“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
A friend of ours worked one summer at a summer camp. Aside from the terror of caring for eight middle school boys, Tom was delighted to learn that he would have some cool, fresh air to relieve just a little of his pain as he stood in the middle of the cabin in 85-degree heat. He dropped his bags and proceeded to plug in the fan. It looked to be new, shiny, and efficient. Yet, when he plugged it in and turned the switch, nothing happened.
So, he did what any person would do. He unplugged it in and tried it again and again and again. He then resolved to sweat it out. Later that day, the camp director welcomed him and asked if there was anything he needed. When Tom mentioned the fan, the director assured him it would be fixed. After one sweltering night, the director brought back the same fan.
“So what was wrong with it?” Tom asked.
“Well, it looks like all it needed was a new plug.”
Here’s the thing friends, we’re all like that fan. Unless we’re equipped to plug into our Power Source, our marriages won’t work. John 15:5 reminds us, “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.“
This passage is rich and powerful in meaning. We’re reminded of the spiritual truth that unless we are connected to God, we truly cannot do any good thing. We can know all about God’s Word, but we will never be able to fully utilize it in all seasons of marriage unless we’re connected.
What if we gave God the same dedication, devotion, and enthusiasm as this passage? As a couple it’s important to build a shared spiritual relationship but this pursuit often fails if we don’t as individuals get plugged in.
And what about your ‘plug’? Is it fully functional or does it need to be repaired in order to plug into the Ultimate Source of power? Sometimes, we need to take a step back and examine our faith.
There have been rocky seasons in our marriage when I often wondered if we were headed down the path to divorce. That fear shadowed every spat or disagreement Chris and I had. There were also times when both Chris and I hurt each other. And then there were moments when we just couldn’t seem to connect. As I reflect on those seasons, it’s easy to identify the problem. Neither of us were connected with God. All of it stemmed from being plugged into ourselves instead of Jesus. Now when these seasons come, I lean heavily on God and double check the power source.
God is the true power source. We are merely the branches stemming from the vine. When are connected to God we become fully functional as a result. What purpose are we serving for ourselves, our spouses, and our marriages if we are not?
Is your marriage plugged into the ultimate Source of power? If not, maybe you need to check the connection.
Heather Riggleman calls Nebraska home (Hey, it’s not for everyone) with her three kids and husband of 20 years. She writes to bring bold truths to marriage, career, mental health, faith, relationships, celebration and heartache. She is the co-host of the Moms Together Podcast and is a former national award-winning journalist. She is the author of Mama Needs a Time Out and Let’s Talk About Prayer. Her work has been featured on Proverbs 31 Ministries, MOPS, Today's Christian Woman and Focus On the Family. You can find her at www.heatherriggleman.com.
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