Ouch! cuts hurt, don’t they. Not once was I ever happy when God started pruning-out the branches in my life. Seems like you go along doing just fine, when WHACK! off comes a branch. Then CHOP CHOP! another one falls to the ground. It’s the unexpected cuts that hurt the most…
There were times where I felt every clip, every shear, every weak part removed as it fell to the ground. And my response to that pain only proved what type of branch I really was. The more I fought to keep my branch, the more God took off around me. Sometimes all that was left was what looked like an old stump –but not to God. He saw what was underneath…firmly planted beneath my soil…and my root was strong. He saw the potential I had, and He knew what needed to go.
As much as I hate His pruning, I’ve come to understand the importance of it as I grow toward my final destiny with Him. As I trust each cut that’s made, I know “my gardener” knows what’s best for me in the end.
~ Reference 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.