Trust God's Shears

I have a beautiful blue hydrangea in my front yard.   It hasn’t been so beautiful in the last few seasons though because, several years ago, I accidentally pruned it wrong and  thus forfeited a full season of blooms.  Since that bloom-less season, I’ve been hesitant to prune it again for fear I’d mess it up. Consequently, at this point, it’s overgrown and out of control.  And, although it’s blooming again, it’s not serving its purpose and it’s taking over the area it occupies! Well, armed with the advice of a good friend, I tried again to prune it.  And, while pruning, I was struck by a wonderful spiritual truth:  God never makes mistakes when He prunes us.  He doesn’t have to try again when He’s messed up.  His shears are never too sharp and the nips ‘n tucks always produce new growth and beautiful blooms. 

Jesus told his disciples that “[God] cuts off every branch [in your life] that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more” (John 15:2).  Since He planned our lives long before we were ever born, He understands our purpose and shapes that purpose by pruning away anything that will hinder the sanctification process – the “gradual, growing, lived-out righteousness” that we all seek.

Are you presently being pruned? 

• Is God cutting away a long-loved hobby because it masters your attention?
• Is God shearing away your pride by allowing some indiscretion of yours to be exposed?
• Is God eliminating a volunteer task that’s robbing your time; time you could be spending with your family?
• Is God shaping your “free time” so that it doesn’t interfere with your desire to serve at church?
• Has God made deep cuts in your finances so that you’ll only have Him to rely on?

Trust Him, He’s the perfect Gardener.  He’ll shape you into the man or woman He’s designed you to be.  It may be painful, but it’ll always be productive.