There is a peace that comes after a pruning. The chaos is gone. The weight is lifted. We are free of the burden of things that took our focus off of God.

The vine on the left was very busy during the year. Masses of branches going many directions become tangled in the chaos of ‘doing’ or ‘growing’. This vine has many distractions and burdens drawing its attention and energy away from producing fruit.

The vine on the right is the same vine after pruning. It is clean. Diseased branches have been removed. Unfruitful branches have been removed. Remaining branches have been pruned for more production and intentional direction of growth.

The idea of pruning can be fearful. Distractions and non-essentials in our lives command our attention becoming our gods in those moments. They claim our time and our energy. They take our focus away from God. It is the ‘pruning’ of non-essentials and getting refocused on the Lord that allows Him to produce good fruit through us.

It sounds painful and sometimes it is. But, after the pruning, there is a peace in our lives as we refocus on the Lord.

“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.” John 15:2

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11