The Beautiful Grind: Learning to Love the Process of Becoming Like Christ

Sometimes, when we hear talk about becoming saints, the picture that springs to mind is one of incredible, almost superhuman effort. We picture the saints in the stories—the ones who prayed with an almost visible intensity, or who fasted in ways that seem almost impossible for us to replicate in the hustle of modern life. It can feel like a mountain peak, so far above our daily grind of getting the kids ready for school and making it to work.

It makes you wonder: Do I have to be *that* extreme? Do I need to live a life of constant, visible sacrifice just to draw near unto the Father?

If you’ve ever felt that weight—the feeling that you aren't doing *enough* to earn the grace you need—I want to share something that has really settled my own spirit. It’s a gentle reminder that the path to Christ isn't about peak performance; it’s about consistent, loving participation.

I was recently reviewing some material, and it hit me right where my own heart tends to wander—the desire for the *instant* fix. We live in a culture of instant gratification, and our hearts have adapted to it. We want the results now. But the spiritual journey, the sanctification, is different. It’s a process.

The Three Hurdles We Face Today

A friend shared a talk with me recently, and it laid out three major mentalities that trip us up when we talk about drawing closer to the Savior. It’s not about earning anything, because let’s be crystal clear: we cannot white-knuckle our way to heaven; it is all of God’s grace. But we *must* cooperate with that grace, and that cooperation is where the work happens.

1. The Lure of Instant Gratification

This is probably the biggest one for us today. We expect Amazon deliveries in two hours, and our hearts have learned to crave that immediate 'done.' But becoming a saint, being conformed to the Father's will, is inherently *processual*. It takes time. It involves days, weeks, and years of gentle refinement.

2. The Comfort of Keeping Options Open

This one is subtle. It’s the tendency to hold back a piece of our will, thinking, "I'll commit fully *after* I figure out X," or "I'll fully dedicate myself *when* this other thing is settled." But the gospel calls us to give everything to Christ, right now, in the process.

3. The Myth of the Perfect Fight

We sometimes think that drawing near to God requires a dramatic, visible spiritual battle every single day. We wait for the 'big' moment of crisis to prove our commitment. But the real battle is often fought in the quiet, mundane moments—the daily choices when no one is watching.

What’s the antidote to these three things? It’s not a sudden burst of spiritual power; it’s a quiet, persistent commitment to learning to love the process. It’s like training for anything worthwhile—you don't become an athlete overnight; you show up for the practice, even when it’s hard, even when you’re tired.

If you are feeling discouraged because you don't feel "extreme" enough, or if the process feels too slow, remember this: The grace is sufficient, but the cooperation must be steady. Don't measure your discipleship by the dramatic highs, but by the consistent, humble willingness to keep showing up for the process.

This week, I invite you to try a small focus on this principle. When you feel the urge to skip a quiet moment because you're too busy, or when you feel frustrated by a spiritual plateau, pause. Instead of criticizing the gap, just say, "I will love this process." It’s a small shift, but it’s where the Spirit begins to work its quiet miracles.

If you’re looking for deeper study on this, I highly recommend checking out the “What’s a Saint?” video linked in the talk. For those of us who love digging into the scriptures, the Book Club in HolyPlaces is a wonderful place to discuss how these principles apply to our modern lives. Or, if you prefer a one-on-one walkthrough of a tough question, I always recommend running it by Davee in the AI Investigator role!