Every gardner understands the value of pruning because they have seen the result of that process in their garden. God in His infinite wisdom uses the pruning process to allow us to grow and to come into our full potential.The Lord’s pruning is not pleasant, but the ultimate result of pruning produces far more fruitfuness than before.
Pruning brings about deep and severe change. While some may claim that they enjoy change in life, most of us want to be in control of the change. We want to determine the extent and the speed of change in our lives. However, the Gardener is the expert and He does not ask His vine about the extent of the change desired. Our decision is to either accept the process of pruning and allow God to do His work or to resist Him and remain comfortable. The problem with being comfortable is that eventually can lead to complacency.
Rise up, you women who are at ease, Hear my voice; You complacent daughters, Give ear to my speech. In a year and some days You will be troubled, you complacent women; For the vintage will fail, The gathering will not come. Isaiah 32:9-10
The King James Version translates the word “complacent” as “careless”. Complacency breathes carelessness. If we want God’s best, we can’t remain complacent. Complacency is about having false security. It is about putting trust in something that will not bear fruit.
When a rose bush is pruned, we know that the bush is going to look very ugly for a couple of months before the new life grows sprouts. In the immediate time, a tree/bush that is not pruned looks much better than the one that was pruned. It takes courage and humility not to be worried about what others think and allow God to do what He desires to cut off those branches that are not fruitful in our lives. If we are too worried about our image and what people will think of us, we may use carnal means to resist the pruning process.
The above scripture explains that the crop expected was not going to appear the following year due to complacency. The consequence of not being pruned is not seen right away. It may take months or years, but we will eventually feel discontentment developing in our lives. We may not be able to put our finger on it, but we realize that we are not happy with where we are at. We’re too afraid of losses, so we settle for a discontented life and keep acting and living as if we are satisfied!
Are you experiencing a change that is directed by the Lord? Are you resisting change in this season of your life? Can you trust Him that He is doing a good work in your life through the pruning process?
