Are you a gardener? Do you enjoy seeing things grow? If so, you understand the principle that a plant must be pruned in order to produce at its peak. Dead wood and unhealthy parts must be cut away.

Pruning is a reality in the garden, but it’s also a very real part of human life. Because God loves us, sometimes He chooses to prune our lives. This may come through the loss of a job or a loved one, or a move away from something that’s comfortable for us. It may happen in many ways when we face adversity.

What is accomplished by pruning? For the plant, it’s a healthier and more vigorous growth with more fruit. For us, it’s the ability to rely more completely on God, our source of life, and the ability to live a more spiritually secure and disciplined life.

Pruning is painful; but it allows us to live a more fruitful life. With God, pruning always gives us hope.