There’s something deeply humbling about gardening. You put seeds in the soil, water faithfully, and wait. Some things grow beautifully; others don’t survive. And then there’s the pruning—the part where you have to cut back branches, blossoms, and even good branches or fruit so that the plant can thrive in the long run.
Jesus knew this imagery would resonate with us when He said,
“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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2 (NKJV)
Pruning sounds uncomfortable because it is. It’s cutting away. It’s removing. It’s letting go. Yet it is always for growth.
The Backyard Lesson
I learned this lesson in my own yard. One year, I planted a blackberry bush with high hopes. It shot up pretty fast, filled with leafy greens, and looked impressive from a distance. But when it came to actual fruit? Not much. My back fence neighbor Will, a seasoned gardener said over the fence one day, “You need to prune it back. It looks healthy, but all of the energy is in the leaves. If you don’t cut it, it won’t branch, and you won’t get berries.”
So, I did what felt counterintuitive. I cut back the green to about 3-4 feet. At first, it looked like I had ruined it. But soon enough, a few clusters of berries appeared where there had once been only leafy show.
That’s what God does in our lives. He prunes what no longer belongs—sometimes even what looks good—to make room for what is better.
At the end of the summer, I read that I needed to cut the fruited branches to the ground. It seemed so wrong to me. But if I didn’t, the other branches would produce the following year. I wanted them to produce, so I did the tough thing, and cut those branches down.
Why God Prunes
God’s pruning isn’t punishment. It’s preparation. He sees what we cannot, and He knows what’s weighing us down, distracting us, or taking energy from the fruit He desires to grow in us.
“…lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
Notice that verse mentions not only sin but also weights. Some things aren’t sinful, but they still hold us back. It could be a habit, a commitment, a relationship, or even an attitude. God prunes those things so we can run lighter and bear more fruit.
Think about the commitments you’ve made. Sometimes we pile our schedules so full of good things—volunteering, activities, projects—that there’s no space left for the best things. The pruning shears of God cut away the excess so that what remains is strong, fruitful, and aligned with His will.
When Pruning Feels Personal
It’s one thing to prune blackberry plants. It’s another when God begins pruning your heart and life. I’ve walked through seasons when friendships faded, opportunities closed, or dreams I held tightly slipped away. At first, I grieved. I couldn’t understand why God would take something I thought was good.
When I cut branches from my blackberry bush, they weren’t dead. They had leaves and even looked healthy. But they weren’t doing what a blackberry bush is meant to do which is to produce fruit. In the same way, when God prunes us, He may remove things that look full of life. They may even be beautiful. But foliage isn’t fruit. And fruit is what nourishes.
Over time, I realized those very cuttings made room for something better. A closed door gave me time for deeper connection with family. A friendship that ended opened space for a mentor who spoke truth into my life. A dream I laid down cleared the way for a calling I hadn’t seen before.
Pruning hurts because it feels like loss. But in the hands of the Master Gardener, loss becomes gain.
Modern-Day Examples of Pruning
Maybe for you, pruning looks like:
- A job transition that forces you to trust God in ways you never had before.
- A friendship fading because God is bringing new relationships that will stretch and strengthen your faith.
- A habit being stripped away—whether it’s late-night scrolling, overspending, or constant busyness—that God knows is choking out your spiritual health.
- A ministry pause so that your energy can be poured into your home during a crucial season.
Each of these examples feels like cutting. Yet each can produce new growth when surrendered to God.
Jesus reminds us,
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…” John 15:16 (NKJV)
His goal is lasting fruit, not temporary green leaves.
Resisting the Shears
I’ll be honest, I don’t always immediately recognize pruning for what it is and want to hold on to what’s familiar. Like a child reaching out for a favorite toy and saying, “Hey, wait, that’s mine.”
In the fall of 2003, I had enrolled in classes at Christian Life College. God said go to Bible school, so I started classes. Midway through the semester, I was talking to my Mom, and she asked me to consider moving home to St. Louis. When I moved away from St. Louis, I said I was never coming back. And I had just started classes at the Bible school. So, I didn’t really want to consider moving home.
So, I told my Mom that when I came home for Christmas, I would put in one job application at the hospital near her home, and if they gave me a job, I’d move home. When I went home for Christmas, I kept my word and turned in the job application with my resume.Then I left and went back to the Chicago area.
A couple weeks went by and I woke up one day and the Lord distinctly communicated to my heart, “Resign your job today.” I shook my head. The thought of resigning a job without a job to go to went against everything in me. I had never done that. I had been taught not to.
Again, I shook my head, thinking, surely, this isn’t the Lord. As I poured my coffee, the Lord gently reminded me that His ways are higher than mine.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV)
So, I sat down at my word processor and wrote out my resignation.
I drove to work early and walked into my manager’s office and asked if we could chat. She said sure and asked what was up. I handed her my resignation and said, “I need to give you a two-week notice today.” She said, “Oh? What’s next for you? Where are you going?” I looked down and told her that the Lord was calling me back to St Louis and that I didn’t have a job lined up, but I had to obey. I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I had to do what God said do, and that was that. Then I thanked her for her time and said I needed to get out on the floor. She said she understood and that she hated to lose me as a team member. Then as I was walking out the door she called me name. I turned back and she told me the hospital in Alton had called her before I came into her office and that I had the job. I asked her what time they called. She looked up at the clock on her wall and told me.
It just so happened that they called at the time that I sat down at my word processor to write out my resignation.
When I trust Him enough to open my hands, I make room for His better plan.
The Fruit That Follows
When pruning is complete, the harvest comes. Sometimes it’s peace where there once was chaos. Sometimes it’s deeper joy in the middle of trials. Sometimes it’s a newfound freedom from the weight of unnecessary burdens.
One leader I know went through a pruning process when she stepped back from a leadership role she loved. The ministry was fruitful, and the role made sense. God gave her fresh vision, and she is now being used by God in ways that she would not have even imagined then. Today, she’ll tell you she has never felt more alive in ministry. Her life and her ministry look completely different than what they would have if she had stayed in that role. While the previous role was fruitful, her current role is abundantly so.
Jesus said,
“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:8 (NLT)
The fruit of pruning is never wasted. It brings glory to God and draws others to Him.
Living With Open Hands
So, how do we cooperate with God’s pruning?
- Stay connected to the Vine. Without daily time in God’s Word and prayer, pruning will feel like punishment. But when you remain close to Jesus, you’ll recognize His hand at work.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 (NKJV) - Trust the Gardener. Believe that His cuts are not random but purposeful. He knows where growth is possible.
- Let go willingly. Instead of clinging tightly to what He’s removing, release it and say, “Lord, I trust You to bring something new.”
- Look for the fruit. Pay attention to the ways God is bringing new opportunities, relationships, or growth into your life after pruning.
A Reflection from My Own Life
There was a season in my life when I had a lot of health stuff going on. I had major surgery to have dental implants in October 2018. Then on December 17, 2018, I had to have surgery to have an 8x10cm piece of breast tissue removed from my right axilla because it had developed a lump. It was decided that it was best to just remove the entire piece of breast tissue from the armpit, since it wasn’t necessary for it to be there, than to do a lumpectomy because that left the potential for future lumps to develop. Then in January 2019, I had to have an oral tissue revision. It was a lot physically, and I knew I needed to slow down and reduce some of my committments, but I kept pace as much as I could because I didn’t want to let anyone down.
In The Body Keeps the Score, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explains how our bodies often carry the weight of what our minds try to ignore. Stress, trauma, and constant striving don’t just vanish because we push forward. Instead, they settle into our bodies and eventually demand attention. When we don’t willingly choose rest, our bodies can force it upon us. It may look like illness, exhaustion, or something unexpected that brings everything to a halt.
I learned this lesson the hard way when I had acute appendicitis in April 2019. I didn’t choose to rest. My schedule was full, my to-do list long, and I thought I could just keep the pace. But when my appendix flared, everything stopped. I had no choice but to lay flat, cancel plans, and let others step in. Looking back, I can see how even that forced rest was a form of pruning. God used it to make me pause, remind me that I am human, and re-center my heart on Him. Just as a gardener prunes branches so the plant can bear more fruit, sometimes God allows circumstances—even in our bodies—that require us to pause, making space for deeper trust and renewed dependence on Him.
That pruning reminded me that the fruit God desires isn’t just outward productivity but inward transformation and stronger relationships. It was also about my ability to admit that I can’t do it all and that I need help sometimes. As a nurturer by nature, I can be fiercely independant and find it difficult to allow others to help me. It’s an area that Holy Spirit continually prunes me in.
Distinguishing Between Pruning and Attack
Pruning and attack can look similar on the surface—something is lost, closed, or stripped away. But the heart behind it and the fruit it produces are very different. Here’s a look at how to distinguish between the two.
- Look at the Fruit
When God prunes, even though it hurts, the end result is growth. There’s more peace, more joy, more Christlikeness. When the enemy is stirring trouble, it often leads to confusion, despair, or temptation that pulls you away from God. - Check the Direction of Your Heart
Pruning draws you closer to God. You might feel the sting of loss, but you find yourself leaning in to His presence and His Word. Attacks from the enemy tend to create fear, doubt, or distance between you and God if left unchecked. - Notice the Pattern
God’s pruning is purposeful. He cuts back good things to make way for better fruit. It’s intentional and leads to long-term spiritual health. The enemy, on the other hand, thrives on chaos. His “hay day” often looks like relentless pressure, accusations, or temptation that distracts you from your calling. - Seek the Holy Spirit’s Confirmation
Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13, NLT). Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom. He is faithful to give discernment and peace when something is His work, even if it’s hard. If unrest or confusion lingers, it may be spiritual opposition. - Invite Trusted Voices
God often uses the counsel of mature believers to help us see clearly. A mentor, pastor, or friend rooted in Scripture can often confirm whether what you’re experiencing is pruning or attack.
A simple way to remember it is this:
- Pruning feels like loss but leads to life.
- Attack feels like destruction and aims to steal life.
“‘The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’” John 10:10 (NKJV)
Questions to Pray Over
When God begins pruning in our lives, it’s easy to slip into worry or even resistance. But pruning isn’t about punishment—it’s about making space for what’s life-giving and fruitful. One of the best ways to lean into that process is to take it to prayer. When we pause and ask God to search our hearts, He gently reveals what needs to be cut away and reassures us of the fruit He’s growing in its place.
If you’re in a season where God is trimming back what no longer belongs, these questions can help guide your prayers. Don’t rush through them. Sit with each one, ask honestly, and give Him room to speak.
- What areas of my life are leafy but not fruitful?
- Am I holding onto something that looks good but is keeping me from what You call best?
- Who can pray with me specifically about this situation to determine whether this is pruning or attack?
- How have I seen past pruning seasons bear fruit, and what does that remind me about Your faithfulness?
- Who do You want me to encourage with the truth that pruning is not rejection but refinement?
Want to take this message a step deeper? I’ve created a set of printable Letting God Prune What No Longer Belongs Journal Prompts that expands on the questions above to help you reflect and pray. These prompts are paired with space to write your own thoughts, some verses to reflect on, and a prayer prompt at the end. Use the printable for yourself or share them with a friend that is going through a pruning season. The questions are designed to give you a simple, practical way to slow down, figure out where God might be pruning you, and lean into that pruning. Think of them as a companion for your quiet time, helping you process with Holy Spirit with honesty. Sometimes we don’t know what questions to ask, and these questions can help spark that conversation.
Not in a pruning season now? Maybe print them for later. We all have to go through pruning at somepoint. Amiright?
Books to Help You Grow
When God is pruning us, it can feel lonely and confusing. We know He’s at work, but sometimes we need words of wisdom from those who have walked this road before us. Books can become companions in these seasons—reminding us that pruning is not punishment but preparation, and that God’s hand is steady even when ours feels shaky. Here are a few books that can encourage and strengthen you while you learn to trust the Gardener.
- Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance in Your Life by Bruce Wilkinson – unpacks John 15 in a simple, powerful way and explains how God prunes us—not to harm us, but to help us bear more fruit. It’s short, easy to digest, and full of encouragement.
- The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp – an invitation to see pruning seasons as sacred ground. In this book, Ann shares vulnerably about how brokenness and loss can become the very soil where God grows beauty.
- Abide: The Secret to Bearing Fruit by Warren Wiersbe – a simple book that helps you understand that pruning isn’t about losing, but about staying connected to the Vine and trusting God for fruit.
- Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years… and Yours by Alicia Britt Chole – this one is escpecially for anyone who feels forgotton or overlooked in a season of waiting. Alicia reflects on those unseen seasons of life where God is pruning and preparing us behind the scenes.
- When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without by Laura Story – She reminds us that God’s pruning may not “fix” things the way we want, but it grows trust and fruit that last.
- A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul E. Miller – This book isn’t strictly about pruning, but it helps frame how to pray when life feels like it’s being stripped back. It encourages learning to walk with God in the mess and the mystery.
- Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton – an honest look at inner life of leaders, showing how God often prunes through silence, solitude, and hardship. This book is a gentle guide for anyone in ministry or leadership who feels weary, reminding us that pruning produces a stronger, more rooted soul.
Podcasts to Help You Grow
Sometimes reading can feel heavy, so listening—to voices that remind us we are not alone – can help us through that season of God’s trimming brings growth. It can help us remember that abiding in Him is the path forward. Here are some podcasts that are full of encouragement, reflection, and truth when you need it most.
- The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman
Gentle, reflective episodes about making space, letting go, and trusting God with small, faithful steps. Perfect for those who need encouragement in the middle of change. - Cultivate Podcast with Kelly Minter
Kelly often weaves in themes of abiding, pruning, and living out of God’s Word in everyday life. She reminds listeners that pruning seasons are purposeful, not wasted. - Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton
Episodes often dive into spiritual rhythms like solitude, discernment, and surrender—helpful reminders that pruning is part of becoming whole in Christ. - Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
While leadership-focused, Craig often shares about surrender, discipline, and seasons of preparation—messages that resonate in times when God is pruning back for growth.
Just Between Us
Pruning is never comfortable, but it is always for our good. If you feel God cutting something away right now, take heart. He is not punishing you; He is preparing you. It never feels easy, but it is always worth it.
Every time you surrender what no longer belongs, you make space for the kind of growth only God can bring. The fruit He produces in us—peace, joy, patience, love—lasts far longer than anything we could cling to on our own.
Trust the Master Gardener. He knows what He’s doing.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord . “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT)
The shears may sting…
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
But the harvest will be worth it.
Prayer Prompt
Father, thank You for loving me enough to prune what no longer belongs in my life. Help me to trust Your hand even when the cuts feel painful. Show me what to release, and give me courage to let go so that Your fruit can grow in me. Teach me to abide in You and to welcome Your work in every season. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Cheering you on.
