Pruned

John 15:2New International Version (NIV)

2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.

An apple tree has what is called water sprouts. Many branches take off from the main branches in a wild attempt to be the leader. This is draining to the tree's resources, and the fruit will be small. A good orchard manager cuts these off to force the tree to focus on making good fruit, not on making more water sprouts. In an even stranger action, the fruit is thinned later to make larger, more desirable apples

Every trial is a pruning session. At least that is what it has felt like to me. Every trial has been painful, some seemingly unbearably so. 

Much like pruning shears, saws or an out-and-out chainsaw, a painful scar is made. With time, from all about that scar, new abilities have been created. More patience, more joy, more skills. 

While I despise trials, and hate each one as I am in it...there are many things I am grateful to have learned, to try and use in my life this far. I am by no means perfect, or close to being perfect---i often feel the lowest of the low, the least of least. But those pruning sessions have been useful. 

Walk with God, lean on His strength. Pruning may be harsh, but to be the best servers of all, we need it. There are so many statements of His being with us if we are with Him...we do not need to take these hard things alone

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