The Pain of Pruning

In the winter of 2023, Cara pruned our rose bushes. Her grandfather told her that she always needs to cut back the rose bushes every February and the way to remember it is that Valentine’s Day is the holiday of the rose bush. 

As February rolled around, she cut back the bush in what seemed to make it look smaller, and not as strong. As months went by, we began to walk our dogs one evening and I couldn’t help but notice the rose bushes. To my surprise, they were huge and had flowers all over them. They had almost doubled in size and looked better than they ever had. 

As I read John 15:1-8 this morning, I couldn’t help but remember that rose bush in our front yard. God says that those who abide in Christ and bear fruit, He will prune them so that new fruit may grow. To prune is to cause pain. It isn’t fun. It hurts, but it’s necessary. 

If Cara had not pruned that rose bush, it would have stayed the same size with the same amount of flowers. She knew its potential. She knew it could produce more so she did what was best for it even though it didn’t understand in the first place. Through that temporary pain, future growth was on the way. 

God works the same way with us. God knows our potential. He knows our hearts. While bearing fruit is a great thing, God knows our hearts are unfinished. We have more growth and more potential if we continue to abide in Christ. 

God uses the temporary pain of pruning in our lives to bear more good fruit and the best reminder is that our bearing of fruit brings glory to the Father. God gets the glory when he prunes us and we continue to grow and flourish in Him. 

So remember today, the temporary pain of pruning leads to future growth. Continue to abide in Him and may God’s glory be revealed through you.