“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Since my daughters were little, they have loved being in the kitchen with me. Whether it is a box mix or cookies from scratch, they want to be a part of it all. I treasure those moments, but they are not always the easiest way. It is slower. It requires patience. It means pausing to teach, to guide, to invite them in.
It is often much easier to do it alone.
Yet easier does not mean better.
In those ordinary moments, I catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. He did not rush past His disciples in the name of efficiency. He walked with them. He lingered. He taught along the way. Every moment carried intention. Even in His planned times of rest, He revealed the rhythm of abiding with the Father.
He chose presence.
How often do we choose differently?
With sincere and even beautiful intentions, we serve. We love our families, step into ministry, and care for those around us. Yet somewhere along the way, we can begin to move ahead of Him. We work for Him, but not always with Him. We busy our hands, while our hearts slowly drift from His presence.
And every time I do this, I come up empty.
Not because the work is wrong, but because I have stepped outside of the source. When I rely on my own strength, wisdom, and understanding, I feel the strain. Jesus gently reminds us why. A branch cannot produce fruit on its own. It must remain connected to the vine. Life flows from Him. Fruit is formed through abiding.
Even our best efforts, when separated from Him, fall short of what He longs to do through us.
But when we slow down and turn our attention back to Him, everything shifts. The Holy Spirit leads. He redirects. He breathes life into what we place in His hands. What once felt heavy becomes light because we are no longer carrying it alone.
Like inviting my daughters into the kitchen, what feels less efficient often holds a deeper purpose beyond teaching. There is connection. There is joy. There is love being formed in the middle of the process.
This is the invitation of Jesus.
Not performance, but presence. Not striving, but abiding. Not doing for Him, but walking with Him. Remember, He created you as a human being, not a human doing. Take time to be with Jesus before you attempt to do things for Him.
Before you step into your next act of service, pause. Listen. Ask Him what He desires and how He wants to meet you there.
Abide before you act.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for inviting me into life with You. Forgive me for the times I have rushed ahead and relied on myself. Draw my heart back to Your presence. Teach me to abide, to listen, and to follow Your Spirit so that my life bears fruit that reflects You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want more?
Read John 15:1–11. What does Jesus reveal about the relationship between the vine, the branches, and the Father? What does abiding look like in this passage? What role does obedience play in remaining in His love? Where are you tempted to move ahead of Him? How can you intentionally create space to walk with Him today?
