Does Your Life Need Pruning?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.” (Gal. 5:22-23 CEB)
We have two raspberry patches in our yard. One is by the north fence. We planted it, tend it, cut back the canes, weed the bed, water it, and otherwise do all we can as caretakers of the berries to ensure a good crop.
The other patch is by the south fence. Technically, it belongs to our neighbor, but the berry canes come up over and between the fence. Thus, we become the beneficiaries of their bounty without any more effort than picking them off the branch.
The Caretaker and the Wild Vine
In one, we know the effort of a caretaker. In the other, we enjoy the sweet abundance of simply letting berries ripen on the vine where they belong.
Jesus told a story about both of these.
“I am the Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. (John 15:1-7 MSG)
A farmer’s job is to create an environment for living things so they grow to fulfill their purpose. You’re not a great farmer if you let weeds grow in your soybeans or if you try to milk the horse and ride the cow. A farmer knows what’s best for each growing thing on the farm.
This farmer prunes. We know pruning at our house. We grow raspberries, blueberries, cherries, and more. Pruning—the cutting out of certain branches and buds—brings more growth to spindly branches because by pruning, you cut them back to an area of health. It lets light in for branches that are being blocked. It cuts out dead pieces that sap the strength of the entire plant.
The Paradox of Pruning
In pruning, some of what you snip off is perfectly good. Those buds would have born flowers and fruit. But when there are too many buds, too many small branches, they all vie for light, nourishment, space, and water. They will produce, but the fruit will be small and seedy, not plump and juicy.
Our lives are like that sometimes, right? We cram too much into them. We may have great opportunities, but they will begin to sap our energy and strength when they’re not carefully assessed. When we try to hang them all on the branches of our lives, they crowd out the good stuff we need in order to grow strong and fruitful.
Pruning as a Release
The word “prune” in the New Testament comes from the Greek katharos—from which we get our word “catharsis.” Catharsis means release. Freedom. Doesn’t that throw the idea of pruning in a new light? We think of it as painful. Cutting, tearing, taking away. What if we began to consider pruning as a release? What if we noticed the freedom it gives us, the relief from stress and struggle? Pruning isn’t meant to be painful—it’s meant to free us to grow better than before.
I know I need to hold onto this idea. There are things the Farmer might want to prune out of my life—possibly some activities or busyness I engage in should be evaluated. Do those things help me grow, or do they steal energy that could be put into bearing better fruit? Do they keep me from seeking the things I really need in order to be the best version of me? What could God be pruning out of my life in this season that I shouldn’t be trying to force back on the branch, like a child trying to put petals back on a dying flower?
How do we manage that letting go? That’s where the vine comes in. The vine’s job is to be the conduit for food, water, nutrients, structure, and even community, as the grapes all grown together on it. The branches, then, “Live in me. Make your home in me.” In older translations, the word is “abide.” That’s our job.
To abide seems passive, and yet it is an intentional choice to make our home with Jesus. To live in something is to be continually present with it. To make it the background hum in your life. It’s a decision to prioritize him in all our decisions and actions.
Abiding is to ask ourselves some questions about our daily buying, friendship, boundary, time, or word choices.
- Does this choice bear good fruit?
- Will this bring me closer to God or farther away?
- Is this nourishing my life or making me more dead?
- Or does it need pruning away?
In Galatians, Paul says there is no law against abundant good fruit! It’s like our neighbor’s raspberries—they can’t be contained by fences!
Lord, Help us to choose what brings us closer to Jesus and prune the rest. Let us take the time to bask in all the nourishment he offers. Give us grace to live continually present with Jesus, so that we overflow with goodness to others. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6 NLT)
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matt. 6:33 NLT)
Reach for More
Take time to meditate on these questions:
- What area of your life might be deadwood right now but you haven’t noticed? Is there something you need to let go of?
- What might you choose not to return to in order to make more room for bearing the best fruit you can?
is a writer, speaker, pastor, mom of three, and author of five books. She likes to travel, grow flowers, read Tolkien, and research her next project. She believes in Jesus, grace, restoration, kindness, justice, and dark chocolate. Her passion is partnering with the next generation of faith. Jill blogs at jillmrichardson.com.
Photograph © Jametlene Reskp, used with permission
