4 Signs That God Is Pruning You
Do you sense that God is pruning you and cutting away parts of your life that aren’t bearing fruit? Today, I invite you to join me as I stand on our front stoop, and we’ll talk about the signs that God is pruning you. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to encourage you in life’s pruning seasons.
Signs That God Is Pruning You
Yesterday, I pruned the Rose of Sharon.
It’s not the season for pruning, but the roseate blossoms were drawing bees to our front door.
With flowers hanging like a garland around the door, it was just a matter of time until someone got stung.
Suppressing a twinge of sadness, I snipped and shaped the unruly branches.
About halfway through the process, a phrase came to mind: “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” (John 15:2, ESV).
As I snipped the leafy branches, I considered the parts of my life that have been pruned over the past few years: the desires for perfection, success, and excessive comfort. I considered the pursuits that have been cut out of my life and even relationships that drifted apart as God made room for new seasons.
When God Cuts Away Parts of Our Lives
I also thought about the parts of my life that are being pruned right now.
With three young children, I have realized that most of my “ministry” will take place within my immediate family. Evening activities have been pruned to primarily include homework and our kids’ sporting events.
Days at home with Aiden have been pruned to focus on helping him socialize and attending to his needs.
Writing has been pruned to include a few freelancing sites and work on my books.
As I snip the Rose of Sharon, it dawns on me that it’s not up to me to help the Gardner with the pruning. Instead, my role is to surrender to the process. This act of surrender rarely feels pleasant.
At times, this pruning looks like crushed dreams, rejection, misunderstanding, and grief.
Maybe you’ve been experiencing these same struggles and wonder if God is pruning you. Let’s explore four signs that you are in a pruning season.
4 Signs That God Is Pruning You
1. You have experienced one disappointment after another.
Have you recently asked yourself, What’s going to go wrong next?
If you have been experiencing one loss after another, you might be in a pruning season. Maybe you recently lost your job, and then a close friend moved away, and then the ministry you’ve been a part of for years changed. You might be feeling like you’re facing one disappointment after another.
God might be pruning your life—cutting away the parts that are hindering you from fulfilling his purpose for you. Keep doing the work he has set in front of you today, and trust that he will guide you and lead you.
2. You are experiencing one closed door after another.
Did you take a step of faith or try to pursue a dream, but now you’re meeting one closed door after another?
This experience generally feels frustrating and painful. It is also God’s way of directing our lives and removing the parts that no longer fit. God closes doors on our dreams when they don’t align with his plans for us.
Several years ago, God closed a door on a dream I’d been pursuing for years. It was crushing. However, as I look back from my current vantage point, I can see that God closed this door to make room for something much better. I’m grateful for his provision.
If you are facing a closed door, I encourage you to sort through your emotions with God. As you do, continue to pray the following prayer: “God, I don’t understand what you are doing, but I ask you to help me trust you even when I don’t understand your ways.”
God will answer this prayer.
3. A pursuit that once filled you with passion feels like drudgery.
Seven years into my career as a special education teacher, I realized that the career I once loved was not as fulfilling as it was when I first started teaching. The work that once filled me with passion felt grueling, and I didn’t look forward to getting up and going to work.
I had been sensing that God was leading me to make a change for at least a year, but I had been resisting. Finally, after months of struggling with my lack of passion for the work, I realized that God was calling me to resign and move in a different direction.
If you’ve lost your passion for the work you once loved, it’s worth considering whether God might be pruning you and asking you to change directions. He might lead you to persevere in your current position, but he might lead you in a different direction.
4. People have been unexpectedly leaving your life.
Did your best friend just move to the other side of the world? Are you facing a shift in any close relationships? If so, God might be pruning you. He might be removing someone who was not helping you glorify him with your life, or he might be creating space for something different.
Years ago, as our family grew, I realized that having three kids didn’t leave much space for new ministry endeavors. This meant that many people were suddenly removed from my life. It was painful, but God began pruning my life. Now, I look back and thank him for protecting me from spreading myself too thin.
Why God Prunes Us
God ultimately prunes us to help us bear more fruit. He wants our lives to overflow with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.
When our lives are too full, and we are not bearing fruit, God often shows us by stripping away everything that hinders us. His ultimate purpose is to bring glory to his name, work for good in our lives, and help us to look more like Jesus.
If God is pruning you today, be encouraged. The pruning probably doesn’t feel pleasant, but God is working in your life, and this difficult time will work out for your good and his glory.
Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Find Peace in God’s Presence
I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
