Pruning Season

Have you ever gone through a season of pruning? When we experience difficulty or hard times, we may default to thinking "God is punishing me." Often, grief, disappointment, and disillusionment can accompany us into this season. But think of the results that come from pruning your roses, your peach trees - any gardener knows the benefits that come from pruning. I read a devotional that reminded us that anything that comes from the hand of God is a gift, and we should remind ourselves that "we are not what we do... we are someone He loves." 

That is a good reminder, but I would like to take it a step further: What we do does not define who we are, but what we do in faithful obedience to Him displays our trust and love for Him... "so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

So many people get caught up in the doing of the good works that soon it becomes doing for doing's sake... we lose sight of the fact that we are to be a blessing so that His name is lifted up. Does that mean that "bad things" won't happen to us when we are being obedient? I can't find that promise in scripture or evidenced in church history, but I can find that obedience brings blessing. (Too often, though, we want to dictate to God what blessing has to look like - which I see as basically a lack of faith in His perfect timing and perfect will.)

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country." Deuteronomy 28:1-3

At the opposite end of the spectrum are those who say "we're under grace and it's all covered by the blood of Jesus" as an excuse to do whatever seems right in their own eyes. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts." Proverbs 21:2

What I believe is this:  God is with us in the green pastures. God is with us in the valley of the shadow of death. God is with us. Period. Everything this side of the sod tempts us and pulls us away from that Truth. 

(Which reminds me of that song: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.)

Thank you, Christine Miller, for sharing your talents!