How to Grow the Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

The fruit of the Spirit faithfulness becomes our anchor when we’re standing in the waiting room of unanswered prayers, watching others receive what we’ve been begging God for, wondering if He’s forgotten our address entirely. It is the anchor that holds us steady when we feel as though our faith is hanging by a thread, but we are expected to keep showing up anyway.

In this final post exploring the 9 characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, our guest writer, Maree Dee of Embracing the Unexpected, brings us into one of life’s most vulnerable spaces—that counseling room where everything she believed was questioned and challenged.

As a mother who chose to keep showing up even when rejection waited on the other side of every door, Maree’s story will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to choose faith over feelings in the fog of uncertainty. Through her raw honesty about walking through seasons when God’s presence felt distant and His plans made no sense, Maree reminds us that faithfulness isn’t about having unshakable belief—it’s about believing in an unshakable God. Her words will encourage anyone who’s ever whispered, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.

Fruit of the Spirit faithfulness blog post title with Bible verse and faith graphics

What the Bible Teaches About the Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

Have you ever had to keep showing up when healing wasn’t happening, or results weren’t visible? Did your faith wane or grow stronger? Did you find yourself striving to have more faith yet falling short? Faithfulness, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, is not something we can suddenly produce when life surprises us. It’s a fruit the Spirit develops in us over time—through everyday trust and obedience. We need faithfulness in the calm and the chaos, in the ordinary and the unexpected. Join me as we explore how to grow fruit of the Spirit faithfulness that endures through every season.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” -Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

What is the Fruit of the Spirit Faithfulness?

Fruit of the Spirit faithfulness is a steady, Spirit-grown trust in God. The Holy Spirit cultivates it in us as we draw near to Jesus–and it doesn’t stay hidden in our hearts. It shows up in how we live, love, and respond.

Showing up when it’s hard
Choosing love over fear
Praying when we feel empty
Trusting God even when our prayers go unanswered

Cultivating a Faithful Heart With Spirit-Led Solutions

Although the Holy Spirit will grow faith in us, we must do our part to cultivate it. Here are some practical ways we can develop a faithful heart.

1. Pause and Pray

Talk with Jesus and let that ongoing relationship be a priority.

2. Read God’s Word

As we read the Bible, our faith will grow.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” -Romans 10:17 NIV

3. Remember God’s Faithfulness

Our faith grows best when we remember God has been faithful first. Try creating a Look-Back Journal to help you remember the Lord’s faithfulness.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” –Psalm 77:11

4. Persevere When It’s Not Easy

Stay in there and keep showing up when the road is hard.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” -James 1:2-4 NIV

I stood at the door, knowing my child didn’t want me there. Still, God had asked me to keep showing up, knowing I would likely face rejection and hurtful words. Everything I had ever done, good or bad, might be challenged, ridiculed, and held up as evidence against me.

So I stood there and prayed:

Lord, fill me from the tip of my toes to the top of my head with your strength, love, and faith. Let your love flow through me, and let your words—not mine—come out of my mouth.

The door buzzed open, and I walked in with trepidation—and God’s strength.

The counselor ushered me into a small room, just the two of us. But it was different; this time, I would be on the hot seat about my “religion.”

At first, I was stunned by the line of questions. For one, I never referred to my faith as a religion but as a relationship with Jesus, one that I was not about to let go of. However, the counselor’s job was to uncover what strange religious acts I practiced in our home. Because certainly, my faith must be to blame for my child’s turmoil.

That day, instead of letting anger or fear get the best of me, I relied on God for words and His faith—a faith that had grown in me through the Holy Spirit over many years. I quietly and confidently explained that I had a relationship with Jesus, not a religion. Yes, we prayed together at meals and bedtime over the years. Devotionals and Bible reading were common in our home, and we went to church on Sunday.

Overcoming Challenges to Faithfulness

Staying faithful isn’t easy, especially when prayers seem unanswered, or life doesn’t make sense—like when a person dies too young, is in long-term pain, or has an unexpected loss.

“Faith is not believing in my own unshakable belief. Faith is believing in an unshakable God when everything in me trembles and quakes.”
Beth Moore

Why We Struggle to Stay Faithful

One of the biggest reasons we struggle to stay faithful is that God’s way is not ours. We do not have the same perspective or wisdom.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your way and my thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

When have you found it hard to stay faithful?

Faithfulness in the Fog

We know life will give us unexpected turns, health challenges, broken relationships, and unanswered prayers. For many, these are often the times when our faithfulness grows deepest.

In Mark 9:14-29, we meet a father who desires that Jesus heal his demon-possessed son after the disciples have failed to do so. He asks Jesus to help. Jesus replies, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” And the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.” -Mark 9:24 NIV

We can’t grow this kind of faith alone—it begins with God’s help and continues with our willingness to grow.

If you’re walking through an unexpected season and need a reminder of how faith, hope, and love still remain, you might find encouragement in this post:

“Finding Faith, Hope, and Love in the Unexpected.”

How Will We Know if Our Faith Is Growing?

1. True Faith Will Show in Our Fruit

It won’t be flashy. It might be about staying when we want to run, praising when we want to pout, and showing up when it’s hard.

2. Faith Will Transform Our Character

Faith will show up even when we don’t feel God’s closeness. In those times, we must choose to believe and trust in God even when our feelings aren’t there.

“Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. -Psalm 62:2 NIV

Prayer for fruit of the Spirit faithfulness to grow during difficult seasons and unanswered prayers

Ask God to Grow Faith in You

Faithfulness begins not with doing more but with trusting more.

Lord, Please grow in me the fruit of faithfulness. Remind me of your promises—even when I can’t see the outcomes. Amen.

What might it look like for you to grow in faithfulness today?

Meet the Author

Maree Dee

Maree Dee is a writer, speaker, Certified Mental Health Coach, and ministry leader passionate about equipping others to embrace life with faith—especially in the midst of the unexpected. She is a warrior who doesn’t give up when life gets tough and believes that together with God, we can discover incredible joy along the way, even when surrounded by tremendous pain.

Maree writes at Embracing the Unexpected and is the Founder of an online Christ-centered mental health ministry where she strives to educate, support, and teach life-changing skills in a faith-based environment. She is a devoted and experienced advocate for families facing mental health challenges.

You can connect with Maree on Embracing the Unexpected, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Embracing Faith and Mental Illness.

Wait! Before You Go!

If this exploration of faithfulness resonates with your heart, I’d love to continue this journey with you. Subscribe below to receive my free journal, ‘For When You Long to Know God’s Unconditional Love,’ and join a community of believers seeking to grow deeper in their faith. Together, we’ll discover more about God’s faithful love and how it transforms our daily walk with Him.

How to Grow the Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

What the Bible Teaches About the Fruit of the Spirit: Faithfulness

What is the Fruit of the Spirit Faithfulness?