Pruning
Reflecting on the past year of refining trials, I've realized how wonderful the Lord is, even when I doubted His goodness. Being in the season I am in, full of joy and acceptance, I have recognized the need to encourage people who feel like I did just a couple of months ago.
We have all faced seasons that are exceptionally hard. We feel like we are alone, fighting hard against the trials, and we can't seem to win.
We are not alone, though we might feel we are. He is abiding with us.
abide- (verb) to continue without fading or being lost
The other half of the pruning is that we have to abide with Him. That's the part that we struggle with most. You see, He will NEVER leave us. Yet, we are fallen and leave Him and His will more often than we'd like to admit. If we feel distant from Him, it's because of our own sin and displacement from His will. Walking in step with the Spirit is not easy. You will probably have to go against what is considered "cool". You might have to walk away from friendships that are full of temptation and sin. You could face opposition in all walks of life, but that's the cost.
Pruning is hard and painful. It is quite literally cutting away the dead and unwanted parts of our lives. I don't know about you, but I want the things in my life that are not honoring Christ gone. Get. Them. Out. I'll endure the pain if it means I'll be made more like Christ.
In Malachi 3:2-3, we are told that He is a refiner's fire. He is not a raging fire. He is a refining fire. Fire is painful, hot, uncomfortable (to say the least), overwhelming, and all consuming. A refiner's fire removes all the impurities, leaving the gold or silver pure and without blemish.
So, yes, hard seasons can be painful, but they're for pruning, growth, and refinement. When we are in that hard season, it feels dark, lonely, and overwhelming. However, the jeweler removes the refined gold with pride, admiring its beauty, and recognizing its purpose.
I'll leave you with some words from one of my favorite songs:
We have all faced seasons that are exceptionally hard. We feel like we are alone, fighting hard against the trials, and we can't seem to win.
It's easy for me to look at the trials I face and think "Goodness, I am ready to get out of this season and into a happy season". I even wrote a blog on it a couple of months ago.
However, I came across this verse while preparing to lead a Bible Study a few weeks ago, and was reminded of some truths.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Any branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and any branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that is may bear more fruit"
John 15:1-2
What if these hard seasons filled with trials were actually a wonderful thing?
They are.
prune- (verb) trim by cutting away dead or unfruitful branches, especially to increase fruitfulness and increase growth, to reduce the extent of superfluous or unwanted parts.
These seasons of trials, while hard, are allowing us to be pruned in order that we may bear more fruit.
These seasons of trials, while hard, are allowing us to be pruned in order that we may bear more fruit.
I feel like I'm outpouring into relationships, others, and pursuing the Lord. How can I bear more fruit?
Well, John 15:4-5 continues with this:
Well, John 15:4-5 continues with this:
"Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in Him, he it is that will bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
We cannot even begin to bear fruit without Him. The fact that He is allowing us to bear fruit as sinful, fallen human beings, is unreal. He trusts us with His gospel.
We are not alone, though we might feel we are. He is abiding with us.
abide- (verb) to continue without fading or being lost
The other half of the pruning is that we have to abide with Him. That's the part that we struggle with most. You see, He will NEVER leave us. Yet, we are fallen and leave Him and His will more often than we'd like to admit. If we feel distant from Him, it's because of our own sin and displacement from His will. Walking in step with the Spirit is not easy. You will probably have to go against what is considered "cool". You might have to walk away from friendships that are full of temptation and sin. You could face opposition in all walks of life, but that's the cost.
Pruning is hard and painful. It is quite literally cutting away the dead and unwanted parts of our lives. I don't know about you, but I want the things in my life that are not honoring Christ gone. Get. Them. Out. I'll endure the pain if it means I'll be made more like Christ.
In Malachi 3:2-3, we are told that He is a refiner's fire. He is not a raging fire. He is a refining fire. Fire is painful, hot, uncomfortable (to say the least), overwhelming, and all consuming. A refiner's fire removes all the impurities, leaving the gold or silver pure and without blemish.
So, yes, hard seasons can be painful, but they're for pruning, growth, and refinement. When we are in that hard season, it feels dark, lonely, and overwhelming. However, the jeweler removes the refined gold with pride, admiring its beauty, and recognizing its purpose.
I'll leave you with some words from one of my favorite songs:
"Refiner's fire, my heart's one desire is to be holy, set apart for You, Lord. I want to be holy, set apart for You, my Master; ready to do Your will"
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