The initial process of germination of a planted seed is largely unseen, The first step the seed takes in becoming a plant is to send roots down in order to soak up needed water.
As the seed grows and becomes the plant God intends for it to be, the work is done beneath the surface of the ground. In other words, before the seed can send shoots up to and beyond the surface, there is much work to be done.
The lesson for us is two fold.
First, in order for you spiritual development to manifest itself in your thoughts and actions, you must be rooted and grounded in the Lord. He is your source of Living Water. This is what Jesus said about that to the woman at the well.
“But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:14
Secondly, it takes time to see the manifestation of the seeds that you have sown, It doesn’t mean that growth is not happening. The ultimate fruit of your labor may take years to manifest. God is still at work. It is critical to sow the seeds that the Lord asks of you and then trust Him for the process of germination and growth.
The apostle Paul reminds us that we each have a role to play in the sowing and growth process when he writes:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 1 Corinthians 3:6–7
The lesson here is that you are solely responsible for the step that the Lord places before you. Plant the seed that He puts in your hands.
Then surrender the unseen process to the One who causes the growth.