Many people today celebrate independence.
Independence from people.
Independence from authority.
Independence from anything that seems to control their lives.
But when it comes to our relationship with God, independence is not strength.
Independence from God is the most dangerous place a person can live.
What Jesus Said About Our Dependence on Him
Listen to what Jesus said in the Gospel of John.
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.
Apart from me you can do nothing.”
These words are simple, but they carry a powerful truth.
Jesus is the source.
We are only the branches.
A branch cannot survive by itself.
It cannot produce fruit by itself.
It cannot even stay alive by itself.
Everything the branch needs comes from the vine.
In the same way, everything we need in life comes from God.
Why God Sometimes Allows Difficult Seasons
When God wants to use someone, the first thing He often does is prepare them.
And many times, that preparation comes through suffering.
Not because God wants to destroy us.
But because one of the greatest lessons God teaches His people is dependence on Him.
Sometimes doors close in your life.
Sometimes finances become difficult.
Sometimes people you trusted are no longer around.
Sometimes the very things you depended on suddenly disappear.
But God is not abandoning you.
He is preparing you.
God Wants You to Remember the Source
When God begins to use someone, He wants them to remember one thing clearly:
He is the source.
As the Bible says:
“I am the vine, you are the branches.”
Your strength comes from Him.
Your wisdom comes from Him.
Your provision comes from Him.
Everything that sustains your life comes from God.
The Danger of Feeling Independent from God
The moment a person begins to feel independent from God, something dangerous begins to happen.
Instead of serving people with the mind of God, they begin to serve people with their own mind.
Instead of depending on God’s wisdom, they begin to depend on their own understanding.
But Jesus made this truth very clear:
“Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Not a little.
Not some things.
Nothing.
Stay Connected to the Vine
The safest place a person can live is not independence.
It is dependence on God.
A life connected to Jesus will always produce fruit.
Because when we remain in Him, His life flows through us.
And when His life flows through us, our lives begin to bear fruit that only God can produce.
If this message blessed you, feel free to explore more teachings and devotionals on this website as we grow together in the Word of God.