Why You Really Need to Embrace the Pruning Process

Since pruning often involves cutting, it can be painful. God is removing things that we sometimes fight to hold on to. When you do this, you make the process more painful, but thankfully, God doesn’t stop because it hurts. He continues because he knows the things he is pruning in your life are more damaging to you than the pruning act itself.

2. Pruning Is a Necessary Act

The beautiful part about pruning is that it is necessary. I know you might think how is cutting beautiful when it can hurt? Well, if you are fruitful, God wants to make you more fruitful. This should be a reason to rejoice. But, to get to the more fruit as I mentioned, it may hurt a little. However, as the expression goes, no pain, no gain. The beautiful part is God is not trying to hurt you, but help you. It is like when you go for surgery. The doctor may cut you open to fix something. There may be some lingering pain for a while, but in the long run, you are better off.

3. Pruning Is a Sanctifying Act

Right after saying the Father is the gardener, Jesus said these words you just read. The good news about pruning is this is a sanctifying act, not a saving act. You are already a Christian and God simply wants to get the best out of you.

4. Pruning Is a Loving Act

Perhaps the best part about pruning is it shows how much God loves and cares for you. We can liken pruning to discipline and God only does that for those he loves.

If God is bringing you through the pruning process, it is only further evidence of his tender love for you.

As you think about yourself, what are some things God is trying to cut away in your life? Are you facing a season of challenges, difficulties, storms, or circumstances that may be hard to explain? It could be the gardener at work. If you are fruitful, God is going to prune to make you more fruitful. Don’t run from this pruning process, embrace it. When you do, you will come out of it healthier, more fruitful, and more attractive. Best of all, you will know God is molding you more into the image of Christ and there is no better outcome than that.

More from this author
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Did Jesus Contradict Himself When He Said the Father Is Greater Than I?
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Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club.  He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com.