What is pruning?  Pruning is described as an “essential gardening skill” when done correctly, it encourages healthy growth and flowering of a plant, bush, or tree.  It is important that “pruning” is done at just the right time, for some, it is better to prune in the winter and for others, pruning is done right after flowering.

Pruning will help promote new and healthy growth of your plant, bush, or tree.  It is a necessary investment in the long term health of your plants because you are creating a solid foundation for extended growth.  

Now, you may be thinking what does pruning have to do with my life?  I was thinking about this recently as I looked out our living room window.  There were two bushes that my husband had pruned last fall, and to be honest I didn’t think they would make it.  They appeared to have no new growth, their leaves were withered and the flowering buds on the bush never bloomed, so I assumed that they would not bloom this summer.  

Much to my surprise, they not only had new growth, but they had grown bigger and fuller than ever.  They had the most beautiful purple blooming flowers on them, and the bees were loving the wonderful nectar they gathered from bloom to bloom.  It was amazing to see, for once I thought these bushes would be of no use anymore, they would probably not be a viable plant and we would have to discard them,  and yet, they turned out to grow more full and vibrant that the year before.  

This is where I made the connection that life can be a little like the bushes in our front yard that needed to be pruned.  From time to time we all need a little pruning.  We need to have our old self trimmed away and allow for new growth to happen.  

Be encouraged today, even though you may be going through a pruning process yourself, it will be for your good.  God will work things out and make things even better if you will only allow him to do so in your life.  Pruning is necessary, and it yields great rewards, it just takes a little patience. 

Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, our heavenly Father is the gardener.   

John 15: 2 states, “He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  In this passage, the word “prune” is associated with a Greek word which means “cleans.”  So, therefore, Christ cleans us so that we might  bear “fruit” for the kingdom, and we do that by “loving each other.” (John 15: 17)  That’s all we need to do, show love, be kind, be compassionate, love has no judgments.  Christ tells us to just love one another.

Are you willing to be pruned today?  Can you see how God is pruning a situation in your life?  Maybe God is trying to expose a sinful behavior or perhaps a certain trial that you may be facing is allowing you to trust in God to become more holy.  We all know that trials and sufferings are all part of life, and for those that trust in God, these are the times in which we reaffirm our faith and trust that God is at work.  He has a plan and a purpose for each season of pruning.  

I pray that whatever trials, or struggles you may be facing today, know that God is with you, He will see you through.  You may feel as though you are being trimmed, chopped, and withered down to the ends of your rope.  Please know that God has not deserted you, He is the divine gardener working to enhance your life so that you may bear more fruit for the kingdom.  His love will guide you through this season of pruning.

 “Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s lay for one’s friends,”  (John 15:13).   Christ loved us so much that He was willing to die on the cross for you and me. 

God bless you, and may you bloom brighter than ever before.