The most unexpected situations sometimes birth the best fruit in our lives. Sometimes it takes a loss, a disappointment or a season of emptiness to stir up what’s already inside us. When our faith is tested, we have two choices: choose God or not. It really is that simple. We can choose to remain in Him or remain in our funk.

Graduation was almost a year ago and I worked diligently to make the most of my education. Last May, I received a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Graphic Design. It’s a pretty high achievement for those studying graphic design. Employers take notice of candidates that have a BFA in design so it all seemed like it would work out for me. While I was going to school, I was freelancing and interning on and off to gain experience and be ready for the real world. Honestly, nothing prepares you for the real world. The real world, prepares you for the real world.

Following graduation, I started applying to different job openings. Jobs that I really wanted and jobs that I really didn’t care for. I had phone interviews, follow up interviews and didn’t land anything for six months. In the wait, I learned a little bit about myself and a lot about God’s divine plan for my life. Life’s interruptions are really God’s Divine interventions. I thought that all the dedicated work I had put in while being a student would automatically qualify me, over others, for any opportunity that came my way. I realized my faith was set on the idea that a degree would enable me to have a steady income. My faith was set on my own works, not on the Grace of God.

John 15:5 says, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

I have realized that my understanding of remaining in God is miniscule. It has taken more than I expected for me to gain a greater understanding of this principle. Landing an internship after waiting six months for a full time job wasn’t the breaking point. I had to go through landing a job with an employer that wasn’t being honest, giving a two weeks notice for what seemed as the opportunity of my dreams and being “let go” after only 2 weeks of working there. I had even moved out of my parent’s home to pursue this “dream job”. Consequently, my parents made the decision to separate in light of me moving out.

There are many questions I have for God like “What am I supposed to do with my life?”, “What is my purpose?”, “Why couldn’t my parents work things out?”. He hasn’t answered all my questions and He might never answer them all. But one thing I am sure of, I am to remain in Him because apart from Him, I literally can’t do anything. The dictionary defines the word remain to continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have ceased to exist. So what does it mean to remain in God? It means to continue to exist in His presence even when you lose a job, when your parents are getting a divorce, when you lose a loved one and even when you don’t know what will happen next.

When we have nothing to hold on to but God, we realize that He was all we needed from the start. When we stay stuck to Him, it’s inevitable for us not to grow, succeed, and live in our purpose. He is the source! The biggest lesson I have learned is that my personal truimphs or lack there of, aren’t going to determine the outcome of my future. God is the only one who determines the outcome. That is why it is vital for me to remain in Him. I can bear mediocre fruit if I rely on my own works but I will bear divine fruit when I remain in the Him.