Am I Growing or Am I Busy?

As Easter approaches, hosts Brent Kimball and Michael Anderson of the Inside Out Podcast confront a critical spiritual question: Are we growing in faith or merely staying busy? Using the metaphor of a car’s check engine light, they argue that busyness isn’t spiritual maturity—it’s a warning sign. They identify key indicators like anxiety over calendars, guilt during rest, resentment toward others who rest, and equating being needed with being healthy. The hosts emphasize that spiritual growth is measured not by activity, but by fruit—patience, kindness, joy, and love. Brent shares his personal discipline of maintaining a normal schedule even during high-pressure seasons, like a major building project, and prioritizing rest to avoid burnout. He reveals that his own hip surgery forced him to reevaluate his 'best effort'—a concept he draws from Paul’s instruction to Titus. Ultimately, the most telling sign of spiritual health isn’t a packed calendar, but whether you’re truly enjoying walking with Jesus. If joy is missing, that’s not failure—it’s a flashing red light demanding attention.