Gradually Then Suddenly
In our lives, we are often hoping for instant transformation, a single moment that will change everything for us. But God’s word, and even our own life experience teaches us another truth: lasting change is usually the result of small, consistent choices over time.
In Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway asked, “How do you go bankrupt?” The answer is simple and profound, “Two ways…gradually then suddenly.” The example was a financial illustration. Most don’t lose their entire life savings in one day. Instead it’s small decisions: A small charge for a meal out, a ticket to a concert, a new TV for your home, a vacation with family or friends. None of these are problems if you are living below your means. That is, if you make more money in your job then you spend on expenses then a lot of these small purchases aren’t an issue. But added together over time, it leads to a mountain of debt. It won’t feel dangerous, until suddenly it is.
This is similar to metrics used in business. Lead measures are the inputs — the daily habits and effort. Lag measures are the results that come after, like revenue or growth. Consider a desire to become fluent in a new language, which is a lag measure. The first few days of learning feel HARD! You don’t understand anything. But you focus on learning vocabulary, and you start to learn the grammar (lead measures). You start speaking rudimentary sentences. You find someone else that speaks that language and you immerse yourself in it. You reach a point where it seems like you’ve suddenly understood it. The reality is that your new language skills were built on days upon days of work, they are built upon the daily work you can measure that lead to the goal you have.
I was listening to a podcast a few months ago in which they were interviewing Mark Batterson. Mark pastors National Community Church in Washington, D.C. During this podcast Mark shared an idea that he had for a book he was beginning to work on on this exact idea of gradually then suddenly and its impact for Christians. It seems in the time since the recording of that podcast, that this book is now scheduled to be released in November of 2025. I think the idea is a great one, and I don’t want to wait until November to share it with you. If you are reading this blog after getting Mark’s book, I hope I don’t contradict him in any way.
The argument that I believe Mark Batterson makes is that this principle of gradually then suddenly exists for the good things and the bad things we experience in life, both from a physical sense, but also a spiritual sense.
Gradual Sin - David’s Example
As a church we are going through 2 Samuel and we just recently looked at the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel 11. In this story David sees Bathsheba bathing, calls her to him, sleeps with her, and then covers it up by trying to call her husband home and eventually has him killed on the front lines of a battle. How did David all of a sudden commit adultery with Bathsheba? It happened just all of a sudden! In reality there were lots of small decisions. David had already made decisions to take wives for himself. There are 7 different wives already mentioned before we meet Bathsheba. In 11:1 David decides to stay at the palace, instead of going out to battle. When he sees Bathsheba he doesn’t choose to look away, but instead lingers to admire her beauty. Gradually then suddenly David takes Bathsheba for himself.
Gradual Obedience - Victory at Jericho
For a positive biblical example, consider Joshua and the people of Israel in their battle against Jericho (Joshua 6). Isn’t it amazing that on the 7th day the walls just all of a sudden fell, and the people of Israel were able to move in and conquer the city? What preceded was 6 days of faithfulness to God’s design for the battle. Without the gradual and consistent obedience to God’s command, there would not have been the sudden victory over Jericho by the people of Israel, accomplished through the Lord.
Daily Habits In Our Lives
For Christians, we are to be growing in our sanctification each and every day. We are to become more and more like Christ Jesus. How do we do this? Gradually, then suddenly. If this principle of gradually then suddenly is true (which I hope I’ve begun to show it is), then what are some ways that you should consider it in your own life?
Consider some negative examples. Perhaps you notice that when you go to a particular place you face greater temptations. Or around particular friends they draw you into gossip and slander of others. These are triggers that aren’t pushing you towards holiness, but instead drawing you into the ways of the world. Consider a seemingly more benign example. You make a decision to stay up later at night to watch “one more show.” But, when the alarm goes off in the morning you snooze it for being more tired. Then you wake up with just enough time to leave for the day, and skip time you planned with God. Doing so regularly now leaves you feeling disconnected and distant from God.
These are examples on a very short timeline, but work on longer time periods as well. David didn’t just wake up one day and say, “I think I’ll commit adultery and then murder.” Instead it was a desire for gratification, leading to lingering on a sight, to lusting in his heart. The gradual habits that led him to that point had been building for years. When he saw a new woman he was attracted to he lingered and watched, he invited her over, and he took what was not his. This is why Jesus goes after the heart in Matthew 5. He says if someone lusts after someone else, they have already committed adultery in their heart. If they hate someone else, they’ve already committed murder in their heart. If the initial thoughts are not repented of, the gradual nature of sin will continue.
On the positive side, in Ephesians 4:22-24, the Apostle Paul writes, “to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” He is speaking the cooperative nature of our sanctification. Colossians 3:9-10 states that it is God that makes it a reality, but there is a cooperation where we contribute and work towards our own sanctification. 2 Peter 1:8 teaches - “If [Godly qualities] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
See that the gradual increase of pursuing godly qualities makes it easier to follow Christ, until you might suddenly feel as if a sin you struggle has been put away as a part of the old self, and has then been replaced with the new person that is found in Christ Jesus.
These gradual habits could be committing to a regular quiet time to read from God’s word and pray. In addition, it might be pursuing memorizing a bible verse each week, so that you can “store up God’s word in your heart, so that you might not sin against him” (Psalm 119:11).
It could be committing to gathering with God’s people every week on Sunday, as well as in smaller groups like Life Groups during the week. That through the gradual pursuit of God’s word and God’s people, you would gain a deep love of God’s word and for one another.
It could be gradually increasing the percentage of your paycheck that you give back to God, that suddenly you would be described as having a generous heart, though the generosity was built gradually percent by percent.
The idea isn’t of achieving sudden victory or change, but rather that God will honor the gradual day by day obedience to him, that when we look back at where we began, it will seem as if we have gained sudden obedience to him.
As you ponder these things, let me offer you a few thoughts for reflection.
Where have small habits already started shaping you spiritually, for better or worse?
What’s one gradual step of obedience you can begin this week?
Are there areas where you’re waiting for sudden change but neglecting daily faithfulness?
Eugene Peterson once wrote an entire book titled, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. The idea is another way of looking at the same principle. A long obedience in the direction of Jesus is how transformation happens. Start today by choosing one small faithful step. Then keep going and watch what God will do in your life first gradually, then all of a sudden.
