How do you know you’re in a season of pruning? Does everything in your life feel like it is falling apart? Are relationships ending abruptly? Are you feeling heavy in your current environment? You may also feel like you’re in a weird place right now, but this may not be such a bad thing.
God started speaking to me about pruning last year. According to the Oxford dictionary, pruning is the process of cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to encourage growth. There are seasons when God does this in our lives too.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:1-2
Growth Requires Pruning.
Pruning will often result in pain and loss in one way or the other. Sometimes we are reluctant to give up the things that we are used to or familiar with. We may even feel as though we have lost a part of ourselves as pruning can result in losing friendships, old habits, thought processes that have been ingrained in our minds for long periods of time, attitudes, certain behavioural patterns or even an environment that we are used to. Some of the things that we can ask ourselves to discern whether God is pruning us; was what I lost bringing me closer to God? was it developing me spiritually? was it helping me to grow?
Pruning is essential in our Christian walk, as without it, we will not be fruitful in the way God wants us to be.
In 2015 I made the decision that I wanted to grow out my hair natural and stop using texturizer. At this time my hair was a good length, however it was in very bad condition where I had a lot of dead and split ends, therefore I had no choice but to cut it.
This had to happen so that my hair could grow healthy and full. Similarly, growing deeper in your relationship with God and living a life according to His purpose will require sacrifice. This may feel like punishment but that is not God’s intention. God prunes us because He loves us and wants to see us grow and flourish.
Here are 4 tips that will help you through your season of pruning.
1. Stay connected to Jesus.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
It is important that we stay connected to God during our season of pruning. In fact, the Bible says that we should abide in Him. To abide means to remain/stay fixed in a place. What this looks like is leaning on God for strength, meditating on His word regularly and by communicating with Him through prayer.
2. Trust God.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Pruning will require us to trust in God and not depend on our own understanding. Remember His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). There are many blessings that are birthed when we trust in God. When we do this, He will surely direct us and give us clarity. God’s plans for us are for good and not evil (Jeremiah 29:11). Therefore, if He is taking us through a process, He will surely work everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).
3. Be patient.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4
We need to remember that our season of pruning is temporary. I say this because many fall away from the faith as they see this as a trial as opposed to God doing a work in them. Some of us are unable to exercise patience when we think we are going through trials. The Bible tells us that the testing of our faith produces patience. Patience is actually one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22) so if this is something that you are struggling with then I would advise that you pray and ask God to be led by His Spirit. Having patience also comes with a promise that you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
4. Keep you heart right.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
Proverbs 4:23
You may be confused in your season of pruning, you may even become angry or bitter, especially as there will be a lot of uncertainty and loss. This is where you need to guard your heart by filtering out the emotions, desires, and thoughts that are not in line with God’s Word.
In ending, I would like to encourage you. If you are going through a season of pruning, stay hopeful. God would not put you through this process if He didn’t care. Pruning produces something good and the end result will be worth it.
Stay blessed and encouraged
Nkay
xoxo
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Wow!!! This post is absolutely excellent, for many reason. It is written with clarity and leaves the reader encouraged and hopeful to recognise and trust the process of God pruning his children.
Also because I resonate with everything you have written. The last 3 months that is exactly what God has been doing in my life and heart, taking back and cutting off things in my life that is become familiar with and was was really an hinderance to my spiritual growth. There were many many tears but what a joy it is when God strips you back. I am loving the abiding in Christ, keeping my eyes fixed on him and dwelling in his presence. I am looking forward to what fruits God will produce in my life. As also Nkay such anointed writing.
Aww thank you aunt Paulette. Despite how painful pruning is, God is always up to something good. And yes, definitely have to abide in Christ. We thank God that we can have hope in Him 🙌🏿❤️
Very good blog post here!
Accurately describing what a season of pruning entails and how it can effect us, but still giving us the hope of Jesus and the word of God.
Well written, and prayerfully put together, you can tell that this is a spirit-led post.
Keep up the great work!
Thank you Shanice! Yes, there is always hope in Jesus ❤️
Beautiful post! So very true, it hurts to be pruned but the end result is such a blessed finish article.
Very encouraging and gives me strength! Thank you for your timely post!x
Jen.x
Thank you Jennifer. I’m happy this post encouraged you 🤗❤️
This post is a clear and compelling call to live as God asks us to in the painful seasons. Thanks so much!
This was such a timely and on point word Nkechi!!! Thank you for sharing this truth. Pruning is painful but He just wants us to bear more fruit! The scriptures you’ve chosen are so encouraging and speak to me. God is currently teaching me I need more patience! May the Lord continue to give you revelation and understanding to be a blessing through this blog. Xxxx
Beautiful, beautiful reminder!! <3
Oh goodness. Don’t you know we all got hair stories. And, boy, does it ever feel like punishment. God seems to use all sorts of things to get our eyes off of ourselves and on to him. We have to put our identity in Him no matter. What a great example of how to trust in Him during the hard times!
Thanks for explaining how to discern seasons of pruning and how to go through them. I recently heard that pruning is always done towards a vision. So the vinedresser prunes those branches, that do not fit the vision he has of what the vine will look like.
I think pruning is very important in our walk with Christ. I actually intentionally prune every January getting rid of the past year of things that are toxic are not bringing much fruit to my life!
I like how you compared hair with split ends needing to be cut to make your hair healthier, to how we are pruned in the body of Christ. We do need to remove some things periodically to grow to our full potential in other areas.
Such a beautiful article! I love the example using your hair as it is exactly what happens to us as Christians. I also don’t like the painful pruning process, but I love the end result of beauty and closeness with Jesus after a season of pruning. Thank you!