I am one of those people who wants to hold on to things, even if they are dead branches, because they have become part of my life and I am used to them. But in my devotional today, it was brought to my attention that pruning is a good and necessary thing, for plants and for me.

My source for the usefulness of pruning is Southern Living

Directing Growth: Pruning helps train young trees and shrubs to develop a strong structure. Crossing branches, branches that curve towards the center of the main leader trunk, and multiple leader branches are removed. As a tree grows, the lower branches are often removed to gradually raise the crown of the tree.

Size Reduction: Reduction cuts decrease the height (topping) and spread of a tree or shrub. Pruning also improves the health of the plant by reducing the above-ground portion of the plant relative to the root system. 

Thinning: Removes branches on individual limbs to create even distribution throughout the crown of the tree.  Thinning enhances light penetration and is especially beneficial for trees and shrubs that grow quickly to inhibit overgrowth.

Now, let’t take each of these practical uses and apply the scripture verse to them. Pruning directs the growth and trains the young trees to grow properly. That sounds like a good reason for us to want God to prune us. We don’t want to grow unhindered in all directions and then stop growing because we have gotten too far away from the central trunk system (God) who nourishes us.

Pruning improves the health of the plant by reducing its size. Again, overgrowth means that we are “getting too big for our britches” and may need to be reminded of Who is in control…and it’s not us!

Finally, and most importantly, I think, is the thinning. Notice that this “enhances light penetration.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be big and bushy with lots of branches and then no light getting to the inner parts of me. We need God to be able to shed His light on us as we read and study His Word and talk to Him each day. Thus, we need pruning to get rid of what is not needed so God can water what is needed for us in our spiritual lives.

My conclusion is that pruning is necessary and we need to submit to it as a part of our walk with God. We can’t grow closer to Him if all we want to do is show off all of our new growth. We are to grow for Him, in Him and through Him, and when He says it’s time to be pruned, prayerfully submit and let God have control. After all, what He wants is for our good always in all ways.