“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.” John 15:5 NIV

Every year, I have a goal of planting a garden. I want to be able to walk in my backyard and pick out some produce for a smoothie or to use in a dish for dinner that night. It hasn’t happened yet, but maybe 2017 is the year!

Harvesting takes place after a significant amount of time is spent planning, preparing the soil, and nurturing the plants (plus patience and some luck!). In a similar way, the fruit we hope to bear in our lives takes time, patience, and discipline to come to fruition. This verse in John reminds us of the hope we have in Jesus who makes“bear[ing] much fruit” possible. When we remain in Him through the ups and downs of life, we are able to accomplish all He has in store for our lives.

Whether your fruit is in your career, family, personal life, or a new endeavor, we are cheering and praying for you!