Pruning, It Really Hurts

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. John 15:2 NLT

Pruning, it really hurts. But, there’s more to it than just being cut off, it’s also about letting go.

A few years ago, one of my small mesquite trees blew over after a strong wind storm. We had received a great deal of rain, the ground was saturated and the tree was top heavy. The trunk hadn’t develop like the others, it remained small, but it was my tree. I was nurturing it and helping it to grow.

And, it didn’t fall completely over, one limb was sticking way out and helped to support it. Some of the ground roots were pulled up, but the main root looked undamaged. Not wanting to give up on it, I, with the help of my husband, sat the tree back up and tied it to a stake to stabilize. It stayed that way for a year and seemed to be growing fine.

A year later, I took it off the tied stake and braced it with tree stakes. Seemed to be fine, until…we had another wind storm, not a very strong wind storm, but it is at a bad angle again.

I didn’t want to give up on it, I wanted it to grow strong and straight. I wanted to keep pouring my time and energy into it.

You know what? Sometimes God says ‘no’ to what we want.

Shortly after it blew over the second time, as I was praying, God showed me that the tree was going to be a danger as it grew. It would not be able to support itself, it had to be cut down. I argued with God and remind Him that it was a living, growing part of His nature. He said, “Yes it is, but I am willing to sacrifice that tree if you will learn that somethings in your life I have already pruned, but you have propped them back up and continue to try to make them survive. These things are going to be a danger to you, I know, let them go.”

I realized then that the tree had to go. For me, loving nature as I do, it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I worked at it a couple of days, cutting it down and out of my life. For a while I even left some of the stump as a reminder that pruning hurts, not only me but my LORD. Pruning has a purpose and I needed to let it go.

As we are one day closer to the cross with Jesus, is there something that He has pruned in your life? It could be a bad habit, an unhealthy relationship, something in your life that isn’t allowing you to grow in the Spirit.

Are you still trying to hang on, trying to make things work, knowing that it would be better to let it go? Our Father wants the best for your life and He knows what that is. He want’s you to be fruitful and produce and sometimes that requires cutting back on some things, even things you feel are for a good cause. He knows what you need to grow and will tend to you, helping you to grow strong and faithful.

After a year of having the 8” stump to remind me of the tree and God’s pruning, and tripping over it many times, I again realized that even the stump needed to go. It was still causing me to stumble.

So today think about what you might be still holding on to. Ask our LORD to help you open your hand and give it to Him. I know it hurts to let go, but the joy of knowing you have pleased your God helps the hurts to heal!

Oh Jesus,
please forgive me for trying to keep things going, when I know in my heart that You want me to let it go. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to make things work, and think that I know what Your desire is, my vision blurs and I forget to ask You Your opinion. It hurts so bad to let some things in my life go. It’s like having part of my heart gone. Please help me to keep my eyes on You, to trust You with all I am and to listen to what You say, knowing it’s the best for me. I love You so much LORD and I do want to please You!
Amen