By Shawn Blackmon
Have you ever noticed that some people look like they’re doing great on the outside, but they’re falling apart on the inside? They smile. They show up. They know all the right church words. “I’m blessed and highly favored.” “God is good and all the time God is good.” “Praise the Lord Saints, Praise the Lord.” But beneath the surface, they’re exhausted. Spiritually dry. Running on empty. Trying to survive today on a connection they had with God six months ago.
The truth is, one of the most dangerous things in the world is a tree that looks healthy while its roots are dying. The leaves may still be green. The branches may still appear strong. Everything may look fine from a distance. But eventually what is happening underground will reveal itself above ground. The same is true for us.
Jesus understood this, which is why one of His final lessons before going to the cross was not about success, influence, or even ministry. Instead, He talked about a vine and its branches.
In John 15:4, Jesus said: “Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” Notice what Jesus did not say. He didn’t say, “Try harder.” He didn’t say, “Work harder.” He didn’t say, “Produce more.” He simply said, “Remain.” Stay connected.
A branch has only one job. It doesn’t manufacture fruit. It doesn’t force growth. It simply stays connected to the source. The life comes from the vine. The nourishment comes from the vine. The strength comes from the vine. The fruit comes from the vine.
Too many people are exhausted because they are trying to produce fruit without maintaining the connection. They’re trying to find peace without prayer. Strength without Scripture. Purpose without worship. Growth without God. It doesn’t work.
Jesus makes it crystal clear: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) Not a little bit. Not some things. Nothing. Because spiritual life cannot exist apart from the Source of life.
I heard a story about a mother who got tired of reminding her son to do his chores. Instead of taking away his phone, tablet, and gaming system, she took away every charging cord in the house. At first, he wasn’t worried. Everything still worked. The phone was still on. The tablet still had power. The gaming system still functioned. But as the day went on, the batteries started dropping. 95%. 72%. 48%. 23%. 10%. Suddenly his panic set in. The problem wasn’t the device. The problem was the connection.
Some people today are living on last year’s spiritual battery power. They’re running on an old sermon. An old prayer. An old encounter with God. An old season. And they’re wondering why they feel weak, discouraged, and disconnected.
The problem isn’t your potential. The problem isn’t your gifting. The problem may simply be that you’ve drifted away from the Source. Jesus didn’t call us to occasionally connect. He called us to remain. To stay rooted. To stay close. To stay connected. Because deep roots produce lasting fruit. Storms will come. Disappointments will come. Dry seasons will come. But when your roots are connected to Jesus, you’ll discover something powerful: You can survive what should have destroyed you. You can stand when others fall. You can keep growing when everything around you says you shouldn’t.
This week, don’t just ask yourself if you’re producing fruit. Ask yourself this: Am I still connected? Because everything God wants to do through your life begins with your connection to Him.
Let’s Pray: Father, thank You for being the source of my strength, peace, wisdom, and purpose. Forgive me for the times I’ve tried to live on yesterday’s connection instead of seeking You daily. Help me stay rooted in Your Word, grounded in Your presence, and connected to You through every season of life. Let my life produce fruit that brings glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Walk in grace. Stand in truth. Live blessed.
Pastor Shawn Blackmon serves as the Lead Pastor of UNITY Church in Attalla, Alabama, where his preaching is real, relevant and rooted in the unchanging Word of God. Beyond the pulpit, he serves as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Alabama, leading life-changing mentoring initiatives that empower young people across five counties.
