Have you ever walked through a season where you felt spiritually dry, like no matter how much you prayed, read your Bible, or went through the motions, the fruits just didn’t seem to grow? I’ve been there. I’ve had seasons where love felt distant, peace was elusive, and self-control was a battle I kept losing. But over time, I’ve learned something powerful: you can bear the fruit of the Spirit in every season—yes, even the dry ones—when you stay connected to God.
Let’s take a moment to revisit what exactly this fruit is and why it matters so much to our everyday walk with Christ.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”— Galatians 5:22–23 (NIV)
Each of these qualities isn’t just a goal to strive for, and they are the outward evidence of the inward work the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives. This fruit isn’t something we produce on our own. I can’t will myself into being more joyful or patient. I’ve tried. And maybe you have too. But the truth is, this fruit comes from abiding in the Spirit, not striving in the flesh.
The Holy Spirit Is Our Gardener
When I first came to Christ, I thought that transformation meant doing better. I believed if I prayed enough, read enough, or served enough, I would eventually be enough. But that thinking left me burned out and frustrated. I was trying to grow fruit without being deeply rooted.
What changed? I began to understand that the Holy Spirit is the one who cultivates this fruit in me. I’m not the gardener—God is.
“The fruit of the Spirit is the demonstration of a surrendered life to Christ.”
It’s not about effort; it’s about surrender. As I’ve opened my heart more fully to Him, I’ve witnessed the slow but sure transformation of my character. My temper softened. My words became gentler. My joy deepened—not because life got easier, but because God was at work within me.
“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad…”— Matthew 12:33 (NIV)
When we surrender to the Spirit, He goes to work reshaping our inner world so that our outer lives reflect His goodness.
Staying Connected to the Vine
Jesus said it plainly in John 15:5:
“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.”
I love the imagery of that verse. A branch can’t bear fruit on its own. It has to stay connected. That means that no matter how strong our willpower or how good our intentions, without connection to Christ, we’re just dry wood.
So, what does abiding in Christ look like? For me, it’s a daily choice. It means starting my mornings in prayer, not just to talk, but to listen. It means making space in my schedule for God’s Word, even if it’s just a few verses I meditate on throughout the day. It means choosing worship over worry, praise over panic, and trust over self-reliance.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”— Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
Abiding is about trusting Him, especially when I don’t have all the answers. It’s in those moments of connection—those small, sacred pauses with God—that the fruit begins to grow.
Fruit in All Seasons
I used to think fruit only came in the good seasons—when life was smooth, my schedule was light, and my spirit felt refreshed. But Scripture paints a different picture.
“Yahweh will guide you continually, satisfy your soul in dry places, and make your bones strong. You will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters don’t fail.” — Isaiah 58:11 (WEB)
Even in the wilderness, God can produce fruit in us. Even when everything around us feels dry, He offers living water that renews and strengthens us from within. I’ve experienced this. In times of stress or disappointment, I’ve found God’s peace showing up in unexpected ways. His joy bubbled up in moments where sorrow should’ve drowned it out. His kindness worked through me when I felt too tired to give.
That’s the beautiful paradox of life in the Spirit—it’s not seasonal. It’s supernatural.
A Lifestyle of Fruitfulness
Here’s what I’ve come to realize: bearing the fruit of the Spirit isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a daily walk of dependence on God, allowing His Spirit to lead, guide, correct, and comfort.
And the more we cultivate this fruit, the more it overflows into our relationships, our decisions, our purpose. It’s not just for us. It’s for the people around us. A tree doesn’t eat its own fruit—it produces it for others to enjoy. In the same way, when we grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, we become living testimonies of God’s grace in a world that desperately needs it.
Final Thoughts: Stay Rooted
Let me leave you with this encouragement: don’t focus on producing fruit. Focus on staying rooted. Stay connected to the true Vine. Make space for God. Let the Holy Spirit lead. And over time, your life will blossom with fruit that points others straight to Jesus.
God has already planted the seed of His Spirit within you. Trust that He’s nurturing it. Water it with the Word. Keep it in the light of His presence. And let Him do what only He can do—transform you from the inside out.
You don’t have to strive. You just need to abide.
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