“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (Jn. 15:1-2)

My garden looks better than ever this year. After the deep freeze we had back in February, I wasn’t sure anything had survived. However, the roses are glorious, and May’s unseasonably cool temperatures encouraged my flowers, vegetables, and herbs to take off.

Each year, I prune my rose bushes in the fall or early winter. They look so sad and desolate after pruning—just dry, thorny sticks reaching for the sky.

I’m always amazed at how well they do after I prune them. Once they bloom and the flowers die, I deadhead them (remove the dead rose buds), and I find the roses produce so much better than when I don’t take the time to do this.

God prunes us as well. It’s often painful when he begins the process of removing something or someone from our lives. At the time of the pruning, it can be difficult to find a reason for it. But when the people or things in our lives draw our attention away from God, we’re hindered from carrying out his purpose.

As difficult as the pruning season can be, it is actually a good thing that happens in the lives of believers. God does this because he loves us and knows it is necessary for our spiritual growth, just as pruning rose bushes is necessary for their growth. He doesn’t want us to remain stagnant, yielding little to no fruit year after year.

With pruning, we draw closer to Jesus. And once the pruning is past, we produce a plentiful harvest.

Dear Jesus, when we go through the painful process of pruning, please be with us and strengthen us. We may not understand at the time, but I pray we will bear much fruit when the pruning is over. Amen.