Pruned to Produce
New things are always exciting. We go through life anticipating the new and as we receive it, expecting even more new things. We proclaim things like, “New Year, new me.” We look forward to new and improved relationships. We determine to have new attitudes, mindsets and even new bodies. We make goals for new homes, new positions, new additions added to our family and overall, a new way of life. Along with the physical desires, we also strive for new and improved prayer life and a better spiritual journey with God. With the right motives, these are all good. And with the right hand working in our lives, the hand of God; these things are great!
But what happens when that same great hand chooses to instead take away in the area where you have anticipated more and better? When the reality of “new” begins to seem so farfetched?
I know that feeling. Gut-wrenching. Disappointing. And scary. Especially when we have planned out in our minds, how it is supposed to go. But that’s the thing, God Himself is the Creator and Author of our lives. He directs the path.
Or maybe you’re not guilty of self-sufficiency but instead, you are hopeful for a promise God made you.. Except your circumstances look completely contrary to that promise. Whew, how I know that feeling as well. You begin to second guess whether or not you heard God correctly. You start to think that maybe you’ve forfeited the promise of God as a result of disobedience. Maybe you start to believe the lie of the enemy that God has forgotten about you or changed His mind. But the truth is; God’s word does not return void. In Isaiah 55:11 He tells us, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
See sis, there are no losses in the Kingdom of God. Even our sacrifices come back multiplied in various forms. Some tangible and visible. Others spiritual and invisible. And that which feels like a loss is actually the pruning work of God. Though something may be taken away, it is supernaturally being replaced with what is more beneficial. Jesus said it like this in John 15:2: “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
God cuts off and He cuts back. But both are for our advantage. That which does not bear any fruit in our lives, affecting it in a negative way, God lacerates at the root to prevent it from spreading like a disease. That which is already fruitful, God cuts back to promote even more growth. It’s a win win for us, though at times it may not feel like it. But even when we don’t quite understand what the Lord is doing, we can express that to Him so that our feelings don’t blind us to His works. His power isn’t limited to our understanding and He doesn’t withhold His wisdom when we ask for it. And if He is the vine and we are the branch, apart of abiding in Him is being vulnerable with Him. As we do, God helps us to become less consumed with our wants, and more in alignment with His will -which is good, perfect and fruitful!
As much as we want the “new”, we must also want to be made new so that we don’t mishandle the fruit. Understand, this is a process. It is not always cute. It doesn’t always feel good. But our awareness of this, helps our surrender. The process may look like dying to self, forgiveness toward your offenders and forgiving yourself, abiding in God, trusting Him, longevity, things or people removed, renewed thinking, transparency and vulnerability with God, surrender, humility and everything else that bruises our flesh but grows our spirit.
A popular commentator put it like this, “Left to itself a vine will produce a good deal of unproductive growth. For maximum fruitfulness extensive pruning is essential.” (Morris)
Sis, the season of pruning is not in vain. But on the other end of the pruning the Creator establishes new plants from old ones. He helps us go from fruitful to more fruitful. From fruitless to much fruit. Our faithful God always fills that which is empty with His glory. He never leaves a thing unfinished or undone. Where He cuts off, He will restore. Where He cuts back, He will revive. And where we abide in Him, much fruit is produced -in His perfect timing (John 15:5).
As our loving Father brings us into new, rich relationship with Him; allow Him to cultivate the soil of your heart. He is making us His garden; the beautiful place where friendship and fellowship with God first began. And if He must prune and cut so that we may be cultivated, planted and fruitful; well may His will be done!
Let’s pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for both the growth and the pruning. You’ve told us in Your word that as we abide in You much fruit is produced by You. Help us to abide even when it gets tough and scary. Help us to surrender in every area that You are calling us to. We know that that what’s on the other side of the pruning, sacrifice and surrender is far greater than what You’re calling us to do. Forgive us for the times when we haven’t fully trusted You & Your process. Don’t let our inability to understand, blind us from how You’re moving in our lives. Help us to cling to the promises of Your word & give us a new assurance. God, as we anticipate the new, we want to be made new. So we give You full access today. Let Your will be done for our good and Your glory! In Jesus’ name, amen.
