Stay Connected to the Source: A Tale of Withered Branches

On a recent walk, I passed by my neighbor’s house and paused to notice a pile of freshly cut branches waiting for the weekly trash pickup. They had only been there a day or two since the last collection, but already, the leaves were starting to wither. A few days before, those same branches were vibrant and green—thriving in the warm spring sun. Now, separated from their source, they were drying out and slowly dying.

It struck me how quickly life begins to fade when it’s disconnected from its source.

Jesus gives us this exact picture in John 15 when He says,

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NKJV).

The message is clear: if we stay connected to Christ—the true Vine—we will thrive, grow, and bear fruit. But the moment we detach ourselves, even slightly, we begin to wither. Maybe not immediately. Maybe not obviously. Eventually, the signs show dryness of spirit, lack of peace, frustration in our efforts, and a weakening of purpose.

It doesn’t take long.

That’s the danger. Just like those branches, we can look healthy one day, and start to fade the next, simply because we’ve neglected our connection to the Source. Prayer becomes sporadic. Scripture reading gets replaced with scrolling. Fellowship with other believers becomes optional. And over time, our spiritual vitality suffers.

God is the source of all life—both physical and spiritual. He doesn’t just give us life at the start of our journey; He sustains us daily. To abide in Him isn’t a one-time act—it’s a lifestyle.

So, let me ask you: are you connected today? Not yesterday. Not last week. Right now—are you abiding in Christ?

Because just like those branches, the difference between thriving and withering isn’t about what you once were connected to… but whether you still are.