John 15:2 - Pruning

The words in John 15:1-11 have been special to me for a long time. The page they are on in my Bible is a "well-worn" page. They are the type of words that jump out at me nearly every time I read them.

Verse 2 has been especially important to me, through recent trials. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

He purgeth it.

What does that look like? It certainly would not "feel" pleasant! But it is for the good of that branch, and it is to the glory of God. (See verse 8.)

Another striking thing about this verse is the "alternative". The first part of the verse is almost shocking. Every branch that doesn't bear fruit the Father is going to take away? I don't know what "take away" means, but it is clear to see that the "alternative" to being cared for and loved by the Father (v. 10), though it includes this "pruning", is to be taken away!

Whatever the "taken away" means, I sure see the value of living safe under the Father's care! This "pruning" looks good, compared to the alternitave! (And there was no other option listed here.)

Now, the other thing about this verse, is that God has been pointing to it, whispering to me that this is MY life. It may "seem" hard to have all of these struggles in life, on every side, but He is "purging" me through them.

Ah, this is a good thing.

In recent years, I have had a long-standing "trial". In the last couple of years, things have gotten a lot harder. In recent months, it has escalated even more! I have been learning so much through all of these things. (I could call it "all of this 'pruning'"!)

Fast forward to the last week. A new sort of "trial" has fallen across my path. I am sick.

Does God's Word, and all of the truths from it that I have been learning so well in my other trials apply to something like this?

Usually a very healthy person, my body has been overtaken by something called "vertigo". Having 6 children to care for is somewhat incompatible with this. I can't function well. I spent 2 days barely able to sit. Moving around the house is a challenge. I usually have to lay down and "recover" after 15 minutes of standing, or after 2 lessons of homeschooling. Normal activity is absolutely out of the question!

I found myself getting discouraged a few days in to this, because of not being able to "function" and "accomplish" what I felt "needed" to get done.

Does God's Word still apply?

Am I still "okay" because of Christ, even when I'm stuck in bed for more hours than I am used to? Can it be possible for life to go on when I can't even get through each day of school?

I have found that the answer is YES. It is all still okay, even though life as I knew it, once again, has ground to a hault. The reason lies partly in this second verse of John chapter 15. "Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." I don't need to know the reasons, and I don't need to see the outcome in this. God is working in me, and He has good reasons for bringing me down this path of sickness. It has been 9 days and the vertigo has not lifted. I may be sick for 4 weeks (or more!) But that is okay. He knows. He is "pruning" me.

Verse 8 is all the more exciting, in light of all of this: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

Though I am weak and sick, I would rather "abide in Him" (v. 4) than be any other place.

Use me, Lord, as you wish, and be glorified! "Prune" away. Thank you for Your care and love.

"I will Sing Unto the Lord" (Psalm 13:6)

I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:6)

This verse first became important to me when I memorized it as a teenager. These words meant a lot. God was good to me, and I would praise Him!

Since that time, a lot has happened. I finished high school. I married. I became a mother. We had a "happy, Christian home" for some years, but then my husband turned from the Lord. He became an atheist. Years have passed that way, and now I find myself facing divorce.

What a messy life this has turned out to be.

I would never have "chosen" to be in this situation now. It is very painful, and there are a lot of difficult details.

I was reviewing some verses tonight, and I came to Psalm 13:6. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

This verse has remained one of my favorites, even more so as I have come to these difficult years.

What, about this life, has lasting importance? It is God.

Nothing I can face in this life can touch that.

Paul says, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

I was reflecting on this tonight. I have "lost" much of what I thought was "good". Life has become hard, and one would naturally think there would be less reason to "praise" with such blessings removed. But, I think, as the years have gone on, and many of the hopes I had in this life have been dashed away, God's promises have seem brighter to me. The things that I had hoped in are gone. What is left is Him.

The trials have effectively removed my looking toward "other" things as my "hope" in life in many places, and I can see Him better.

Of course, He is always there, through both "good" and "difficult" times. But when we are forced to look to Him for our hope and joy and strength, we remember what we have believed, that this life and all that is in it is "nothing" compared to the riches we have in Him. He has bought us with the blood of his Son, Jesus. He has purchased "peace with God" (Romans 5:1) and has made us His children. He tells us that this world is only temporary, but that we will live with Him, forever.

What glorious promises!

It is all true, if we are His children, regardless of if we "think" about it or not. But in these past few years, I have found that earthly blessings removed, I can see Him better. I can see that this earthly trial is but "nothing" compared to what he is doing in me, and I am glad.

I can say, today, with much greater meaning, "I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me[!]"