I’ve been in a pruning season.

Weeks, months – even years really when I stop and think back.

It happened subtly at first. The prune wasn’t so bad really.

I think the more I realized the pruning that was happening, the more I started to see God’s hand in all of it.

This drew me in.

My prayer changed from fleshly desires that were laced with good intentions to “you know what, God? Do your thing in and with me.”

And that was the moment.

Boy, did He ever start!

I really needed a good pruning.

Life had it’s way with me. The overgrowth, weeds and dead areas were smothering me. Honestly, there wasn’t much fruit to see and although I was full – it was mostly of myself.

If you know anything about this pruning that our Father God handles – you know He don’t play!

Chop chop and snip snip it begins.

At first – it’s light duty and you realize how heavy you’ve been with the weeds of life.

But to be completely exposed, cut on, ripped down and stripped bare – quite frankly it’s tender, it’s tough and it’s ugly.

And it hurts.

And you want it to stop.

But somewhere in the process you give in. You stop fighting the process and His gentle hands take over – like a soft and subtle rain that cleanses away all of the leftover debris and it’s just you and Him. And He looks at you unashamed – His creation – His image bearer and He smiles.

And you know – it’s ok.

Now the growth begins.

Now the weight of all you clung tightly to is gone.

The waiting is here – and in the waiting He is building my faith.

I’m expectant. Like a gardener who plants their crops for the season.

I’m expectant of all He will produce through me and I know – with everything in me – as he tends to me, and cares for me – that He is creating a beautiful masterpiece only to bring glory to Him.

Roots are growing deep.

Soil is maturing.

Faith is rising.

And the pruning continues.

If something is rising up for you. Be curious. Don’t suppress the pruning shears for fear of exposure. Allow the gardener to take you into his hands and tear out the dead and put His life into you. He is faithful and ready to love us back to Life – to love us back to Him.