05/28/2026
Jesus didn’t say, “Try your hardest and hope for the best.” He said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Not a little, not sometimes. Nothing.
The Christian life is not merely hard work or moral effort. It doesn’t run on willpower or good intentions but on the very presence of God dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus ascended, He didn’t leave behind a manual. He sent a Person. The Spirit is not a vague force or distant energy. He is Comforter. Counselor. Convicter. Empowerer. Advocate.
He is God in us, leading, forming, refining, reminding, and filling.
And the Spirit gives us power not just to do the work of Jesus but to become like Jesus in the process.
And becoming like Jesus is not something we can white-knuckle or manufacture in our own. It takes effort, for sure. But it also requires transformation that we cannot muster on our own.
Fruit doesn’t grow because the branch tries really hard.
Fruit grows because the branch stays connected to the Vine.
The Spirit is the One who makes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control possible (Galatians 5:22–23).
Maybe you feel stuck. Worn out. Like you’re failing at following Jesus.
Maybe it’s time to stop trying to do it without Him.
The invitation is to surrender more deeply.
To rely on the Spirit moment by moment, step by step, breath by breath.
Prayer is not just how we express dependence on God, it’s how we experience dependence on God.
We don’t pray to impress Him but to abide in Him.
To let Him guide, convict, encourage, correct, and empower us.
The Spirit is not optional for Christian living.
He is Christian living.
But the good news is you’re not alone.
You’ve never been alone.
And you don’t have to figure this out in your own strength.
The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you (Romans 8:11).
He is willing, present, and eternally able.
Invite Him.
Trust Him.
Walk with Him.
Because without Him, we can’t.
But with Him, nothing is impossible.
~Ian Simkins
