Fast food has transformed our eating habits, with McDonald’s pioneering the drive-thru concept that caters to our desire for convenience. This innovation has done more than just streamline dinner; it has ingrained an expectation of instant gratification in us. Today, we expect everything to happen quickly and with minimal effort. However, this mindset has not only influenced our eating habits but subtly shaped our spiritual lives.

We often approach our relationship with God with a transactional mindset, much like a fast-food order: “I do this, so I should get that.” We expect quick results, immediate answers, and instant blessings. When things don’t unfold as we anticipate, we become frustrated, just as we would if our order at a fast-food restaurant were incorrect. We wonder, “Why isn’t this working? I did my part; where’s the outcome I expected?”

This thinking shows how much the fast-food culture has infiltrated our approach to spirituality. We’re used to quick fixes and immediate results in every aspect of life, including our faith. However, this is not how God’s kingdom operates. Unlike our transactional world, God’s kingdom is based on process, patience, and perseverance.

Jesus frequently used farming metaphors to describe the kingdom of God. He spoke of farmers sowing seeds, tending to crops, and waiting for the harvest. These metaphors resonated with His listeners, who understood the demanding nature of farming. It required hard work, patience, and faith in a process that didn’t yield immediate results. Yet, the harvest was worth the wait.

In our fast-food culture, we’ve lost touch with these principles. We struggle with the idea that spiritual growth and blessings take time. We’ve forgotten that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t align with our own. We may plant seeds of faith, prayer, and obedience, but the harvest may not come right away. This delay doesn’t mean that God isn’t at work; it means that He is working according to His perfect timeline.

God’s kingdom is more like farming than fast food. It involves planting, watering, nurturing, and waiting. It requires us to trust in the process, even when we don’t see immediate results. Just as a farmer cannot rush the growth of crops, we cannot rush God’s work in our lives. We must embrace the process, knowing that in due season, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

To move from a fast-food spirituality to a farming spirituality, we need to change our mindset. We must stop approaching God with a transactional attitude and start embracing the growth process He has set before us. This involves cultivating patience, perseverance, and trust in God’s timing. It means being faithful in the small things, even when we don’t see immediate results, trusting that God is preparing a harvest beyond what we can imagine.

As we adopt this mindset, we will begin to appreciate the beauty of God’s ways. We will learn to value the journey, not just the destination. Our faith will grow deeper, and we will experience the abundant life that God promises—not one of instant gratification, but one of lasting fulfillment.

So, when you find yourself tempted to approach God with a fast-food mentality, remember that His kingdom is built on farming principles. Trust in the process, be patient, and let God work in His perfect timing. The best things in life—especially in our spiritual lives—are worth waiting for.