♥ Hey friends! I’m taking the rest of the year off from writing original posts, but amazing things are still coming for you! My 2016 guest post series continues TODAY with author/blogger Courtney Steed! ♥
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” {John 15:5 NIV}
I can do nothing. That is a feeling I have quite often as a mother of three, very active boys. I feel that way when it comes to mastering my laundry pile, keeping my house in order, being everything I need to be for my husband, and a whole slew of other things. Despite my best efforts, and a heart willing to serve my family in this way, I often can do nothing as well as I want to.
Some days, I can do nothing that will stay done. I can do nothing that feels like it matters. I can do nothing that gives immediate rewards. I can do nothing that anyone seems to appreciate. I can do nothing productively and effectively.
It is so true, that so much of what we do has little reward in the moment.
The more important stuff feels like it bears so much weight in terms of resources, and yet at the end of the day it feels nothing was actually accomplished. But, then again that is how a vine grows, slowly and without distinguishable growth from day to day. The growth of a vine is only seen over time, when the fruit starts being born and then it begins to show what it was created for.
I love the imagery that we see in this passage. The emphasis is on utter dependence. Never has a vine of any kind produced fruit apart from its branch. There, attached to its life line, it can be enriched, fed, supplied and enabled to fulfill its purpose. Apart from it, it can do nothing. For all its want and desire, a vine detached from its branch is useless.
We, as Christian women, aren’t that different in our striving than women who don’t claim Christ. Our heart’s desires are often the same: we want what is best for our babies and to help them grow into successful little adults. We want our marriages to be satisfying and our lives to be happy. And we strive. We want. We try. We work hard. We put in so much effort, bless our hearts.
As God’s women we have something they don’t, though. We have a Branch—a strong One.
Jesus feeds us, He fills us, He gives purpose to our efforts and promises fruit in its season. When we stay plugged into Him and His nutrient-rich supply, we can be assured that even if we feel we are doing nothing we are working towards precious fruit, because are part of that Branch.
On the days when we feel that we have done nothing of value, when our efforts have been undone before the end of the day, when our tasks seem meaningless because they are hardly done before its time to do the task again, or when sweet ones need reminding more than a thousand times about a given lesson—we can take a deep breath and trust that our fruit is growing, ever so slowly but ever so purposefully. Apart from Him we can do nothing, but as part of Him, no heart-effort is wasted. Every task feeds our purpose, every effort is for our good work.
May these God-breathed words bless your hard work today:
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up.” {Galatians 6:9 NLT}
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and will prosper everywhere I send it.” {Isaiah 55:11-12 NLT}
My prayer for you today, sweet sisters, is that you can feel fruit being grown in you, in your marriage, and in your families. I pray that you are plugged into the Branch, and are being fully supplied with all you need to be everything you are intended to be.
Even when you feel you are doing nothing, you are doing great work. Keep staying dependent on the Branch. You will see fruit in its season. He promises.
About Courtney
Courtney Steed is an author, blogger and speaker. She loves to encourage and inspire God’s women to find their full dependence on our Supplier and the Giver of all things. She has three little men and one big man she makes a home for, and strives to serve daily (and most days she enjoys it). You can find her writing home at http://www.courtneysteed.com, and can connect with her on Facebook at Facebook.com/courtneyksteed, as well as Twitter & Instagram @courtneyksteed.
To learn more about Courtney’s book “The Everything You Need Bible Study”, click here.