The Kingdom of Heaven is Like…..Hidden, But Working
Luke 13:20–21 (TPT)
“God’s kingdom is like something as small as yeast that a woman kneads into a large amount of dough. It works unseen until it permeates the entire batch and the loaf rises high.”
Last week we talked about the parable of the mustard seed. What we saw there was that the mustard seed represented visible growth. It started with a tiny seed, but eventually you could see the growth.
This week we’re talking about another tiny ingredient, but this time it’s invisible transformation.
When I read this, I immediately think about internal transformation. I don’t think we struggle with God not working. I think we struggle with not being able to see it. To us, it often feels like seasons that are slow or repetitive, unseen, and like nothing is changing.
The Dough Gets Worked
It’s crazy because I’ve been watching The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. They gathered this little group of wannabe professional bakers, and bless their little hearts, they’re nervous wrecks trying to bake cakes, bread, biscuits, and whatever else while trying to impress these famous bakers.
One thing that really stood out to me is they don’t call it “letting the dough rise.” They call it proving the dough.
That really caught my attention.
When they’re working the dough, they’re pushing it around, kneading it, stretching it, and pressing it. They’re working that leaven through the entire batch because if they don’t, it just stays in one spot.
The dough gets worked.
It gets stretched.
It gets pressed.
I want you to think about yourself for a minute.
Sometimes, in order for God to work His Kingdom into us, He’s got to work some things into us.
He’s got to stretch us.
He’s got to press us a little bit.
That’s why things happen the way they happen in your life.
That’s why you often feel stretched, pressed, or worked.
That’s why you find yourself in the same situation over and over sometimes, asking, “Lord, why does this keep happening to me?”
Or maybe one financial problem finally gets fixed, and the very next day something else happens and takes its place.
How many of you can relate to that?
Sometimes we’re asking the wrong question.
Maybe instead of asking, “Why does this keep happening?” we should be asking, “Lord, what are You trying to teach me?”
What is He trying to work into me?
Is He trying to teach me to trust Him?
Is He trying to teach me faith?
Because that stuff is more important to Him than us getting the answered prayer, getting convenience, or getting whatever it is we think would solve our problems.
The Kingdom has to be worked through us.
There is no magic pill.
There is no easy way.
Just like the baker works the dough, the same thing has to happen to us.
The Proving Season
After the dough is worked, the baker places it in a warm place and leaves it alone. Sometimes it’s a proving oven. Sometimes it’s just under a towel in a warm spot. Then they let it rise. That’s when the rising actually takes place.
And honestly, I think that’s the hardest part.
Because that’s the season where it feels like nothing is happening.
You’re in a situation that doesn’t make sense.
It’s lasting longer than you think it should.
You’re asking, “Lord, why am I still here?”
I can tell you about seasons like that in my own life.
I remember working at a bank when my heart wanted to be doing music and full-time ministry. Then later I worked at another bank that I absolutely hated. I couldn’t understand why God had me there. My heart wasn’t there. I felt like a caged bird.
Looking back now, I realize those were proving seasons. There were things that needed to come to the surface. There were things God was working into me that only time could accomplish.
Just Because You Can’t See It…
The thing about dough is you can’t see it. Even if you don’t use a proving oven, my mom used to put a towel over the dough and set it on the countertop by a window so the sun could warm it. But you couldn’t see it because the towel covered it.
It’s the same concept.
You can’t see what’s going on with the dough. You can’t see the leaven. You can’t see it rising. So the rising happens, and we can’t see it.
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not changing everything.
That’s what makes it so hard for us. We want to constantly check. We check too early. We quit too soon.
We assume nothing has happened. We want visual progress, but God is often doing internal transformation in our lives, and we can’t tell. We want to be the judge of it.
“Okay, I’m pretty sure I’m done now, Lord. Thanks. I’m going to go ahead and jump out of this situation.”
We think we’re the judge, and we’re not. We’re not capable of determining when we’re ready. God can do that.
I can’t tell you how many times I would run around telling people, “Yeah, I think it’s time for me to move on to the next phase of my life.” Like I was some kind of wise sage who knew it was time.
Really… just shut your mouth and get back in the proving oven.
Who was I to decide? I didn’t know. And you probably don’t either.
If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing you can do is just let it happen.
I know it hurts. I know it’s uncomfortable. But this is the way of the Kingdom. If it’s easy, it’s probably not the Kingdom.
When you learn how to surrender, things become easier. But if you arm wrestle God, it is not going to be easy for you. And He always wins.
Keep Growing
If this encouraged you, I’d love for you to listen to the full episode of Grace & Grit Mindset. Sometimes hearing the conversation in its original form adds another layer that just doesn’t come across on the page.
Listen here:
https://grace-grit.castos.com/
If you’re in a season where you feel stuck, discouraged, or like you’re circling the same mountain over and over again, my book, Choosing Better: Leaving the Mountains We Were Never Meant to Circle, was written for you. It’s full of practical, biblical encouragement to help you renew your mind, trust God in the process, and walk in the freedom He has for you.
Get your copy on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/0f7pih2T
I’d also love to connect with you on social media, where I share weekly encouragement, Bible teaching, and practical ways to grow your faith.
Remember, just because you can’t see God working doesn’t mean He isn’t.
Sometimes the greatest transformation is happening where no one else can see it—including you.
Shana Williams
