I'm privileged to know several Christians who are recovering from addictions. One such person feels extremely frustrated over the amount of time it's taking him to recover and rebuild his life after years of destructive choices. His reason for such impatience? He says, "I've already wasted too many years of my life, and I don't want to waste any more." But is gradual growth ever a waste of time?

The apostle Peter opened his second letter to believers by emphasizing that it takes time and diligence to cultivate a range of disciplines in our daily lives (1:5-8). He concluded his letter with this command: "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (3:18). Although the Lord's goal for us all is complete perfection, He doesn't expect the end without the means, which involves our diligence in the lifelong process of growth.

In his book Psalm 23: The Song of a Passionate Heart, David Roper writes: "Everything worthwhile takes time, but time is on our side. We have the rest of our lives to grow. God is wonderfully patient. He will never give up on us until His work is done. . . . We are unfinished—but one day very soon God will finish. . . . And that's good enough for me." Is it good enough for you?  — Joanie Yoder