Miracles Are Growing – Count On It | Tim Sheets
In our walk of faith, we all long to witness the miraculous: sudden healings, divine provision, impossible circumstances turned around in a blink. But what if God is teaching us that, just as in His creation, some miracles need time to grow? Using the inspiring example from Luke chapter 1, let’s discover what it means to “grow a miracle” and how this pattern isn’t just biblical history, but a living reality for our times.
Understanding How Miracles Grow Over Time
When we think about miracles, our first instinct is to desire them instantly. We pray, hope, and expect God to move with immediate effect. And while God absolutely can—and does—perform sudden, supernatural acts, the Bible models another pattern: miracles that develop over days, months, or even decades, growing toward their fullness.
The most perfect illustration is seen in the life of Mary, chosen to carry the Son of God. The angel Gabriel declared she would bear Jesus, a miracle beyond comprehension. Yet after this world-shaking moment, her life settled into the normal rhythms of waiting, trusting, and believing—ultimately for 30 years—before the fullness of that miracle burst forth into Jesus’ public ministry. The miracle began as a promise, became a seed, was nurtured and protected as it matured, and only at the right time did it change the world.
Miracles Within a Process, Not Just a Moment
Why does God sometimes choose to grow miracles instead of delivering them instantly? One reason is preparation. Mary’s miracle—the birth and life of Jesus—needed time for the right people, places, skills, and faith to come together. The same is true for us. God prepares hearts, develops faith, confronts challenges, teaches us new lessons, and aligns even unseen resources and people to bring each miracle to fulfillment.
Consider this: Jesus was a miracle in Mary’s womb, but for decades, there were no outward signs that He would become the Savior. For all those years, Mary and Joseph held onto one promise. No angel visited annually to reassure them. No further confirmation was given after the events surrounding Jesus’ early childhood. Yet, God was still working, still developing, and still preparing His purpose behind the scenes.
The Challenge of Delayed Miracles
As believers, we must guard our hearts during the waiting season. Doubt and discouragement have a way of creeping in between the conception of a miracle and its completion. When time passes, the enemy whispers that perhaps nothing is happening. Friends and even fellow Christians can become like the “comforters” of Job, questioning our faith or whether we truly heard from God.
But Scripture encourages us to keep believing—to let our faith persevere. Many in the biblical story waited years, even decades, for promises to come to pass. Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. Mary waited more than 30 years for Jesus’ mission to be fulfilled. Their steadfastness became part of their testimony.
God’s Miracle-Growing Plan for Our Season
For the last several decades, many prophetic voices have declared that a great move of God is coming—a season of revival, awakening, and supernatural encounters that will reshape the world. Believers have prayed, fasted, and prophesied this new era, even when outward circumstances seemed contrary. Through both personal and corporate miracles, God has been nurturing seeds for years, and now we’re beginning to sense that “full term” has been reached—just as with Mary and the birth of Christ.
The Importance of Faithful Endurance
What sustains us during these times of waiting? It’s a committed, faith-filled stance that treasures God’s word above circumstances. Mary and Joseph, despite no ongoing angelic visitations or new promises, never abandoned their original word from God. In quiet seasons, they chose to walk by faith and not by sight.
Likewise, the great heroes of faith throughout Scripture pressed on when their miracles seemed delayed. Their unwavering trust inspires us today. Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and Mary all demonstrated that if a miracle isn’t instant, it’s still in process. God’s silence is not absence. Delays are not denials. Our part is to keep trusting, keep listening, and keep preparing our hearts for the promise to bloom in its time.
God Is Always Preparing—Even When We Don’t See It
Behind every growing miracle is a tapestry of details only God can weave. As Mary navigated her own challenges—losing her father, moving to new lands, coming under the care of Joseph of Arimathea—God was putting people, resources, and experiences in place for the eventual unveiling of His redemptive plan. Sometimes our miracles require new connections, mentors, or situations we never anticipated. God knows exactly what needs to align, and He arranges it with divine intelligence.
The Bible records that Joseph of Arimathea, Mary’s uncle, played a significant role not just as a family protector but as someone influential in both the Roman government and the Jewish religious council. He sowed seeds of understanding about governance and responsibility in Jesus’ early life. All these “coincidences” were really God’s perfect orchestration, shaping the fullness of the miracle.
Preparation Time Is Not Wasted Time
As believers, we often want a miracle without the process, but Scripture shows us that preparation is vital. Sometimes, before the answer comes, God needs to change us—our attitudes, understanding, relationships, or locations. Sometimes circumstances need to shift or get “ready” for the miracle to land. God’s process might seem slow, but it’s always thorough and purposeful.
Throughout the waiting period, we must be willing to change when He leads. Clinging to the past or refusing to adapt can hinder what God wants to birth in our lives, families, churches, or nations. Growing miracles often require us to let go of old patterns to embrace God’s new era.
