There's the ups, and there is definitely the downs.  The times on the mountain, and the times in the dessert.  The days God feels so near, and the days feeling doesn't even seem to be an option.  It's just the way it goes with our spiritual lives, right?  There's growing, constantly growing... yet it doesn't always seem like we're getting very far.  Maybe part of that... just maybe... is not letting go of wanting to grow on our own?  In and of ourselves... maybe not allowing God to be the one the causes the growing?  I love that parallel of our spiritual lives as believers being like a seedling.  God first had to plant a seed in rich soil, "good soil" (Matt. 13).  It needs to be consistently watered with quenching and nourishing water, or it's growth is cut short.  It needs sunlight - when hidden from the sun, it wilts and begins to die away.  But does the seedling do this?  Does the seedling provide the rich soil?  Does the seedling provide the water?  Or does the seedling provide the sunlight?  The only way the seed can grow into a strong and healthy plant, able to produce much good fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) is through something bigger and stronger than itself providing what it needs.

My spiritual growth will be cut short if I'm not consistently renewing and refreshing my soul with the pure and cleansing Word of God.  My heart will slowly dwindle, wilt and die if I don't keep my face to the "Son".  If I don't look to Him for my all, look to Him to do the growing.  Not I, but Christ.  It is HE who will make it in any way possible for good and pleasing fruit to flow from my life.  Not I, but Christ.