I am thankful for the gardening advice I have received from YouTube. It has made me look like a better gardener than I actually am. After watching a short video, I set out a few days ago to prune my blueberry plants. I have been reluctant to touch them for a few years out of fear that I would damage them. I have a history of killing blueberry plants through over fertilization and did not want to repeat this cycle through pruning.
As I started to cut back some very large branches that have been minimally productive, I realized how counter intuitive pruning is. I found myself thinking, “Remember, this is the best for the plant. It will produce more fruit in time.” As I am cutting away, I could almost hear the plant crying out for mercy. The objective of pruning is to cut back the large “woody” branches so the life within the tree would produce new life and more fruit. I have the same desire for my blueberry bushes that the Father has for us, that we would produce much fruit (John 15:8).
Fruitful branches are cut back to promote growth. In other words, God must sometimes discipline us to strengthen our character and faith. John 15 speaks directly to the fruit we as believers are called to produce: soul winning, answered prayer, joy, and love are mentioned as fruit (John 15:7, 11, 12). Galatians 5 and 1 peter 1 describe additional fruit of Christian character. In order to produce much fruit, we must undergo the seasons of pruning the Lord brings.
A few lessons from my blueberry plants:
- Pruning is necessary if good fruit is to be produced. There is just no other way around it, to produce more fruit a tree much be trimmed back. The branches that have become dead and no longer productive, need to be trimmed back so that they do not infect the rest of the plant. The branches that have been producing need to be trimmed back to become more fruitful. Effective pruning always produces the best fruit.
- Pruning improves health and strength. It is through the pruning process that God develops His strength in us and molds us with His character and in His appearance so that we can serve Him for eternity.
- Pruning is ultimately about the owner of the plant. Pruning is not so much about the plant as it is the owner of the plant or vineyard. It is so easy to think about self in the midst of a pruning season but it is not really about us at all. God is cultivating, planting and pruning so that He can produce a maximum amount of fruit, both in the form of spiritual fruit in our lives and ministries for His maximum glory. John 15:8 says, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.“
If you find yourself in a season of pruning, be encouraged! You are in the hands of a good gardener that knows how to bring the best out in every one of His plants!