Between Pruning and Fruit

Jesus mentions pruning and “more fruit” in the same sentence, but it’s worthwhile to point out pruning is not immediately followed by abundant fruit. There is a long process between pruning (cutting back) and “more fruit.” It is important to know the right time to prune a plant and how much to cut without causing harm.

Plants often go into shock after hard pruning. Plants pruned in the fall go through a stabilization process in winter during which they store up reserves and deepen their roots. It often appears the plant has died. But in springtime evidence of the remaining life appears, as leaf buds, not fruit.

As spring rolls into summer, some results of pruning begin to appear, exponential growth, not fruit. The plant is bigger and stronger than it was before. What follows growth is, again, not fruit, but the basis for it – flowering. As the flowers fade, they leave behind tiny, green, immature fruit. It can be almost unrecognizable.

Over time this tiny fruit grows, then ripens until it is ready to pick and enjoy. This process can take up to a year. Abundant fruit is truly the outcome, but only after patiently waiting. When the ripened fruit is tasted and found to be delicious, then, and only then, can you see the true benefit of pruning.

The same can be said of our lives. Hard times come, pruning. We can be sure our faithful Father knows the best time to prune without harm and never cuts off more than is necessary.

Next comes stabilization, that is storing up reserves and deepening our roots in Him. It can feel as if we are dying, but, as we press into Him, our spirit grows within. Inner growth produces evidence of deepened, well-rooted life, budding into a clearer understanding of our true identity.

Next, we find exponential growth – faith renewed, stronger than before. We flower. People can see we have come through the hardship and rejoice with us. The beginnings of tiny fruit appear, a promise of what is to come. We begin to uncover truths learned through our hardship.

As those truths solidify inside our spirit (ripen), we share those life-giving truths with others. We are changed, and share that change, multiplying fruit more abundantly than ever. The fruit has become a triumphant display of His faithfulness for all to see and enjoy! The benefit of pruning is not immediately evident, but it is worth the wait.