We live in a world that wants everything yesterday. Two-day shipping? Too slow. Microwave popcorn? Not fast enough. If we could download dinner straight into our mouths, we’d do it.

But God doesn’t work like DoorDash. He works like a slow crockpot meal — the kind that smells amazing all day and is worth the wait.

That’s what I want to talk about: the time between saying the prayer and actually feeling the fullness of Christ.

A Different Kind of Upbringing

I grew up in what I’d call a “thank God family.” We thanked Him when something good happened — like when the car actually started on a cold morning or when there was still pizza left after a family gathering. We asked Him to help others when tragedy struck. But beyond that? God was like that one relative you send a Christmas card to but don’t see much of the rest of the year.

We didn’t have Sunday routines that involved ironing shirts and racing to beat the opening hymn. We didn’t sit around the table for family devotionals. Faith was…there. But it was more like wallpaper than the foundation.

Later, as a teenager, I started going to church a bit more often — not because I was seeking God, but because I was seeking friends. Honestly? It was just better than being home. And while I was there, I heard the Gospel for the first time. It sounded nice. Comforting, even. But it didn’t stick. I even got baptized in that season, but let me be clear — I got wet, but I didn’t get transformed.

Enter the Spark

Fast-forward. I meet this amazing woman who is now my wife. Early on, she made it crystal clear: no salvation, no future. She wasn’t joking. And you know what? That got my attention.

She reintroduced me to salvation in a way that actually clicked. This time, I said the prayer with conviction. But again — there was no magical lightning bolt. No dove descending. No sudden “I’m glowing with the Holy Spirit” vibe.

I prayed, I believed…but I didn’t feel it.

And for years, as my relationship with my wife grew, my relationship with God stayed in neutral. I believed He was real, I believed salvation mattered, but I didn’t invest in it. Looking back now, I can absolutely see His fingerprints guiding my steps, but I wasn’t paying attention.

It’s like someone handing you a million-dollar check and you leaving it in a drawer because you never took it to the bank.

The Long Middle

Eventually, I realized I needed to lean in. I started praying more. I opened my Bible more than just to see if I could remember where Psalms was. I started trying to build actual disciplines.

And here’s the kicker: I got frustrated. I thought, “I’m doing the stuff! Where’s my big Holy Spirit fireworks show?”

But that’s not how it works. Our society teaches us that if you swipe, click, or tap, something should happen instantly. Faith isn’t like that. Relationships aren’t like that.

At first, I felt like I was talking to the ceiling. But little by little, God kept filling me. Not all at once. Not with a sudden flood. But like a steady rain that soaks the ground over time.

Four years into a head-first dive into faith, I can tell you I feel full — deeply, wholly full of Christ. But it wasn’t an “aha!” moment. It was daily deposits. Small steps. Steady growth.

Scripture to Back It Up

Jesus gave us the blueprint:

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

John 15:4

Notice the word “remain.” That’s not a one-time deal. That’s not a quick fix. That’s daily connection.

And Paul reminds us:

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6

God finishes what He starts — but He does it in His time. Not ours.

And let’s not forget James:

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

James 4:8

It’s not about one prayer in one moment. It’s about movement. Drawing near. Pursuit.

The Reality of the “Time Between”

The time between is not wasted time. It’s not “waiting room” faith where you twiddle your thumbs until God calls your name. It’s training ground.

It’s like marriage. You don’t stand at the altar, say your vows, and then never talk to your spouse again. That’s not a marriage; that’s a photo op. The real depth comes from years of daily choices, sacrifices, and conversations.

Faith is the same. The prayer is the altar. But the fullness comes through the years of living it out.

Conclusion

If you’re in the “time between,” don’t despair. Don’t assume you messed it up or that God ghosted you. He’s not absent — He’s working. Slowly. Steadily. Faithfully.

The “aha” moment isn’t guaranteed. The gradual filling is. And one day, you’ll look around and realize your cup is overflowing.

A Prayer

Lord, thank You for meeting us in the in-between. Thank You that salvation is certain the moment we believe, even if our feelings take time to catch up. Teach us to remain in You, to seek You daily, and to trust Your timing instead of demanding our own. Fill us, not with instant flashes, but with lasting faith. Amen.

Call to Action

If you’re stuck in the “time between,” don’t quit. Open your Bible today. Pray today. Step toward Him today. And tomorrow? Do it again. Because the filling doesn’t happen overnight — it happens over a lifetime.