You Can Do Nothing Without Jesus

"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
 
There is a kind of pressure that sneaks into your life when you believe everything depends on you. Maybe you’ve felt it. That need to perform, to achieve, to prove yourself to others or even to God. But this kind of pressure doesn’t produce fruit. It only produces exhaustion.
 
Jesus makes it clear in John 15 that you were never meant to operate on your own. He says, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” That’s not a guilt trip. It’s an invitation. It’s a reminder that real life, real purpose, and real impact don’t come from striving. They come from staying connected.
 
Think about a branch. It doesn’t force itself to grow fruit. It doesn’t panic to stay alive. It simply stays attached to the vine. The life and strength of the vine flow into the branch, and the result is fruit that lasts. Your life is meant to look the same way.
 
That means your worth isn’t tied to how impressive you are. Your productivity in God’s kingdom isn’t measured by hustle. It’s measured by connection. When you abide in Christ, spending time with Him, listening to Him, relying on Him, you become who you were always meant to be. You begin to bear the kind of fruit that isn’t here one day and gone the next.
 
Jesus doesn’t just want you busy. He wants you close. He’s not asking for performance. He’s asking for presence. When you stay with Him, His life flows through you and changes everything. If you’ve been running on empty, trying to prove something, stop. The vine is strong enough to carry you. All you have to do is stay connected.