Slow, Steady, and Faithful: What We Can Learn from Plodding

No, not "plotting," plodding. An unexciting, tedious, gradual forward movement. And my "word of the year" for this school year.

I first came across it in Karen Andreola's book Mother Culture, where she talked about the missionary William Carey and introduced this idea of plodding along in motherhood. Then, a few weeks later, I heard it at a writer's conference when author Rick Barry applied the same Carey quote to the writing life.

Hearing it the second time was an "Okay God, I'm listening," sort of moment. Since then, the idea of plodding has been on my mind and I'm excited to explore it today on the blog, because Carey was onto something.

Devotional

William Carey was an 18th-century missionary and "the father of modern missions," who spent decades bringing the gospel to India. He also translated the Bible into several languages. When his nephew asked about writing Carey's biography, he replied:

"If he gives me credit for being a plodder, he will describe me justly. Anything beyond that will be too much. I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything."

It's not great or grand. It's not fast or remarkable. It's not viral or rapidly successful. "But it is the virtue upon which many humble, ordinary people depend, every day." - Karen Andreola. And Carey reminds us that faithfulness is often quiet. It’s the daily work of showing up, doing the small tasks, and trusting God with the unseen results.

The Bible is full of reminders that God honors steady, faithful work:

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” Sometimes, we look at our small efforts—folding laundry, teaching lessons, responding kindly to a grump—and wonder if they matter at all. Galatians reminds us they do. God is watching, and the harvest will come in His perfect timing.

1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages us to remain “steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” The ordinary tasks, the repeated steps of obedience, the slow progress—none of it is wasted. God multiplies our small efforts in ways we cannot always see.

James 1:12 adds, “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life...” Plodding isn’t just about what we do; it’s about who we are becoming through the process. Patience, perseverance, and trust are cultivated when we refuse to give up, even in the mundane.

Plodding is a spiritual rhythm. It teaches us to trust God not just in the big, dramatic moments, but in the ordinary hours. Whether you’re a mother teaching a kindergartner to read, a writer drafting one more chapter, or simply putting one foot in front of the other in daily responsibilities, your steady effort is worthy.

Of course visible results are nice—immediate success, applause—but God is more concerned with the heart behind our effort than the speed or recognition of our work. And in his grand scheme of eternity, he's not in a hurry like we are. When we remember that faithfulness is a posture and not a performance, we can align ourselves to his timeline, his view, and his heart.

Today, I encourage you to embrace the ordinary. To keep showing up in small, consistent ways. To trust that God sees every careful, patient step and that He is weaving them into a larger story of purpose. You don’t need to do everything at once. You don’t need to be flashy or viral. You just need to plod, faithfully, humbly, persistently.

In a world that prizes instant success, plodding is countercultural. So let's be weird. Let's be quiet, ordinary, and faithful. In the end, that's enough. Because God is enough, and He multiplies what we offer in obedience.

Current Reads

I'm in the middle of a few books right now, as I've found my scattered mom brain actually enjoys jumping around between books depending on my book, time, and capacity.

Mother Culture by Karen Andreola - I love absolutely anything by Karen Andreola; she's been writing Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool books since the 80s; they inspired the first generation of homeschoolers and continue to inspire today.

Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff - I heard so much about this book, I had to try it out. I've been listening to it and have mixed feelings. There are a few good tidbits in it, though Doucleff's attitude toward her child is very off-putting for me.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - My best friend convinced me that we could get through this read together. I usually shy away from 1,000-page novels! But it has me intrigued, even if it feels more like a teenage angsty fever dream than anything...

And next up on my reading list is The One Who Promised Forever by Tara Grace Ericson, who I had the pleasure of meeting at the ACFW conference. I loved her entire Bloom Sisters series and am excited to read a Christian novel featuring a married couple—something far too rare in any romantic story.

Author Updates

This month has been full of bookish excitement! I recently attended the ACFW conference, where I was honored to be a Carol Award finalist. One of the best parts of the weekend was meeting fellow finalist Emily Conrad (pictured). If you’re looking for new books to add to your TBR, I encourage you to check out the Carol Award finalists—you’ll find some incredible stories.

Looking ahead, I’ll be at the Word Wrangler Book Festival in Giddings, Texas, September 26–27. If you’re nearby, I’d love for you to see you there!

And one last update for my Grace Church readers: the Before Grace Epilogue is available now! This bonus piece was in the original manuscript, but cut for space and continuity. Now I'm excited to get to share this sweet final touch here. Head to the Reader's Club for access (subscription required)!

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Slow and Steady ❤️

Thank you for joining me here again this month. Let’s keep plodding together—ordinary days, ordinary tasks, made extraordinary by God’s presence.