The pursuit of the vine

The pizza sauce was the last straw. It had been a long day in midst of a long week which happened to fall during a long, busy month.

After a team meeting in the morning, and an afternoon in front of the computer finishing two language evaluation write-ups and making arrangements for a trip to the embassy in the big city for a passport renewal, my mind began sending me warnings that I might be biting off more than I could chew.

One wrong click when making my appointment at the embassy made the process much more complicated than it was designed to be. The  computer insisted that the two-bedroom hotel room I was trying could accommodate only two adults and no children. I watched the screen go blurry as a tear ran down my cheek.

Why can’t this just be simple? Can’t I do anything right?

When Shad returned home a few minutes later, he had some wise advice for me: “Sarah, no one (especially God) expects you to do it all.” He also graciously pointed out that thinking I could do it all was rooted in pride. Although it hurt, it made sense.

But no matter, for now, I had to keep plugging away. If I didn’t make dinner, who would?

I mixed the pizza dough, and while it was rising, began making the pizza sauce. For a moment, I forgot my online communication woes and started to feel capable again.

And then I stirred the sauce. The boiling splash of parmesan cheese and tomato burned my palm, leaving splotches of red skin. Pouting and defeated again, I headed to the aloe vera plant on the front porch.

As I smoothed the aloe vera gel on my wound, God reminded me of the wise words Shad had spoken earlier in the day.

And then I remembered the truth from God’s Word: “Without Me, you can do nothing.”

It’s funny how easy it is to depend on my strength, my skill, my brains, my ability, my aptitude, my time, my energy or my experience. My flesh is set up that way. It’s natural. But as a daughter of the King, I have been given a much better way.

It’s more than OK to ask God for help—it’s required! Without plugging into the source of my strength and tapping into the well of His unending resources, I can do absolutely nothing.

The things I do in my own strength may look like something, but they are really nothing when done out of my meager, self-focused resources. When I am not connected with Him, nothing of value is accomplished—no, not even online reservations or pizza.

When Christ is my source of strength, it is no longer about what I want to accomplish. He is the Vine, the Source of anything “good” that comes out of my life. It’s a good lesson—one that I’m sure I’ll need to be reminded of over and over in the coming days and weeks.

The Holy Spirit’s pursuit of my heart brings about the fruit of the vine—He’s even been known to use internet and pizza sauce…

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me, you can do nothing.” John 15:5

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