There’s a quiet danger facing us as Christian women today—not loud, not scandalous, but subtle and deceptive. It’s the spirit of self-contentment. We tell ourselves, “I’m doing my part.” Others may even point to our lives as examples of faithfulness. And yet, if we’re honest, how often do we settle for what looks like fruit instead of pressing in to bear more?
Revelation 3:17 warns us of the Laodicean mindset:
“I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,”
yet Christ responds:
“You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
That sobering contrast reminds us that complacency can creep in where it’s least suspected—even in seasons of ministry. But our Father, the Vinedresser, longs for more fruit. Not perfection. Not performance. But a deeper abiding, a greater yielding, a fuller harvest.
Pressing On in the Hard Seasons
I’ve walked through a challenging season—marked by frustration, fatigue, and days when simply stepping out the door felt like an act of obedience. I don’t share this to seek sympathy, but to bear witness: God is faithful. He has been faithful in the struggle, and He remains faithful as I continue to move forward.
The Christian life is marked by steady faithfulness. God, in His goodness, equips us with everything we need to flourish—both in seasons of joy and in times of hardship. In my own struggles, I turned to His Word. In my lament, I prayed. I was drawn again and again into worship. Each day, I asked God what He had for me—and without fail, He met me there. Sometimes, He gave me simple tasks that gently shifted my heart toward gratitude and purpose.
I continue to disciple women—though with greater intentionality and focus. I revise my teaching notes and adapt them for online studies. I’m preparing for a seminar this July and anticipating the release of my book later this summer. I’m also planning ahead for our fall Bible study. In the midst of it all, my prayer remains simple and steady:
“Lord, let me see fruit.”
We know the fruit isn’t always ours to witness. It is Christ who produces it. But I am overjoyed to tell you that in the past, He graciously let me glimpse the harvest. I can’t take credit for any of it. I don’t deserve it. But I can only say: God did it. He allowed me to witness the fruit of prayers and perseverance.
The Steadfast Life: Paul’s Words for Us
Paul’s message to the church at Corinth speaks directly to our hearts today:
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you.
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:58
Paul wasn’t speaking from ease. He had endured beatings, betrayal, prison, hunger, and heartache. Yet he called the church to hope—rooted not in outcomes, but in the resurrection of Christ.
His encouragement is this: our work matters. Not because we’re strong or successful, but because Jesus is risen. Our labor is not in vain when it is done unto the Lord.
The Corinthian church was messy—divided, misguided, full of confusion. Still, Paul loved them. He taught them. He called them higher. And today, we are called the same way. We are to anchor our obedience in hope. We should live for eternal reward. We must abound in the work of the Lord.
Abide and Abound
Jesus said in John 15:4–5:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you… Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
That’s our call: not to strive in our own strength, but to abide.
Let’s be women who stay close to the Vine. Let’s pray not just for some fruit, but for more fruit—not for our glory, but for the joy of the Vinedresser. He delights in our growth, our surrender, and even in our weakness, when it drives us to Him.
We need the constant reminder: It’s not how we start; it’s how we finish. And there’s no greater example of finishing well than the apostle Paul. He passed the torch with clarity and courage. His eyes were fixed on eternity.
Let’s be women who do the same.
Let’s live, labor, and love with heaven in view—knowing that when we abide, God brings the increase, often in ways we’ll never fully see. But if He lets us glimpse it now and then? That’s grace.
And that, dear sisters, is more than enough reason to press on.
Scriptures to Meditate On:
- Revelation 3:17–18
- John 15:1–8
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
- 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Closing Prayer:
Lord, keep us from complacency. Stir in us a hunger for more of You, more fruit through You. Help us abide faithfully and work joyfully, trusting that You are always at work—even when we can’t see it. Let our lives be a sweet offering to the Vinedresser. Amen.
Debbie Swindell 