Because You Love

Friday, September 23, 2011 Posted by Sara

This little fictional journey I have shared of Gardening with Papa has paralleled the process He has had me in the past few weeks.

Courageous conversations with loved ones have exposed areas needing growth in my own life. I have been “pruned” before, but this time I had no game plan to get me back to bearing fruit. (I learned I like to have a game plan for growth – for anything really – plans feel safe and wise). I honestly didn’t know what growth looked like from here. I had to come to a place of realizing that I couldn’t grow myself this time – but God desired to meet me in my confusion, and bring new life to me.

Through kindness and humor, He revealed His presence and His great ability to move on my behalf. He has washed me with His word, and encouraged me with His truth. In gentleness, he showed me some of the roots of my issues and gave me great wisdom in how to embrace this season of learning, growing, and moving on.

In the end, I believe the pruning I had so feared, actually became a doorway to His promises fulfilled.

May you grow us up, Lord, that we might walk in the fullness of what you have for us. Prune us in your kindness. Grow us in your faithfulness to complete every good work you started, and may we never fear Your hand at work in our lives – You prune because You love.

“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT)