There are mornings when my faith doesn’t feel like a slow brew. It doesn’t come with rich aroma, comforting ritual, or the peace of a quiet sunrise. No, some mornings it feels like instant coffee—rushed, bitter, thin. But still, undeniably warm.

And I wonder: does God still show up in these rushed, graceless moments?

Faith in the Fast Lane: The Rise of Convenience Spirituality

In our world of drive-thrus and dopamine hits, it’s easy to want faith that works like a microwave. Immediate. Instant. Measurable. We squeeze prayer between emails and podcasts. We trade quiet reflection for just “one more scroll”. We tell ourselves we’ll go next Sunday—because today, we’re just too tired. We let sleep win, claiming it’s our only rest. Our souls are on a tight schedules.

We assure ourselves that God understands our busyness.

But just like instant coffee, faith brewed this way might lack the depth we crave.

Some of us identify as “spiritual but not religious,” favoring flexible, bite-sized approaches to faith. While this speaks to evolving spiritual needs, it also reflects the hunger for something deeper beneath the surface.

Bitter Moments Still Count: Redefining What “Real Faith” Looks Like

There’s an unspoken shame in admitting our faith feels flat. As if devotion must always be deeply emotional, divinely inspired, or visibly fruitful. But faith, like instant coffee, isn’t always about luxury. Sometimes it’s survival. Sometimes it’s all we can manage.

And that’s okay.

Scripture is filled with these raw, bitter moments: Elijah under the broom tree, Peter denying Jesus, even Jesus Himself crying out, “My God, why have You forsaken me?“

What matters is that even when it feels thin or bitter, it is still faith. Still an act of connection. Still a cup held out to the Divine.

Warmth in the Cup: Finding Grace in Small, Uninspired Practices

So what do we do when our faith is stuck in this instant stage?

• Practice Presence even in routine. Whisper a short prayer before checking your phone.
• Revisit Rituals even if they feel dry. Sometimes the act matters more than the feeling.
• Feed the Soul in small ways: one Psalm a day, lighting a candle, pausing to breathe.
• Trust the Process: Growth happens slowly, even invisibly.

Small faith is still faith. And small warmth is still warmth.

The Quiet Chocolate Path: From Bitter to Beautiful

Here at The Quiet Chocolate Path, we believe that even the bitter cups have beauty. That your spiritual life doesn’t need to be polished to be real. That you can be both tired and still turning toward God.

Instant coffee may not be ideal, but it’s still coffee. Your faith, even when instant, even when bitter, is still yours. Still sacred.

Final Sip: Don’t Wait to Be “Holy Enough”

If you’re waiting to feel inspired, enlightened, or worthy before you turn back to your faith, stop. Take the sip now. Say the prayer now. Sit in silence now.

Even when your faith feels like instant coffee—bitter, but still warm—it’s still a place where grace can enter.

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