that your current faith routine may not actually be supporting your growth and why doing more isn’t always the answer.
Because sometimes the problem isn’t your desire.
And it may not even be your discipline.
It may simply be that the way you’re trying to grow isn’t the way God designed you to grow.
Why More Isn’t Always Better
Today, Christian women have access to more spiritual resources than ever before.
- Podcasts.
- Books.
- Bible studies.
- Apps.
- Devotionals.
- Prayer challenges.
- Journaling methods.
- Fasting plans.
- Church recommendations.
And none of those things are bad.
They’re gifts.
But sometimes, in our desire to grow, we begin collecting so many good things that we lose sight of what is actually helping us connect with God.
One of the most freeing lessons I’ve learned over the years is this:
More spiritual input doesn’t always lead to deeper spiritual growth.
You can listen to more podcasts.
Read more books.
Complete more Bible plans.
Follow more Christian influencers.
And still feel disconnected.
Because spiritual growth isn’t simply about accumulating information.
It’s about walking with Jesus.
And sometimes, what we need isn’t more.
Sometimes we need clarity.
By the way, if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the advice and wondering where to start, I created a free Faith Shape Quiz to help you begin discovering how God may have uniquely designed you to connect with Him.
Because clarity often begins when we stop trying to do everything and start understanding ourselves a little better.
Three Signs Your Faith Routine May Not Be Supporting Your Growth
1. You’re constantly looking for something better.
Another journal.
Another devotional.
Another challenge.
Another system.
You keep hoping the next thing will finally make everything click.
Not because you don’t love God.
But because you’re still searching for the formula.
2. You feel guilty more than grateful.
Somewhere along the way, your quiet time became something you measure instead of Someone you meet.
Instead of experiencing joy, you feel pressure.
Instead of gratitude, you feel disappointment.
Not because God is disappointed with you.
But because you’ve placed expectations on yourself that He never asked you to carry.
3. You feel like you should be further along.
No matter how much you do, it never feels like enough.
You compare your progress.
You wonder why consistency seems easier for everyone else.
And deep down, you start questioning yourself.
- Maybe I’m not disciplined enough.
- Maybe I’m doing something wrong.
- Maybe I should be further along by now.
Jesus Offered Rest, Not Exhaustion
Jesus said:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
He didn’t say:
“Come to Me and perfect your routine.”
He didn’t say:
“Come to Me after you’ve figured everything out.”
He simply said:
Come to Me.
Because the goal has never been perfect routines.
The goal has always been relationship.
The Question May Not Be Whether Your Routine Is Good
And I don’t think the answer is throwing everything away.
- Books are good.
- Bible plans are good.
- Journaling is good.
- Prayer challenges are good.
Spiritual disciplines matter.
But what nourishes one person may not nourish another in the same way.
Because God created people differently.
And over the years, I’ve discovered something.
Most women don’t need more spiritual advice.
They need clarity.
The question isn’t whether your faith routine is good.
The question is whether it’s helping you grow in the best way for how God uniquely designed you.
Jesus said we’re to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
And while all four matter, I’ve found that many women naturally connect with God more easily through one or two of those dimensions.
- Some feel closest to Him through reflection and quiet.
- Others through studying and learning.
- Others through relationships and emotions.
- And others through serving and doing.
That’s one reason the exact same routine can feel life-giving for one woman and exhausting for another.
Because growth isn’t just about what you do.
It’s also about understanding how God uniquely wired you to walk with Him.
A Personal Discovery
For years, I thought the answer was simply trying harder.
Doing more.
Finding the perfect routine.
But eventually, I realized that growth isn’t about doing everything.
And it’s not about finding someone else’s formula.
It’s about learning to cooperate with the way God designed you.
Because the same practices that energize one woman may overwhelm another.
And that’s okay.
God is not asking us all to walk with Him in exactly the same way.
That’s one of the reasons I created the Faith Design Profile Experience.
Some women want to go beyond discovering their Faith Shape and explore how their personality, spiritual design, leadership patterns, and current season all work together.
That’s exactly what we do inside the Profile.
But whether you start with the quiz or eventually pursue deeper clarity, my prayer is that you’ll stop measuring your faith by how much you’re doing…
And start experiencing the peace Jesus intended.
What If You Need Clarity, Not More Effort?
Maybe you don’t need another Bible plan.
Maybe you don’t need another podcast.
Maybe you don’t need another morning routine.
Maybe you don’t need more effort.
Maybe what you need is clarity.
Because spiritual growth isn’t about doing everything.
It’s about building rhythms and practices that help you know and love God in the way He uniquely designed you: heart, soul, mind, or strength.
And that may be one of the most freeing discoveries you’ll ever make.
I’d love to hear from you.
Have you ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the spiritual advice out there?
Or have you ever thought, “I should be further along by now”?
Share your answer in the comments. I read every one, and I’d love to hear your experience.
And if today’s conversation has you wondering how God may have uniquely designed you to connect with Him, I’d love to invite you to take my free Faith Shape Quiz.
And if you’re looking for more personalized guidance, I’d love to tell you more about the Faith Design Profile Experience.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything to grow.
You simply need to walk with Jesus in the way He uniquely designed you.
Be filled to overflowing,
DeneenTB
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