Indeed, the leading of the Spirit is different in different souls. His more usual method, I believe, is to give, in one and the same moment, the forgiveness of sins, and a full assurance of that forgiveness. Yet in many He works as He did in me: Giving first the remission of sins, and, after some weeks or months or years, the full assurance of it.

—John Wesley, Journal, 1:127

Did you catch Wesley’s last sentence? God sometimes chooses to work in us before we are even aware of it. This has been my experience as well and there is great hope in this truth. I used to suffer terrible anxiety over fear of being unforgiven by God. Eventually, God showed me that even I could be forgiven and my anxiety over this dynamic is gone now.

The next time you get discouraged over what appears to be a lack of progress or growth in your walk with Jesus, remember this. God is working on you and your awareness of his work does not change the reality of that. Take hope and heart because this is true. Thanks be to God!