Trusting God’s Pruning

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. (Luke 15:1-2, CSB)

My family and I grow some of our own produce in the backyard. My husband has the greener thumb and is in charge of our seasonal vegetables. I love fruit and insisted on raspberry and blueberry bushes so that is my domain. I am always uncertain about how best to care for the bushes to stimulate growth for them to produce good fruit. I have come to rely on the experts available online who are very knowledgeable about berry bushes and my area of the country to tell me when and how to best care for my plants.

One of the activities that I struggle with most is pruning. Pruning removes parts of the plants in order to stimulate growth and fruit production, get rid of dead or diseased limbs, and control or redirect the growth of the plant. I want the bushes to stay healthy for a long time, but I’m afraid of not doing it right and ruining my chances for berries. In the first couple of years, it is encouraged to cut off some or all of the parts that will blossom to encourage plant growth and establishment rather than berry production. It seems counterintuitive to remove the newest growth, but I have to trust that more knowledgeable and experienced people know what’s best.

Having some experience as a gardener and the pruning process, I better understand when Jesus talks about himself as a vine, God as the gardener, and us as branches. Our gardener knows what is best for us and has the greatest good in mind. He wants us to be productive and for works in our lives to help us become fruitful. Sometimes that means allowing some trials or adversity in our lives to make us hardier.

When a plant is pruned, it has to seek nourishment from the main stalk. It has to recover from the struggle of being pruned and its wound has to heal so that a stronger branch can begin to grow from the area. When we face trials, we are supposed to seek our sustenance and strength from Jesus. If we try to rely on our own strength, we will falter because our attempt at self-reliance has been exposed as undependable. Only God will never fail us. He desires for us to be reminded of his constancy and faithfulness and use that as our source of strength.

As a branch, we do not have direct access to the soil and its vitamins and minerals. We have to depend on the vine to acquire the needed nutrients and deliver them to us. We have to be firmly attached to Jesus in order for true goodness to come out of our lives. We do that through prayer and reading the Bible. If we do not make time to hear from God, we will not have the wisdom or guidance required to be fruitful. We will try to live out of our own knowledge and ability, which is inadequate. Trying to live separated from our source wears us down and makes us ineffective.

Pruning is often painful and can feel like punishment. We need to remember that our gardener loves us greatly and is doing everything out of a desire for us to grow, blossom, and produce the most fruit with our lives. If a challenge or trial can grow in us grit, determination, compassion, grace, love, self-discipline, or any other worthwhile quality, God will use it. We have to trust and believe that God is for us, not against us. Let us choose to accept God’s process of pruning us in order that we will become stronger and more fruitful for his kingdom.

Lord, you are completely trustworthy and faithful. You know what you are doing in guiding and directing our lives. Help us to believe that your pruning of our lives is for our greatest good and your glory. May we willingly participate in the removal of dead, destructive, or distracting things in our lives in order to make room for productive and purposeful things. Give us endurance to complete the process. May our lives produce wonderful fruit that blesses others and honors you. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11, NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23, ESV

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28, CSB

Reach for More

Do you find yourself trying to do great things for God in your own strength? Do you struggle to endure trials because they seem worthless? Remember that God has a purpose for your pain and struggle. He desires to bring good from your experiences. Trust his process and love for you. What past challenges have yielded good fruit in your life? Share it with us on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore.

Megan Byrd is an author, blogger, and SAHM. She lives with her husband, two children, and cat in Georgia. Megan likes to read, travel, exercise, attend cultural events, and learn. She blogs at meganbyrd.net.

Photograph © Eco Warrior Princess, used with permission