John 15:2
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
I am a chicken, I hate being pruned, because it means I am not in control. Doesn't matter who does it, an employer, a child of mine, my husband, a friend or and more importantly God. I would rather run away than be pruned. I tend to take pruning as criticism and as yet that area in me is very fragile because I am not a confident person. The knocks of life have left me scared and hurting. My voice a small one as it hid (and still hides) from the more powerful, overbearing words of others through bullying.
When the pruning comes I tell it to go away, I am not ready for it, I like the way I am. But in truth I don't like the way I am, I want to be tended by the Divine Gardener as I know that without it I will remain hurt and in pain. I need Him to heal me so that I can embrace the Truths and see them clearly for what they are, instead of thinking they are attacks on me personally.
Damage is a terrible thing to a child, living a childhood in fear. Staying unnoticed so that you will be safe. This is not living but surviving. These branches need pruning, these lies need to be stripped away so that new growth can take their place. So that the child can grow up to be an adult.
God is my courage, my strength, my greatest fan. I want to be able to live in His Garden, to be brave and accept His pruning. Everything He does, He does for my benefit, so that I can grow into the beautiful person He sees. I want to believe His promises.
Genesis 12:2
I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous and you will be a blessing to others.
I know that this was said to Abraham but it is also appropriate to all of us. Through God's healing we can be great, famous and a blessing to others. Not a selfish greatness, or famous for our own gain, but great in humility. Great in allowing God to prune us. Famous for being a vessel for God's love, grace, mercy, and compassion. We can be a wonderful blessing to those we know and are yet to know though being totally open to God's pruning.
God's love can only move one way, and that is towards unity with Him. Pruning allows that to happen. Allowing our branches to be pruned, accepting His caring, tender desire to trim us to His will, to be aligned with Him, which will ultimately bring us a deep peace. I need not be afraid as He is my strength in my weakness. He is my freedom.
The Divine Gardener is an expert in gardening, we are in perfectly safe hands. God will never prune us too much or too little, He will know exactly which branches need to be cut away and trimmed. What a wonderful thing it is to be in His expert hands.