We Can’t Do It Alone

“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.”

When each of my children was learning to tie their shoes, they could not master the task. Each time I offered my help, they yelled, “I can do it all by myself.”

Yet, they couldn’t. They didn’t quite have the skills or knowledge necessary for trying shoes. I offered them to sit on my lap and I would teach them, but they would get frustrated and run away. Eventually, I would have to scoop them up as they yelled.

They wanted to tie their shoes by themselves. In their mind they were capable, but they couldn’t do it alone.

I understood this frustration because as an adult I didn’t want to admit I needed help. We are sometimes taught from a young age to be independent or believe that asking for help is a weakness. We struggle with pride and want to prove our ability in the world. Or even feel alone, that we can’t trust others with our issues.

While this may be our mindset, it is not the mindset of Jesus.

Jesus told His disciples in John 10:10 that apart from Him, they could do nothing. Even though they committed their lives to following and serving Him. Jesus wanted them to understand they needed an intimate and interdependent relationship with Him.

Jesus was not commanding, but rather inviting His disciples to abide in Him. He promised blessings and that they would bear much fruit.

Just like a fruit can only be produced if it stays connected to the branch for nourishment and life. I think Jesus through this verse that we must stay connected to Him. Without a vital life-giving union with Jesus, we can bear no fruit in our lives.

Often we do things in our own strength and wisdom, rather than realizing it relenting to our need for God’s help. But when nothing happens, we get frustrated and stressed out, just like a child incapable of trying their shoes.

Our tendency to rely on ourselves can actually become a stumbling block. We can find ourselves defeated and discouraged.

When we choose to follow God, we are invited to abide in Him. This verse encourages me to stay connected to a relationship with Jesus and is important to my faith. As I’ve learned to dwell or abide in Him, I found myself better equipped to handle stress, and better prepared to avoid meltdowns altogether.