Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
Have you ever prayed desperately for peace, only to find it didn’t come? Or asked for joy, patience, or any other fruit of the Spirit, yet it still felt out of reach?
In those moments, it’s easy to wonder: Is God ignoring me? Has He turned away? Does He not care? Is He punishing me? Am I not loved?
No, dear child. Those whispers are lies from the enemy. Scripture assures us that God is close to the brokenhearted and that His ears are always attentive to the prayers of His children (Psalm 34:18, 1 Peter 3:12). He loves you with an everlasting love.
So why didn’t the peace come when you asked for it? Or joy…or patience…or (fill in the blank)?
Though it may feel like an unanswered prayer, it isn’t. God works all things for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Even what seems like delay has purpose. It is often a necessary part of our sanctification, the process that aligns our hearts with His will and teaches us to abide in Him.
The primary answer is found in Jesus’ own words in John 15:4-5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. ”
“He who abides in Me will bear much fruit…” What fruit? The very fruit of the Spirit we long for: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities are neither produced by our own effort nor given by God as a genie. They flow from remaining connected to the Vine. All these things we seek in abundance are directly linked to our abiding.
But what does that mean?
The word “abide” used in this verse is the Greek word menō, which is rich with meaning. It speaks of dwelling in a place without departing, of continuing over time, of enduring, and of staying. Some translations simply say “remain,” which beautifully captures Jesus’ heart and provides helpful context for understanding what He meant when issuing this directive.
When the storm is raging and you need peace, God calls you to stay present with Him in that very place. Don’t run from the storm or try to go around it. Remember, He is always with you in the storm. Avoidance — whether through Google searches for reassurance, retail therapy, food, or any other coping mechanism — pulls you out of His presence. And peace cannot grow where we refuse to remain.
The same is true when you need patience, self-control, or gentleness in seasons of tribulation, childbearing struggles, financial hardship, or any trial you’d rather escape. You are called to wait for the Lord and not depart from Him (Psalm 27:14).
This is important to understand because we sometimes believe that because God is good and we are His children, He will give us whatever we ask. But that takes Scripture out of context. God gives us what aligns with His will — and His will is always what is best for us and what draws us closer to Him (1 John 5:14-15).
If we are seeking peace from other sources while asking Him for it, He may withhold the immediate peace we want. Not out of cruelty, but out of love. He refuses to let us attribute His peace to our quick fixes.
I was reminded of this recently with an unexpected lump in my upper breast. Now I’ve experienced immediate peace that surpasses all understanding in the past, like when my mother unexpectedly died, and when my young daughter and I were in a terrible collision with a motorcycle. I know the feeling of surreal, instantaneous peace well. But I also know there are times when peace is delayed. The moment I felt the lump, I prayed for peace, but it didn’t come. Instead, worry persisted as the enemy whispered “what ifs.” For three weeks, while waiting for my doctor’s appointment, God didn’t give me the instant, consistent peace I wanted. Why? Because I kept intermittently sitting at the enemy’s table, feeding on fear and information.
That lack of peace was merciful. It was a forceful reminder that I cannot remain in Christ while also running to Google. True abiding means trusting God even without answers, because His presence is the peace we seek.
So what does this look like in practice to abide in Christ?
James tells us: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”
How do we draw near?
Through prayer and quiet communion with Him.
Through Scripture.
Through worship.
Through spiritual disciplines that become more than checkboxes on a to-do list.
Prayer is not simply presenting God with our requests. It is communion, intimate fellowship with God while being saturated in His presence, and ardent love.
Bible reading is not simply gathering information. It is meeting with a Person.
Worship is not simply singing songs. It is orienting our hearts toward the One who is worthy.
These disciplines are not burdens. They are lifelines that keep the branch connected to the Vine.
As we remain in Him, He is strengthening our faith, deepening our dependence, refining our character, and teaching us to treasure the Giver more than the gifts we desire. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength, not because our circumstances have changed, but because our hearts have learned to rest in Him.
And while there is no automatic shortcut to lasting peace, there is a promise. God promises that He can always be found: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Peace is not hidden from us. It is found where God is found. And God is found in abiding.
So if peace hasn’t come as quickly as you hoped, don’t assume God is distant. Don’t assume He has forgotten you. Don’t assume your prayers are being ignored.
Instead, consider that He may be inviting you deeper.
Deeper into dependence.
Deeper into trust.
Deeper into His presence.
Because peace is not merely something God gives. Peace is found in God Himself.
Remain in Him. Abide in Him. Stay with Him in the storm. It is only there, connected to the Vine, that the fruit of peace is cultivated, the weary soul finds rest, and the heart experiences unspeakable joy.
If you’re in a season where peace or perhaps joy feels far away, hear Jesus’ tender words once more: “Abide in Me.” Stay. Remain. Don’t depart when it gets hard. The branch that stays connected will bear fruit, even if the storm lasts longer than you hoped.
The joy of the Lord really is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The peace that guards your heart is found in Christ alone (Philippians 4:7). Keep abiding, dear sister. The fruit will come as you continue to abide in Him—remaining steadfast, refusing to depart, and staying connected to the One who loves you ardently and longs for you to dwell in His presence.
Ardently His,
Leah
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