Refiner.

I read a passage in John in a season of pain. It was during six months of disability before receiving my first shunt.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

John 15:1-2

What does it mean to be refined and pruned by the Holy Spirit? Pruning means removing "dead and dying branches and stubs, allowing room for new growth and protecting your property and passerby from damage." Gardeners around the world have found pruning to be incredibly effective. It is so effective that it becomes not just a random practice but one of routine. Any luscious garden and landscape are covered with plants pruned consistently to make room for new growth.

When I first read John 15:1-2, I thought of my situation as happening to me. I did not understand why a gracious and loving God could allow such pain and turmoil to overtake my life. However, this verse allowed me to reframe my thinking. These situations of illness, a broken family, etc., are happening for me. My gracious and loving God allows these situations to take place because we live in a fallen world full of sin, but He is actively using these devastating circumstances to refine me.

I find the definition of pruning particularly fascinating: its emphasis on "protecting your property." The Bible defines our earthly bodies as property of His kingdom, a temple we are called to protect and honor. The pruning process encourages new growth and is instrumental in protecting us.

The refining process is painful. It is grueling. We are scraping away dead flesh, exposing a vulnerable layer that has never seen the light. It is uncomfortable, and our souls resent it. I want to challenge you to step into the uncomfortable and welcome the Lord's willingness and desire to break away from the old and restore your soul to the new.