I was admiring the roses in our garden but had no idea how to take care of them. We had to do some research on how to maintain them and realised that the winter pruning is the most important to ensure that they bloom abundantly during spring. So off went the branches with our newly bought pruning scissors and my heart was breaking at how naked they looked. My husband came behind me along the rows of rose bushes I had already done and cut even more, saying that’s the best way to ensure the best results even when I was doubtful at the extent of their bare look.
At the time of pruning I wondered if they would ever recover from that. But lo and behold, as the dark and gloomy days of winter brought the much needed rain and then gave way to spring, the sad looking remnant bushes thrived and flourished with fresh new leaves and buds, now bringing forth the best bunches of roses that I never would have expected from the state they were in during the pruning.
I realised this is what God does with us. When God allows the hard and difficult times in our lives as part of His pruning, it definitely does not look good at the time! It can seem as though no beauty could ever come out of that bare ugliness that we are left with.
Why did this sickness have to happen? Why did this relationship break? Why did I lose this job? Why did that person so dear to me have to die? Why did I not get the opportunity I so desired? Why did this difficult person have to be in my life? Why are my dear ones suffering so much? Why am I struggling through life like this?
But as the Gardener who knows what exactly to do to make the best possible garden, God knows what He is doing even if it seems severe to us. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and because He knows our future, He knows exactly when to prune us and towards what goal. When the Spring comes in this world or the next, we will see the beautiful result of the pruning.
In the gospel of John, Jesus uses this analogy to explain to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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.”John 15:1-2 NIV
Apostle Paul explains beautifully in this portion:
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect.
Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
“For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Hebrews 12:5-11 NKJV
So let us not be discouraged by the pruning experiences in our lives which are going to make us more fruitful for the Lord and legitimises us as His beloved children.
Author : Anu
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