“’I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear fruit.’”
John 15:1-2
Prune /pru?n/ verb
Definition: trim (a tree, shrub, or bush) by cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth.
I came into this experience oh so blissfully naïve. Blissfully naïve as to what more God could work in me. Blissfully naïve to the fact that when you ask God to “wreck” you, He’s going to answer. Blissfully naïve that this process is going to be rough. But, God is the gardener of my life and as I enter into this season He’s ready to do some pruning. Through that pain and struggle His only desire is to encourage more growth.
I may hide it well, but internally I’m a very prideful person. I’m proud of my independence. I’m proud of my confidence. I’m proud of my intelligence. I’m even proud of my humor. Now, those are all seemingly good things, right? But, pruning doesn’t mean to only cut away the bad, but to cut away those overgrown branches. In one swift motion I felt God had cut away it all. I found myself internalizing everything, becoming everything I prided myself on not being: over-thinking, anxiety ridden and without a joke in sight. He simply asked me, “Where do you find your identity? Is it in your pride or is it in Me?”
That hit me quick. In the span of 24 hours at a little cafe in Boca Chica I had the sudden realization that I didn’t know who I was or what I had built my foundation on. I was the house built on sand and was sinking fast. Here’s the beautiful thing about Jesus, He’s not going to stand on the rock, pointing and laughing as you sink into the ocean. He’s not going to just cut off all your branches until you’re nothing but a stick. He’s standing there with this amazing plan for our lives, but in order to get there we need some pruning and let me tell you, pruning can suck it!
That may be aggressive, but I have gone through way too many emotions this past month and it really truly sucks. What drives me through it is the knowledge that God has promised life and life abundantly. God has promised that when he prunes us it’s in order to bear more fruit. I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to struggle daily in order to live this short life abundantly. I’m willing to go through the painful process of pruning in order to see what fruit God will bear in my life. Are you?
