Living in Wales has taught me a thing or two about unpredictable weather. This past week has been a perfect example of nature's indecisiveness. One moment, pristine white snow blankets our driveway, transforming our little corner of Wales into a winter wonderland. The next, the sun peeks through the clouds, and I think, "Finally! Back to normal!" But before I can even grab my walking shoes for an afternoon stroll with Tess, another flurry descends, and we're right back where we started.

This morning, as I watched yet another wave of snowflakes dance their way to earth, I couldn't help but see a parallel to my spiritual journey. You see, I often expect my walk with the Lord to be a straight path of constant improvement. One prayer, one sermon, one revelation, and boom, I should be transformed into the perfect Christian, right?

Wrong. Oh, so wrong!

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Notice it doesn't say we immediately display Christ-like behavior in every area of our lives. It says 'from glory to glory.'" Like my snow-covered driveway that slowly reveals itself patch by patch, our transformation into Christ's image happens gradually, often with what appears to be setbacks.

Some days, I feel like I'm making great spiritual progress. My prayer life is strong, my Bible reading is consistent, and my patience levels would make Job proud. Then suddenly – whoosh! – here comes a fresh blanket of old habits, negative thoughts, or spiritual doubts covering up all that progress.  Oh, bother!!!

But here's the beautiful truth: Just as each melting and refreezing cycle helps compress and eventually clear the snow, each spiritual "setback" can be part of God's transformative process in our lives. Those moments when we feel we've taken two steps backward might actually be God working deeper changes in our hearts.

Remember, the snow doesn't disappear all at once. It melts gradually, leaving behind precious moisture that feeds the spring growth to come. Similarly, our spiritual transformation isn't about instant perfection. It's about steady progress through both the "melting" and "snowing" seasons of our walk with God.

Dear friend, if you're feeling discouraged because you're not "there" yet—wherever "there" might be in your mind—take heart. God isn't expecting you to have it all together today. He sees your struggles. He knows your heart. And just as each snowflake and subsequent melt serves a purpose in nature, every victory and setback in your spiritual journey is part of His perfect plan for your growth.

Perhaps you look at other Christians and think, "Why can't I be more like them? They never seem to struggle with worry/anger/doubt like I do." But remember, you're seeing their outside while living in your inside. Everyone—yes, everyone—is on this journey of transformation. Even the apostle Paul, that mighty man of God, admitted to his ongoing struggles when he wrote, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12).

The key isn't perfection. It's direction. Are you moving forward, even if it's just baby steps? Are you allowing God to work in your life, even when progress seems slow? Then you're right where you need to be. Just as each melting cycle prepares the ground for spring's abundance, each season of your spiritual journey—whether it feels like progress or pause—is preparing you for what God has ahead.

So the next time you feel like you're stuck in a spiritual snow/melt cycle, take heart. God isn't finished with you yet. He's working in those seemingly backward moments, transforming you bit by bit, glory by glory, into the image of His Son. And unlike my unpredictable Welsh weather, His promise of complete transformation is guaranteed.