Pruned to Thrive

<p>As I watched a bumblebee land lightly on the Russian sage, I marveled at its lush branches. The bush exploded with color, its brilliant blue blossoms attracting eyes and bees alike.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Yet only last fall, I&rsquo;d wondered if it would ever blossom again. When my wife&rsquo;s parents trimmed the periwinkle plant down to a stub, I&rsquo;d assumed they&rsquo;d decided to get rid of it. But now I was witnessing the radiant result of pruning that had seemed brutal to me.&nbsp;</p> <p>The surprising beauty that results from harsh cuts may be one of the reasons Jesus chose pruning imagery to describe God&rsquo;s work among believers in John 15, saying, &ldquo;I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. . . . every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful&rdquo; (vv. 1&ndash;2).&nbsp;</p> <p>Jesus&rsquo;s words remind us that in the good times and bad, God is always working in us toward spiritual renewal and fruitfulness (v. 5). During &ldquo;pruning&rdquo; seasons of suffering or emotional barrenness, we may wonder if we&rsquo;ll ever thrive again. But Jesus encourages us to continue to stick close to Him: &ldquo;No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me&rdquo; (v. 4).&nbsp;</p> <p>And as we continually draw spiritual nourishment from Christ, the resulting beauty and fruitfulness in our lives (v. 8) will witness to the world of God&rsquo;s goodness.</p>