Lesson Learned: Slow Change Is Still Change

Christian Living, Discipleship, Sanctification 2 Minutes

“Be patient with yourself. A sense of urgency, yes; but not a sense of hurry. Overnight transformations are the exception, not the norm. Slow change is still real change.” – Dane Ortlund1

I have enjoyed Dane Ortlund’s books. I read Gentle and Lowly2 when I was facing a dark time of struggling with assurance of salvation. His pastoral heart ministered to me as he pointed me to my gentle and lowly Lord. I have also enjoyed Deeper3 and the concise version titled How Does God Change Us?

I originally read How Does God Change Us? for my own growth, but I have also led a study through the book with others as well. Ortlund has a view of sanctification that takes sin seriously but also understands that real and lasting change is impossible in our own strength, is dependent upon Christ, and requires going deeper into what is already ours in Christ. I highly recommend this booklet and the longer version as well.

As I have read and reread this work, I am finally beginning to learn the lesson that change takes time. I must be patient with myself and others in the slow and uphill battle of change. I must stop thinking that change will just suddenly happen when I add a few steps to my daily routine. I really would like for all my sin struggles to end in a moment, and they will someday when I see Jesus. For now, change takes time. Change includes far more than behavior. Behavior comes from somewhere – my belief or unbelief.4 Heart transformation is the goal. God’s usual means of bringing heart transformation take time. Therefore, I should not rush myself or others. As Ortlund puts it in the quote above: “Slow change is still real change.”

 Praise God for his promise that he will complete the work of transformation in us! “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). No matter how fast or slow, God will complete the work.

  1. Ortlund, D. C. (2021). How Does God Change Us. Wheaton: Crossway, p. 16. ↩︎
  2. Ortlund, D. C. (2020). Gentle and Lowly:The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers. Wheaton: Crossway. ↩︎
  3. Ortlund, D. C. (2021). Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners. Wheaton: Crossway. ↩︎
  4. An excellent treatment of this is found in Battling Unbelief by John Piper. Unfortunately, the book is no longer in print, but you can download a PDF at desiringgod.org : Piper, J. (2007). Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure. Multnomah. ↩︎

You need to know that I do not receive any compensation for recommending these resources to you. I am simply recommending them because they have been helpful to me and may be to you.

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