For years, I looked at Galatians 5:22-23 as if it were a spiritual grocery list. I would wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and think, "Okay, Austin, today you need to make sure you have plenty of patience, a good dose of kindness, and definitely some more self-control." It felt like a performance. If I made it to 5:00 PM without losing my temper, I figured I was getting an ‘A’ for the day. If I snapped at someone, I felt like I had failed the test.



However, the more I’ve walked with the Lord, through the highs of ministry in Peru and the lows of battling Stage 4 cancer, the more I’ve realized that I had it all backward. We often treat the Fruit of the Spirit like a checklist of behaviors we have to manufacture. We think that if we try hard enough, we can squeeze out some joy or force ourselves to be peaceful. But that’s not how fruit works.

Fruit is never the result of a struggle. It is the natural, effortless overflow of a healthy connection to the source of life. Specifically, it is the life of Jesus Christ manifesting through you because you are already joined to Him.

The Secret of the Vine

To understand the Fruit of the Spirit, we have to look at what Jesus said about the vine and the branches. He didn't tell the branches to work harder to produce grapes. He told them to stay connected.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

Think about an apple tree for a moment. You never walk past an orchard and hear the trees groaning, grunting, or straining to grow apples. The tree doesn't wake up worried about its performance. Instead, the tree simply stands in the sun, sinks its roots into the soil, and draws up the nutrients it needs. Because the tree is healthy and connected to its source, the apples just happen.

In the same way, you don't "do" the Fruit of the Spirit. You don't "achieve" peace or "accomplish" long-suffering. These qualities are the byproduct of your union with Christ. When you realize that you are already in the Vine, the fruit starts to show up on your branches. This shift from performance to presence changes everything. It moves us from a place of "trying" to a place of "abiding." If you're struggling to find that rest, I encourage you to read more about The Big Leap of Faith and how believing God loves you as you are is the starting point for everything.

You Are the The Inner Shrine

One of the most beautiful truths in the New Testament is how God describes your body. Paul tells us that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. But the word he uses for "temple" is very specific. In Greek, the word is naos.

In a traditional temple, there was the outer court and then the naos, the inner shrine, the Holy of Holies, where the very presence of God dwelt. Paul isn't just saying you are a religious building; he is saying you are the inner sanctuary.

1 Corinthians 6:19 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Because you are the naos, the Holy Spirit isn't standing outside of you giving you instructions on how to behave. He is living inside the deepest part of who you are. The Fruit of the Spirit is His fruit, not yours. He is the one producing it. Our job isn't to create the fruit; it’s to stop blocking the overflow.

The Space for Life

You might wonder, "If the Spirit is in me, why don't I see this fruit all the time?" Often, it’s because we are still carrying the weight of our old identity. We carry the heavy luggage of guilt, shame, and the need to prove ourselves.

This is where the word aphiemi comes in. It is the Greek word often translated as "forgiveness," but it literally means "to send away" or "to let go." When Jesus dealt with our sin on the cross, He didn't just cover it up; He sent it away. He canceled the debt.

When the weight of sin and the pressure of religious performance are "sent away," it makes room for the life of the Spirit to flow freely. You can't experience the overflow of joy if you are still trying to carry the burden of your own righteousness. Grace means the work is finished. The debt is aphiemi, sent away, so that the life of the Vine can fill the branch.

A Present Reality, Not a Future Goal

Religion always puts the "good stuff" in the future. It says, "If you pray more, you’ll eventually be peaceful," or "If you study more, you’ll finally have joy." It turns the Fruit of the Spirit into a reward for good behavior.

But in the economy of grace, the Fruit of the Spirit is a present reality. It is who you are right now because of who is in you. You don't have to wait until you are "more spiritual" to experience the peace of God. Peace is a Person, and that Person lives in your naos today.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Notice that it says "the fruit is," not "the fruit will be if you work hard." Consequently, we don't have to strive for these things. We simply acknowledge them. When I was going through the darkest days of my health journey, I didn't have the strength to "produce" joy. I was tired, I was in pain, and I was occasionally overwhelmed. Meanwhile, I found that as I rested in Christ, a peace that didn't make sense began to bubble up from within. It wasn't my peace; it was His.

You Are Not Being Graded

If there is one thing I want you to take away from this, it’s this: You are not being graded. You are being held.

The Christian life is not a classroom where God is standing over you with a red pen, waiting to circle your mistakes. It’s a relationship where the Father is holding you close. When you feel like you lack patience or kindness, the answer isn't to try harder. The answer is to fall deeper into the realization that you are loved.

Loved people naturally become loving people. Rested people naturally become peaceful people. Transformation is the result of being loved, not a requirement to be loved. This is the DNA of Grace, living from your identity, not for it.

Living in the Overflow

So, how do we practically live in this overflow? It starts by changing our focus. Instead of focusing on the fruit, focus on the Root.

1. Stop the Striving: When you catch yourself trying to "force" a spiritual quality, stop. Take a breath. Remind yourself, "I am a branch. The Vine is the source."
2. Acknowledge the Presence: Remember that you are the naos. God isn't far away. He is as close as your next breath.
3. Accept the Aphiemi: Let the weight of your failures be sent away. Don't let yesterday’s mistakes clog up today’s connection.

Your life was never meant to be a high-pressure performance. It was meant to be a beautiful, natural manifestation of the life of Jesus. As you walk through your day, remember that the Spirit is at work in you, producing exactly what you need for every moment.

You don't have to worry about the harvest. Just stay in the Vine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I still struggle with anger if the Fruit of the Spirit is in me?

Struggling with emotions doesn't mean the Spirit isn't present; it usually means you are still trying to handle life in your own strength. When we revert to "performance mode," we block the natural overflow of the Spirit's peace.

Is there a difference between "works" and "fruit"?

Yes, a massive difference. Works are what you do for God through effort and willpower, often leading to burnout. Fruit is what God does through you as you rest in Him, leading to life and joy.

How can I "abide" in Christ when I'm so busy?

Abiding isn't a physical activity; it's a mental and spiritual posture. It’s the constant awareness that you are joined to Him, whether you are washing dishes, leading a meeting, or resting at home.

#Grace #Faith #IdentityInChrist #AustinGardner #FollowedByMercy

Ready to dive deeper into living a life of rest?

Check out the latest episode of the Followed by Mercy podcast or explore more resources in our Resource Library.