The Vine, the Branch and The Gardener

Remain in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in Me. John 15:4

Some days, staying the course feels easy. Other days, I wonder if I've heard God correctly.

As a business owner, coach, wife, entrepreneur, and someone who genuinely wants to live out what God has called me to do, I've had moments when the numbers simply didn't add up, the opportunities didn't come, and the silence made me question everything.

There have been months when my business made very little money. Those are the moments when insecurity starts whispering, "Maybe this isn't what God called you to do. Maybe you should quit." 

The fact of the matter is, there are days I absolutely want to quit. And that's no lie! But I've made a decision: I don't let myself quit on the hard days.

Instead, I go back to God.

Because somewhere along the way I've started carrying responsibilities that were never mine to carry. Because see God is never absent, but when I allow burnout, discouragement, comparison, and feelings of failure to lead the way then I'm reminded that I've been working in my own strength instead of abiding in His.

Jesus never promised the journey would be easy. He promised that if I remained connected to Him, I would bear fruit.

Paul reminds us of the same encouragement:

Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Now get this, contrary to popular belief, remaining isn't passive. It's intentional.

Here are three practices that help me stay connected to The Vine.

1. Return to God before I make big decisions.

I've learned not to make permanent decisions based on temporary discouragement. Because everything that I can see with my physical eyes are subject to change!

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2Corinthians 4:18

When disappointment shows up, I pause before I react. I pray, I open my Bible, and I ask God one simple question.

"Am I still in Your Will?"

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

2. Measure faithfulness before I measure results.

The world celebrates numbers, but God looks at obedience.

Some seasons produce visible fruit. And I'm cool with that, but other seasons, that's when roots are growing, when no one else sees.

When I focus only on income, followers, clients, or recognition, I lose sight of the One who called me in the first place.

Faithfulness always comes before fruitfulness, because faith is the seed! 

3. Stay connected to people who point me back to Jesus.

God doesn't calls us to walk alone, maybe some seasons, but most times He gives us a community. 

I need people who remind me of God's promises when I've forgotten them, who encourage me without telling me what I want to hear, and who lovingly redirects when I'm drifting. See, we don't need encouragement when we're winning, we need it when times are hard and heavy.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together... but encouraging one another. Hebrews 10:24,25

The right people strengthens our relationship with God, they don't replace it.

Every time.

I don't want to be the person who suddenly looks around and realizes I've been building a business, leading a ministry, or even serving my family without staying close to Jesus. A friend of mine, Belinda, who has since gone home to be with the Lord used to say, "Didn't be so busy building, that you don't pay attention to who's passing you to bricks." 

I don't want to keep running back to Him only after I've exhausted myself.

I want to remain in Him every day.

Because the Vine isn't just where the fruit comes from.

It's where life comes from.

So if you're tired, discouraged, or wondering if you should quit, don't make that decision today.

Remain. Stay connected. Let Him remind you Who called you.

The harvest has never depended on our strength. It has always depended on staying connected to the Vine.

Karen Williams 

Author | Speaker | Coach

Founder, Karen Williams Coaching