Poised for Fruitfulness

“He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” John 15:2

Years ago, I planted a few rose bushes in hopes of having roses at my fingertips any time I wanted them.  At first, their growth was fast and furious and flowers in different vases were part of my decorations.  But when the cold months would arrive, I would barely even think of those plants.  I would hope they would return when the sun shown itself brighter and warmer in the spring.  It was rare that I cut back any branch that looked as if small leaves were beginning to appear.  It made no sense that I would cut back something that looked as if new growth was beginning.  Welcome to God’s principle on pruning the branches of our lives and cutting back areas that could have greater growth with a little snip here and there.  What is He after?  He is positioning us to produce even more fruitfulness than where we are at the moment.  Make no mistake…I am very aware of the seasons when God has cut off portions of a branch that was bearing a little fruit in hopes of greater fruit in the future.

“Pruning season occurs primarily during the winter months…The vine dresser typically pulls out his shears just before bud break…The branch is very much alive and never more poised for fruitfulness than in the wake of winter.  We know how the grapevine feels…You can taste the breakthrough…But just before it comes to fruition – faith made sight – your breakthrough ends up looking suspiciously more like a breakdown.” Chasing Vines, Beth Moore, p. 148-149.  We’ve all been there when we think that we are on the cusp of receiving our desire, and suddenly we are cut off from it.  It is dizzying at best, devastating at worst.  What do we do with these seasons?  How do we trust our lives in the hands of a God who moves in unsettling ways we are not expecting?  We pray with every bit of strength in our heart.  We listen with ears that have never required such attention.  We believe every promise that we read in His word.  And then we do the same thing that branches on my rose bush had to do…we wait.  We wait for God to bring forth new buds after we have been cut back.  We expect to produce much greater fruit than before.  ‘What you must trust in these moments is that anything God breaks down is intended to build you up.  Anything He cuts off is to give breathing space to what He’s adding on.  Sometimes it’s too soon to come to full bloom…God is never closer to us than during the pruning process.  He can’t avoid holding a branch when He’s pinching off blooms.’ p. 149.