Simple Thoughts on Abiding in Christ
Many people want to stay close to Jesus all the time. They know it is a wonderful thing, but often they wonder—can it really happen? Is it possible to have an unbroken friendship with Jesus? Some think that only very special Christians can enjoy this closeness with Him. They believe it requires lots of time and energy. Most of us feel too weak or too busy. We even become discouraged, thinking we will never be good enough to achieve it.
But here is the good news: Jesus wants us to stay close to Him, especially when we feel weak. Abiding in Jesus is not something we have to do on our own. We do not have to become super strong or perfect before we can enjoy His presence. Instead, Jesus invites us just as we are—even if we are weak, tired, or afraid. Abiding in Him means letting our weakness rest in His strength, trusting Him to hold us and keep us safe.
Being close to Jesus is not a hard job we must do to please God. It is letting Him do everything for us, in us, and through us. We need to trust Him. Let Him work in our lives. Wait for Him to keep His promises. Jesus is the One who holds us close. Our job is to say yes and rely on Him.
Sadly, many of us forget this. We often think that God forgave us and saved us. Now, we believe it is our turn to live the Christian life. We believe we must follow Jesus by our own effort. We try hard, fail often, and feel hopeless. We pray for help, but still think it is all up to us. This makes us feel even more helpless.
But Jesus says, “Come to Me,” and He also says, “Stay with Me.” The same grace that called us to Him in the beginning is the grace that keeps us every day. Just as we listened to His voice saying “Come,” we can listen now as He says, “Abide in Me.” He invites us to rest in Him, to let Him be our home, our safe place.
When Jesus tells us to abide in Him, it is not a strict rule we can’t follow—it’s a loving promise. He is saying, “Trust Me, let Me hold you, and I will keep you safe.” When we hear these words, we do not need to feel worried or afraid. We can have hope and joy, knowing that He will help us to stay with Him.
If we ever wonder, “But isn’t there something I have to do?” the answer is simple: any good we do is the result of Jesus working in us. When we stop trying so hard, He gives us the energy to do what is right. By trusting Him, we gain the wish to follow His path. As we rest in His love, we find ourselves wanting to do good because He is working in our hearts.
Paul, a follower of Jesus, explained this beautifully. He said that he tries his best to follow Jesus. This is because he knows that Jesus has already taken hold of him. It is like a parent helping a child climb a steep hill—the parent holds the child’s hand, lifting them up. The child tries hard, but it is the parent’s strength that makes it possible. In the same way, Jesus holds us, lifting us to a life close to Him. Our efforts are real, but they are made possible because He is holding us.
So, fix your eyes on Jesus and remember why He has taken hold of you. He wants you to have a close, never-ending friendship with Him. All the blessings you have now, and those He promises for the future, come from this closeness with Him.
If you feel weak or afraid, just look to Jesus. See His love and power. Trust that He is strong enough to keep you close. Even if you have failed before, remember that He is still holding you. Each day, you can say, “Jesus, I choose to stay with You. I trust You to keep me.”
Take some time alone with Jesus. Tell Him honestly that you want to abide in Him. Give yourself to Him, and trust Him to do the rest. If doubts or failures come, remember that Jesus is the One who holds you. Because of Him, you can live each day with confidence. You stay with Jesus. He has taken hold of you, and He will keep you safe.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 