The Steady Hand of the GArdener
John 15:2
“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.”
God’s hand is steady.
While people look at outward appearance, God looks at the heart. His discipline is not harsh or impulsive. It is careful. Loving. Purposeful. He prunes not to shame us, but to shape us. He is forming us into the image of His Son, Jesus. There is no darkness in God, only light.
I would say the day was going well… until I left church.
We attend the early service so we can beat the grocery rush. After the hugs and goodbyes in the church lobby, we headed to the store to grab ingredients for lunch. My husband and daughter stayed in the car while my son and I ran inside. I made a beeline for the milk section, shivering, focused, ready to get in and out.
My six-year-old was doing what six-year-olds do. Zig-zagging through aisles. Touching everything shiny. Moving slowly when I wanted speed.
I was irritated. Not gently annoyed. Irritated.
I held it together in public, but the tension followed me into the car. I rode home in silence, weighed down by guilt. How could I worship freely, sing loudly, smile at strangers at church, and then feel so short-tempered with my own child?
When I got home, the answer became obvious. I was hungry.
And yet, over time, moments like this began to stack up in my heart. Why didn’t you pray with that person who said they had a hard week? Why did you tell your kids to be quiet instead of engaging them? Why did you turn down your mom’s invitation to spend time together?
None of this guilt made me more fruitful.
It only weighed me down, like wet jeans clinging and burning with every step.
And this is where God’s steady hand met me, not with condemnation, but with grace.
His grace allowed me to see what needed surrender. His mercy reminded me that being human is not a failure. It is something to be offered back to Him. Following God is not a performance rooted in perfection. It is an adventure rooted in trust.
God is the driver.
The Holy Spirit is the guide.
Jesus is the way and the light before us.
And I am learning to ride along, bringing all of me, even the messy parts.
There is room for my hunger.
Room for my impatience.
Room for my repentance.
If you stay in close relationship long enough, truth always surfaces. And God is not startled by what comes out. His steady hand keeps the direction firm while His Spirit brings understanding at the soul level.
The journey is the daily uncovering of what lives in us so God can transform it with what lives in Him.
This is pruning.
Not punishment.
Preparation for greater fruit.
Journal With JOy
Where in my life might God be inviting me to surrender guilt or self-criticism that is weighing me down instead of helping me grow?
What everyday moments are revealing what’s really in my heart, and how can I offer those moments to God instead of hiding from them?
If pruning is an act of love, what might greater fruitfulness look like in this season if I trusted God’s steady hand?
Thank you for reading my blog, I pray this stirred something in you. I will share more posts from my moments inspired by Gods’ presence each Friday. -Be Fruitful
