“And every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2
A child of God was dazed by the variety of afflictions which seemed to make her their target. Walking past a vineyard in the rich autumnal glow she noticed the untrimmed appearance and the luxuriant wealth of leaves on the vines, that the ground was given over to a tangle of weeds and grass, and that the whole place looked utterly uncared for; and as she pondered, the Heavenly Gardener whispered so precious a message that she would fain pass it on:
“My dear child, are you wondering at the sequence of trials in your life? Behold that vineyard and learn of it. The gardener ceases to prune, to trim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit only when he expects nothing more from the vine during that season. It is left to itself, because the season of fruit is past and further effort for the present would yield no profit. Comparative uselessness is the condition of freedom from suffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruning your life? Shall I leave you alone?” And the comforted heart cried, “No!”
–Homera Homer-Dixon
It is the branch that bears the fruit,
That feels the knife,
To prune it for a larger growth,
A fuller life.
Though every budding twig be lopped,
And every grace
Of swaying tendril, springing leaf,
Be lost a space.
O thou whose life of joy seems reft,
Of beauty shorn;
Whose aspirations lie in dust,
All bruised and torn,
Rejoice, tho’ each desire, each dream,
Each hope of thine
Shall fall and fade; it is the hand
Of Love Divine
That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks
With tenderest touch,
That thou, whose life has borne some fruit
May’st now bear much.
–Annie Johnson Flint
From Streams in the Desert
History Timeline for Relaxed Homeschoolers From Homeschool in the Woods
I have to admit that this was very difficult to read. The last four or five years have been excruciating for me, with one trial after another, trials that recur when I thought they were over, and an overriding sense of being traumatized by everything that has happened. I really have pleaded with God for Him to stop, particularly when I only see bitterness and exhaustion and despair instead of fruitfulness in my character. This is a hard word, but a needed one. He’s doing something, even when I have no inkling what it is or when it will be finished. God grant me patience to endure.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{Ana}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I know from some of the things you’ve mentioned here lately you must be going through some very hard times. I feel like anything I write here will seem trite and I don’t want to be that. I know there are times of trials where there is nothing anyone can say that will help. When I have walked through some of my darkest times and I could sense no real reason or purpose for it, I have tried to reflect on some of the people from Scripture who also went through bewildering times. I can imagine Joseph, for example, felt at a loss at times to know why God had seemingly abandoned him. I try to imagine how he must have felt to be “forgotten” year after year. God had a purpose and we easily see it when we read the Bible. But it was not obvious to him all those years that Joseph suffered unjustly, one day at a time, one month at a time. I don’t know why God allows some of his children to suffer so much and so long. But I remind myself over and over again that God is sovereign and God is good. I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other in light of those truths. And I also have to remind myself often, especially lately, that this world is not my home or desire. I remind myself that everything I do here is building for eternity. The rewards I reap for suffering here will be eternal and I will be able to rejoice with Christ forever in those blessed rewards. Hang in there and know that you are not alone. Many have gone before us in the centuries before and found God faithful. He will be faithful to you and me as well.
Thank you, Sallie. I had to smile when I read your reply to my comment. God brought to my tired mind a video my children watched a great deal when they were younger. It was Dreamworks’ Joseph King of Dreams. When Joseph is in that prison, waiting and waiting for God to get him out, he sings a song that says in part, “You know better than I. You know the way. I’ll lay down the need to know why, for You know better than I.”
Hugs to you, and thank you for your sweet encouragement!