Christianity Is Hard When I Treat Faith Like a Formula Instead of Fellowship with the Living God.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

John 15:4.

Have you ever whispered in frustration, “I’ve done everything right, and yet nothing is working”?

It’s a quiet ache many of us have felt but few admit. We’re taught to trust, pray, tithe, serve, declare, fast, and we should. But sometimes, our hearts subtly twist these holy practices into formulas: If I do X, God will do Y. When life doesn’t follow that equation, disillusionment sets in.

Sometimes, we start to wonder: Is God even listening? Did I miss something? Is He punishing me?

But perhaps the problem isn’t that God isn’t hearing us; maybe we've expected answers based on formulas crafted in His name, not fellowship in His presence.

Perhaps, somewhere along the way, we started treating Christianity as a transaction rather than an enduring relationship.

I’ve noticed this pattern in my relationship with Jesus, especially when life gets hectic. There’s a subtle urge to make things happen, rather than resting and trusting His timing.

I recall a season when I thought I was following Him, but in reality, I was asking Him to bless my plans and endorse my agenda. My love for Him quietly shifted from devotion to transaction: do good, get good.

Without realizing it, our communion became clinical. My prayers were polished but passionless, my worship more duty than delight. Somewhere along the way, I drifted. And because I lacked authentic discipleship and accountability, I didn’t even notice how far my heart had wandered.

Thankfully, the Lord is gracious, sending a wake-up call. On more than one occasion, I've been reminded that God is not a vending machine. Though He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, He doesn’t parcel out His kindness, nor is His love conditional.

Friend, Christianity becomes heavy, hard, and hollow when we strip it of relationship. Without intimacy, obedience turns into performance. Worship becomes a bargaining chip. Prayer becomes pressured and mechanical.

And before we know it, we’re exhausted, spending ourselves in expectation of a return on an “investment” God never promised to give apart from Himself.

He is a good Father, longing for abiding fellowship, indeed, He is the reward,

the greatest treasure!

I’ve been the lost sheep, but I’ve also caught myself walking in the shoes of the elder brother. What about you?

The elder brother in Jesus’ parable (Luke 15:28–31) reminds us how easy it is to serve without intimacy, to obey without affection, to become bitter when blessings seem delayed.

He said, “I’ve served you all these years and never disobeyed… yet you never gave me…” His service, according to him, was spotless, but the fellowship was strained. He obeyed without intimacy and grew bitter though he stood amid the blessing.

God is after more than our labor—He wants our love. God desires that we abide in Him, not just apply His principles. We are to live from the point of dwelling in His presence.

When Jesus says, “Abide in Me,” He’s not asking us to work harder. He’s inviting us to rest more deeply. It’s in abiding that we bear fruit. It’s in fellowship that we experience true joy.

Friend, Jesus is the blessing, his Spirit our reward.

What if the peace you’re after isn’t on the other side of answered prayer, but right here in the midst of your situation?

What if the abundance of grace is in dwelling in the place of intimacy with the Lover of our souls?

What if the breakthrough you seek is not in an outcome, but in enjoying his presence?

✨ CLOSING PRAYER✨

Father, forgive me for the times I’ve made You a means to an end. I’ve treated You like a system to be figured out, instead of a Savior to be known. Strip away my striving. Draw me near again, not for what You can give, but for who You are. Teach me to abide. To walk with You. To delight in You. May my faith be more than formulas, may it be filled with fellowship, rooted in love, and full of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨REFLECTION QUESTIONS✨

Have I expected God to work like a vending machine blessing me based on my performance?

What would change in my walk with Christ if I viewed Him as my reward, not just my resource?

How can I shift from formula to fellowship in my daily rhythms?

✨Dive Deeper Through Bible Study✨

Read Through John 15:1-17 & Luke 15:11-32

In John 15, Jesus invites His disciples to “abide” in Him; in Luke 15, the father says to the elder son, “You are always with me.” What does this tell us about God’s desire for continual presence in our lives?

What happens to branches that don’t remain in the vine (John 15:6)? How is this like the younger son leaving for a “distant country” (Luke 15:13)? In both cases, what are the consequences of disconnecting from the source of life and provision?

In John 15:2, God “prunes” fruitful branches so they bear more fruit. In Luke 15, the younger son is “humbled” by hardship before returning. How are pruning and humbling similar in God’s process of restoration?

In John 15:9–10, Jesus calls us to remain in His love through obedience. In Luke 15:20–24, the father runs to cover his son with compassion before he can even speak. How do these moments show that God’s love moves toward us before we can do anything for Him?

In John 15:11, Jesus promises joy that remains when we abide in Him. In Luke 15:23–24, there’s joy and celebration when the lost son is restored. What does this teach us about joy as the overflow of relationship rather than outcomes and circumstances?

Compare the elder son’s statement, “All these years I’ve been serving you” (Luke 15:29), with Jesus’ call to “abide” rather than strive (John 15:4–5). What’s the danger of serving God without staying connected to His heart?

In John 15:12–13, Jesus commands us to love as He has loved us. In Luke 15, the father extends this love to both the repentant son and the resentful one. Who in your life needs you to mirror that kind of love this week?

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