Pruning is the selective cutting of branches from a tree to remove unwanted, dead or damaged branches, improve the structure of the tree, and promote new and healthy growth.
The symbolism of trees is often used in the Bible to describe us. In Psalm 1 we read: “Blessed is the man who walk not in the counsel of the wicked …. He is like a tree planted by streams of water” (Ps.1:1-3).
We know that pruning is good for trees. A hard pruning in the right season always result in an abundant crop in the summer. Pruning is never done to hurt or destroy the tree, but rather to give it new life. If we are trees, then pruning should be good for us too.
The Most High Father is the one who does the pruning of His children out of His love for us and for our welfare. This is confirmed in the following verses: • “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men” (2Sam.7:14) • Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.” (Rev.3:19) • “For whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.” (Prov.3:12) • Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2) • “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” (1Cor.11:32)
The pruning, discipline or chastisement we receive at the hand of the Father can take many forms. We all experience various afflictions and hardship in our lives from time to time, including illness, lack or poverty, rejection, rebellious children, bondage and so much more. The question is how we should respond to God’s pruning.
Firstly, we should understand that sin separates us from God and therefore His goal with our chastisement is that we should come back to Him. The Book of Haggai is very clear on how God desires us to respond. It states: “I smote you and every work of your hands with blasting wind, mildew and hail; yet you did not come back to Me,’ declares the Lord.” (Hag.2:17)
We should not harden our hearts against our God who is acting as a loving father. In His mercy, He uses difficult circumstances in our lives to draw us back to Him to secure our eternal salvation. Our response should therefore be to consider whether we are living according to God’s commandments. We should acknowledge any rebellion or disobedience in our lives, repent of our sin and turn back to Him.
Secondly, we see should understand that we are blessed when we are being disciplined by God.
• “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17)
• “Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, and whom You teach out of Your law” (Ps.94:12)
We should rejoice in His love and embrace the teaching that comes from the chastisement and recommit ourselves to follow His ways.
My Prayer
Dearest Abba Father, thank you that you are pruning us through the trials in our lives to draw us back to You. Father, please grant us the wisdom to understand Your ways and the courage to take a critical look at ourselves. Thank you that you are eternally longsuffering and willing to forgive when we repent. Thank you for Holy Spirit who is our Helper and Counsellor. Father, You are our God and loving Father. We desire to bear good fruit and to spend our eternal and everlasting existence in Your presence. Father, we re-submit ourselves afresh to Your discipline. Please instruct us and teach us Your ways. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Aman.