When it comes to homemade pizza, I can whip up a dough in no time. All it takes is a few minutes for the yeast to rise and then mix everything together. But a quick dough doesn’t make the best dough. Better dough comes by giving it several hours to rise. The best, fluffiest, most flavorful dough comes from letting it rise, punching it down, placing it in the refrigerator to rest overnight, and getting it out in the morning to let it warm up and rise a second time.

In Matthew 13:33, Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like flour that has been leavened. It needs time to grow. It needs to rest and rise.

The same is true when it comes to our personal character and spiritual maturity.

When we love Jesus and are striving to faithfully follow him, we can grow frustrated with ourselves when it seems we can’t get our act together. Yet, this is where grace meets us and reminds us that we’re clay in the potter’s hands. The potter doesn’t throw a lump of clay onto his wheel and exclaim, “My beautiful vase is complete!” Rather, the potter takes time and is patient. He shapes the vase, removes pieces of clay that don’t belong, adds a little water, and shapes it some more. It takes time.

While we should never embrace, excuse, or wallow in our sin, it does good to recognize that God has far more patience with us than we have with ourselves. He’s not going to leave us or forsake us. He’s not going to see that weird lump in the clay and throw us out. He will keep shaping us and working with us until we become the people he intends for us to be.

Rest in God’s grace and show some grace to yourself.

It takes time.

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