The Fruit You Cannot Eat
When provision looks real… but isn’t meant for you
Algeciras, in the Andalucía region of Spain.
It is not a destination—just a crossing point. A junction where people arrive only to leave. Trains, long-distance buses, ferries—everything here is designed to move you somewhere else. Once you get there, you want to get out as quickly as possible.
Not because it is a bad place…
but because it feels like you don’t belong there.
Almost like standing on the edge of two worlds—
somewhere between Europe and Africa—
brief, transitional, and easy to overlook.
I didn’t go there to experience something spiritual.
I went there because life was moving me forward.
But sometimes, the places we don’t plan…
become the places where God speaks the loudest.
Over the last four years of my travels, I have seen a pattern.
God does not always speak in churches, or in moments we carefully prepare.
He speaks in unexpected places—through unexpected people—at unexpected times.
And every time it happens, I am left wondering:
What if I had missed that moment?
What if I had taken a different bus, or left a day earlier?
But then I realize—those questions don’t matter.
Because God is not reacting to our schedule.
He is working through it.
He has already appointed a time and a place to speak to each of us.
Through delays…
through sudden changes…
through waiting…
through movement…
He aligns our path with His purpose.
All we have to do…
is keep moving.
And somehow, along the way,
we arrive exactly where we are meant to be.
What Looks Good Isn’t Always Good
After Ahmed left for Córdoba, I returned to my hotel room, rested for a while, prayed… and later stepped out for dinner.
I found an Indian restaurant about two kilometers away and started walking through the town.
That’s when I noticed them in the center of Algeciras.
Tall orange trees.
Heavy with fruit.
Big oranges—almost like a volleyball.
They looked bright… and inviting.
An old memory came back.
A few years ago, a traveler had written about these oranges in her blog and praised them. She mentioned that they were helpful for homeless people and suggested that every town should follow the example of Algeciras. Even during my 2014 election campaign in Canada, I promised to plant fruit trees. I was inspired by that blog.
I tried to reach one… but they were too high.
Almost 10 feet above the ground.
I wondered how a hungry homeless person could reach that height and pick a fruit.
A couple of locals looked at me with quiet amusement… almost sympathy.
They may have thought I was a refugee who had crossed the Bay of Gibraltar by boat.
I went back to my room.
But the massive orange trees stayed in my mind.
Later that night, I looked it up.
These were not regular oranges.
They were bitter oranges (Seville orange, Scientific name: Citrus aurantium)—not meant to be eaten raw.
They are used for marmalade, fragrance, and decoration.
But standing there in Algeciras… I realized:
Not everything that looks good… is meant to be consumed.
That’s the nature of what I call echo chamber content.
Ideas get repeated.
Assumptions get shared.
And slowly, they begin to feel like truth.
I see the same pattern even today—especially with AI-generated content, including Christian messages.
Some of it is good.
But not all of it is true.
Even when the message sounds good, some creators use visual tactics—like a woman preaching in revealing clothing—to attract views. The goal becomes popularity, not the Gospel.
And this is where discernment matters.
Not everything that appears helpful… is from God.
Not everything that sounds spiritual… is truth.
Discernment is not natural.
It is given.
And it grows when we seek it—
through prayer, through the Word, and through the Holy Spirit.
Revelation – The Same Fruit, Different Purpose
A few months earlier, in Colca Canyon, Peru…
I had fallen off the trail—about 30 feet down.
I was saved by a tree that had been planted there many years ago.
God knew that one day, I would come to that exact spot… and fall.
After nearly an hour of struggle, I managed to climb back up and continue walking.
I was tired.
Thirsty.
Physically drained.
A car stopped—but there was no space.
However, a man from the backseat reached out and gave me an orange (Valencia orange, Scientific name: Citrus sinensis).
I couldn’t even see his face.
I had asked for water.
He only had an orange.
But at that moment… that orange felt like life itself.
I received it as provision from God.
I even wrote about it—Five Drops of Grace.
But in Algeciras…
I saw the same fruit again.
Bright.
Big.
Attractive.
Within sight.
Yet completely out of reach…
and not meant to be eaten.
That’s when it became clear to me:
The same thing that is provision in one season…
can be a distraction in another.
Not every fruit is for hunger.
Not every opportunity is for action.
Not every good-looking thing is meant for you.
God does not just provide.
He also withholds.
And both… are grace.
In Colca Canyon, I needed the fruit.
In Algeciras, I needed the lesson.
Discernment – Not Every Fruit Is Sweet
I have spent a lot of time studying the fruit of the Spirit, and I also wrote a book titled Hearing the Holy Spirit in Everyday Moments.
In today’s world—including the church—there are many “Seville oranges.”
They look good.
They sound right.
They stand in places of influence.
But not everything that appears spiritual carries the fruit of the Spirit.
A believer without discernment can easily mistake a bitter orange for a sweet one—and be misled.
Psalm 1 already warns us about this path—
the way of the wicked, the sinners, and the scoffers.
And Jesus Himself gave a clear warning:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15).
This is why discernment matters.
Not everyone who stands at an altar carries the fruit of the Spirit.
Not everyone who speaks about God reflects His nature.
I have seen people with spiritual gifts…
but without the fruit of the Spirit.
And that difference matters.
A Biblical example is found in the story of King Saul and David.
Saul was anointed, chosen, and positioned as king.
He had the calling.
But over time, his heart turned away from God.
David, on the other hand, was not perfect—but he remained aligned with God’s heart.
Outward position did not define them.
Inner fruit did.
King Saul – Seville Orange (Bitter)
King David – Valencia Orange (Sweet)
By receiving kindness and compassion throughout my travels, I have learned something simple:
When we consistently give the fruit of the Spirit to others…
it comes back to us.
Tenfold.
This principle is often applied only to money—
give something, and God will return it multiplied.
There is truth in that.
But even more, it applies to the fruit of the Spirit.
As Christians, we are called to give love, kindness, patience, and goodness without expectation. And in time… it returns, often beyond what we imagined.
Now look at social media.
There are many voices.
Many messages.
Many presentations.
Some mock the Gospel.
Some package it for attention.
They look bright.
They look attractive.
But not everything that shines is truth.
Discernment helps us see beyond appearance.
Because unlike spoiled food,
a bitter orange does not reveal itself easily.
Unless you know…
you will assume it is sweet.
Some fruits are given to sustain you.
Others are shown to teach you.
Discernment is knowing the difference.
Conclusion
Life will place many “fruits” before us.
Some will nourish.
Some will distract.
Some will look good… but carry no life within them.
We cannot rely only on what we see.
We cannot depend only on what we hear.
We need discernment.
Not the kind that comes from experience alone—
but the kind that comes from God.
The Bible encourages us:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
Discernment grows when we stay close to Him—
through prayer, through His Word, and through the quiet leading of the Holy Spirit.
So this is my encouragement to every believer:
Pray continuously.
Ask God to shape your heart, not just inform your mind.
Ask Him to help you recognize what is from Him… and what is not.
Because in a world full of bright, attractive “fruits,”
discernment will guard your soul.
And when God places the right fruit in your hand—
you will recognize it.
About the Author
Lawrence Manickam is an Evangelical Pastor and the founder of Calvary International Mission. Called to serve across nations, he was born in India, shaped in Canada, and now carries a heart for Mexico. He shares the love of Jesus Christ across cultures through writing, teaching, and personal ministry. In July 2024, he completed his Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, Virginia.
He is the author of three Christian books:
📘 Free From Lo-Debar
A journey into restoration, identity, and the God who brings His children out of forgotten places.
📘 Hearing the Holy Spirit in Everyday Moments
A collection of true encounters, testimonies, and reflections on learning the voice of the Holy Spirit in daily life.
📘 Trump & Jesus (Pre-Order)
A bold and provocative exploration of leadership, faith, culture, and the spiritual forces shaping American history.
If you need biblical counseling, prayer support, or simply a listening ear, feel free to contact him.
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