by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
A Childhood Lesson in Pruning
When I was a girl, my first job was working in Tom Sawyer’s peach orchard. I spent years watching Mr. Tom graft, grow, and prune not just one orchard, but two.
Now that I’m grown, my baby brother and his wife own Mr. Tom’s last peach orchard, and this is the time of year for pruning the trees. Without pruning, the weight of maturing peaches could cause the older trees’ limbs to break, leading to a shorter life cycle for the tree.
But pruning ensures longevity. It allows the tree to stay healthy, supporting productive buds and mature fruit rather than exhausting itself with excess.
We are so much like those peach trees in our walk with Jesus. Without pruning, we can become overburdened, weak, and spiritually unfruitful. But when we allow the Vinedresser to prune us, we become stronger, more productive, and more deeply rooted in Him.
Biblical Study on Pruning 🌿📖
Jesus teaches about pruning in John 15:1-2:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
This verse reveals something powerful:
1️⃣ Every branch is pruned—whether it bears fruit or not.
2️⃣ Pruning is not punishment—it’s preparation for greater fruitfulness.
Other scriptures on pruning and refining:
🔥 Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
🌱 James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
🔥 Malachi 3:3 – “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”
God’s pruning removes what is unnecessary so that we can grow closer to Him. It refines our character, strengthens our faith, and deepens our dependence on Christ.
My Personal Pruning: The Cost of Abiding 🌿✂️
Several weeks ago, I prayed a prayer that would change everything. I asked the Lord to make me like the widow with the two mites—to give Him my everything. It wasn’t just a prayer of words; it was a surrender of my entire heart and life. I told Jesus that I wanted to bend my will to His and to walk in full obedience. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this kind of prayer comes with pruning.
And let me be honest—pruning hurts.
The Changes That Came with Pruning
As my heart finally aligned with my outward walk, the Lord led me through a season of deep change:
✔️ I left my career.
✔️ I left my church.
✔️ I left my youth group.
And the changes kept coming:
✔️ I left my praise team.
✔️ My adult children moved out, stepping into their independence.
Each of these changes stripped away something familiar. I thought I understood obedience, but this was obedience at a whole new level—the level where God refines, reshapes, and removes everything that hinders fruitfulness.
The Pain of Pruning
Pruning isn’t just about cutting away—it’s about preparing for growth. It’s a process that comes with:
💔 Heartbreak – Letting go of what I loved deeply.
😢 Tears – Mourning the loss of what was familiar.
😡 Moments of Anger – Wrestling with change I didn’t expect.
💭 Deep Reflection – Seeing where I had once been rebellious, prideful, or idolatrous.
Jesus, in His kindness, began showing me areas where I had grieved the Holy Spirit—times in my past where my heart wasn’t aligned with His. Even though I am no longer that person, I still had to repent, to learn, and to grow from those moments.
Like Growing Pains 🌱
This season reminds me of Liam’s growing pains. When my son Liam’s legs ache from growth, we place a heating pad on them, we pray over him, and sometimes give him Motrin to ease the pain. When morning comes, the pain is gone, and he is excited to be taller than he was the day before!
Pruning works the same way. It hurts now, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Each day, I wake up stronger, freer, and closer to Jesus than I was previously.
The Purpose of Pruning 🌿✂️
John 15:2 says, “Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
Pruning is liberating. It’s the removal of everything that hinders my ability to abide in the true Vine—Jesus. It’s the process that ensures my life produces fruit, not just for myself but for others to see the work of Christ in me.
When you ask the Lord to make you more like Him, be prepared—He will prune. But take heart: the pruning isn’t punishment—it’s preparation for greater fruitfulness.
🔥 Are you in a season of pruning? How is God refining you right now?
📖 Stay encouraged—He is making you more like Him!
Application: What is God Pruning in You?
1️⃣ What is God cutting away in your life right now? Maybe it’s pride, distractions, unhealthy relationships, or fear.
2️⃣ Where have you felt stretched or uncomfortable? Sometimes pruning feels like loss, but God is making room for more fruit.
3️⃣ Are you willing to trust the Vinedresser? Pruning isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Trust that He is making you stronger and more fruitful.
A Challenge for the Week Ahead
This week, take time to reflect:
🌿 Read John 15 and pray about what God is pruning in your life.
🌿 Ask the Lord to reveal areas that need surrender and refinement.
🌿 Look for the fruit that is beginning to emerge from past pruning seasons.
A Prayer for the Pruning Season
Father,
You are the Vinedresser, and I trust Your hands. Even when pruning hurts, I know You are shaping me into a stronger, more fruitful disciple. Thank You for loving me enough to cut away what holds me back. Help me to endure the process with faith, knowing that You are bringing forth something greater.
Lord, I surrender my plans, fears, and distractions to You. Prune me so that I may grow closer to You and bear fruit that glorifies Your name.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing Reflection: The Reward of Pruning
Just like the peach trees in my brother and sister-in-law’s orchard, pruning is a process that brings greater strength, longer endurance, and abundant fruit. It may be painful in the moment, but the reward is greater than the sacrifice.
When you feel the cut of the Vinedresser’s shears, remember this:
He isn’t hurting you—He’s preparing you.
Let’s embrace the pruning and abide in the Vine.
🔥 What is God pruning in your life right now? Drop a comment—I’d love to encourage you!
#PruningSeason #AbideInTheVine #FaithRefinement #GrowingPains #SpiritualGrowth #TrustTheVinedresser
The Aging English Major 