When God “Cuts Away”

There are necessary times when God “cuts away” things from our lives. Things that have become too prominent, things that have become idols, prioritizing our relationship with God.

While there are times for growth, there are also times for pruning. In John 15:2, John mentions that “God cuts off every branch in us that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”

Let’s discover 5 reasons trees need to be pruned, and how they relate to our spiritual life.

When trees have weak branches, nutrients are wasted trying to keep them alive. If the weak branches are “cut away” the nutrients can instead be used to help strengthen roots and healthy branches, allowing the tree to become stronger and more fruitful.

There are times in our lives that God “cuts away” unnecessary items in our lives to help us grow more effectively, typically this could be the result of something becoming an idol to us. What are we craving for, relying on or finding our worth in more than God? Is there something God has “cut away” in your life, leaving you feeling a void or a lack of control in? Maybe it is allowing you to rely on Him more than ever before to help you grow more effectively.

Diseases can occur when trees are not properly maintained, which can spread to other areas of the tree when not addressed properly.

We can allow negative thoughts, attitudes or habits to become so common in our lives that we fail to see that they have become almost like a disease in our spiritual life. When we aren’t properly seeking God and His truth in our lives, our perspective can become shifted, altering our mindset, perspective and initiative. Where have you allowed negative thoughts or actions to spread? Are there areas that you have allowed growth of a disease (or lack of trust in God) to form over time that needs to be addressed?

When branches are trimmed and maintained, it allows for a clearer perspective of our surroundings. This helps aid in safety in those hard to see places and provide a more attractive appearance.

When we are rid of negative thoughts, destructive habits and sinful attitudes, we can see our circumstances differently. When we have an eternal perspective, we can look at our circumstances, even as dire and hopeless as they may seem, and know God is using it for incredible purpose. A purpose that will far outweigh the difficulty we can only see in our puzzling present.

Branches that are frail, brittle, overgrown or diseased can become major hazards to safety. When not attended to properly, it can become a danger to all around it.

When we allow destructive habits or attitudes to form in our lives, it can influence all those around us. Often times we don’t realize how much our actions influence the people who love us. When we let detrimental attitudes and habits fester and cause decay, it can become a repellant for others to desire to be around us. What attitudes, habits or traits may you be practicing that may be impacting those around you?

When dead and diseased branches are pruned from trees, they are more apt to be better balanced, fare better in harsh winds, and less likely to fall or be uprooted in a storm.

What area has God clearly been “cutting away” in your life that you desire to keep holding onto? What is God telling you that you need to let go of, so that He can take control of it and provide you relief from the burden you are carrying?