Above all, trust in the slow work of God… Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Patient Trust
Theme: Spiritual Growth
Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.And yet it is the law of all progress
that it is made by passing through some stages of instability—
and that it may take a very long time.And so I think it is with you;
your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French Jesuit priest, paleontologist, theologian, philosopher, and teacher. He was born on May 1, 1881, in Sarcenat, France. He studied geology and paleontology at the University of Paris, and was ordained a priest in 1911.
During World War I, Teilhard served as a stretcher bearer on the front lines. He was decorated for his bravery, and his experiences in the war led him to develop a new understanding of the relationship between science and religion. He believed that evolution was a process of spiritual as well as biological transformation, and that humanity was evolving towards a final spiritual unity. He coined the term "Omega Point" to describe this final spiritual unity.
After the war, Teilhard taught at the Catholic Institute of Paris. He also traveled to China, where he participated in the discovery of Peking Man. In the 1930s, he traveled to other parts of Asia, including the Gobi Desert, Sinkiang, Kashmir, Java, and Burma.
Teilhard's writings were controversial, and he was not allowed to publish his work in the Catholic Church until after his death. However, his ideas have since been published and translated into many languages. His ideas have been praised by some for their insights into the relationship between science and religion, but they have also been criticized by others for being too optimistic or even heretical.
Teilhard de Chardin was a brilliant and passionate thinker, and his work continues to be influential and thought-provoking. He was a pioneer in the field of evolutionary theology, and his ideas have helped to shape the way we think about the relationship between science and religion.
Chardin, Pierre Teilhard de. "Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete. "The Making of a Mind: Letters from a Soldier-Priest 1914-1919, Harper & Brothers, 1961.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Theme: Spiritual Growth
About This Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Quotation [Commentary]
In “Patient Trust,” Pierre Teilhard de Chardin reflects on the journey of spiritual growth, urging patience and trust in the divine process. He acknowledges our natural urge to reach conclusions quickly, bypassing the uncertainties and gradual stages of inner transformation. Yet, Teilhard emphasizes that progress, especially in spiritual growth, cannot be rushed; it unfolds in phases of uncertainty and change. This “slow work of God,” he suggests, is essential to true growth, guiding us toward wholeness even when it feels unstable.
Teilhard encourages us to let our inner self grow organically, emphasizing that true transformation cannot happen through impatience. He likens spiritual growth to the maturing of an idea, reminding us that real development needs time and a willingness to accept our present limitations. Our impatience, Teilhard notes, often comes from a desire to control the unknown, yet he reassures us that grace and circumstances—alongside our own goodwill—shape us in ways we may not yet understand.
Ultimately, Teilhard offers reassurance: though we may feel incomplete or anxious, God is actively working within us, forming a “new spirit” that unfolds beyond our immediate understanding. By trusting in God’s quiet guidance, we can let go of the fear of incompletion, allowing divine timing to reveal our deeper purpose and transformation.
Spiritual Practices for this Pierre Teilhard de Chardin Quote
Teilhard de Chardin’s invitation to trust in the slow work of God is a challenge in our fast-paced world. We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us that we need to be more successful, more productive, and more efficient. But Teilhard reminds us that there is more to life than achieving our goals.
Spiritual growth is not about becoming perfect or reaching a certain level of achievement. It is about becoming more fully who we are meant to be in God’s eyes. And that takes time.
So how do we trust in the slow work of God? Here are a few suggestions:
Accepting the Anxiety of Feeling Incomplete
Teilhard de Chardin also acknowledges that spiritual growth can be anxiety-provoking. We may feel incomplete and in suspense. We may not always know where we are going or what God is asking of us.
But Teilhard reminds us that this is part of the process. We are not meant to have all the answers. We are simply meant to be faithful to the path that God has placed us on.
So how do we accept the anxiety of feeling incomplete? Here are a few suggestions:
Conclusion
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s invitation to trust in the slow work of God is a call to patience, humility, and faith. It is a reminder that we are on a journey, and that God is leading us. It is also a reminder that it’s okay to feel incomplete and unsure at times.
As Teilhard de Chardin writes in his poem:
So let us trust in the slow work of God, and allow him to form us into the people he created us to be.
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