Imagine you are a tree.
You see yourself as a strong tree that is is is rooted deeply and bearing good fruit...
But then the Gardener comes and prunes many of your branches
Snip snip, here... snip snip there...
He begins to reveal who you really are inside, in the wickedness of your own heart. He starts to expose the pride of thinking you were "perfect" and holy. He allows circumstances to come to bring to the surface all those character flaws that need to go so you can be pure and holy... like Your God
You feel like saying "stop cutting me down already! I won't produce any fruit this way!"
But the Gardner knows best, and you trust the Gardener's love and care for you as His beautiful tree.
You may not feel like you are producing abundant fruit now... but just wait... If you will be faithful and humble enough to allow the Gardener to remove all that is not good in you, you will one day be bearing fruit every season and your leaves will be for healing the nations!
And it might happen faster than you expect... Stand still and let the Gardener cut you... it will be painful I can guarantee it, but the reward is worth the little and temporary pain now.
You will stand tall and be a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor, and countless people will be blessed through you.
Trust the Gardener... He is never wrong. Don't fight the process... it will delay and complicate matters if you do. Don't give up... He knows how much you can handle.
