GOD’S PRUNING PRODUCES JOY
But let all who take refuge in You rejoiceH8055; let them ever shout for joyH7422. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoiceH5970 in You. For surely You, O LORD, bless the righteous; You surround them with the shield of Your favor.
Psalm 5:11-12
Refuge – That which shelters or protects from danger, distress or calamity; a stronghold which protects by its strength, or a sanctuary which secures safety by its sacredness; any place inaccessible to an enemy.
The American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828.
The Lord is the definition of refuge; His very essence is protection and a sacred place to abide. Therefore, we can celebrate the Lord with joyful singing and praises. God offers us a place of safety so that we who adore Him may glorify Him. God brings joy to His family of faith. The Lord promotes us, elevates us, and is our defense. Our joy reverberates back toward Him and has a ripple effect that touches others. The year that I was turning thirteen, I was sent to a therapeutic boarding school almost 400 miles away from home. I knew no one there except the Lord Jesus. He was my only and definite Protector. At the time, I felt frustrated, angry, and abandoned. However, after I set these emotions aside, I realized that it was God’s compassion, concern, and grace that had brought me to that place and was thankful to my grandmother and mother for sending me there. The sudden separation from my family ultimately produced pruning for both personal and spiritual growth. My roots grew deep in my Lord, which caused me to blossom. Refinement causes discomfort even to the point of pain, but the final result is fruitfulness. God helped me to discover my love for learning to a greater measure and used caring teachers like Gail Meaux to help me uncover my gift for communication through words. He gave me my first “bonus sister” in soul and spirit in Missy Blanchard. He gave me nurses like Ethel Rawls and Patti Hearne who nurtured my emotional and spiritual wellbeing along with taking care of my physical needs. He brought me a fantastic encourager in the form of Patti’s husband, George. The school I first viewed as a punishment was used by God to be my refuge and shelter. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2 ESV). God pruned away the resentment of feeling like I was ejected from my home to make me more productive and fruitful in my witness for Him.
Do you trust the Master Gardener or are you shrinking away from His pruning shears? Do you see God as your sanctuary when life is difficult? Trust in Him and rejoice!
Father, thank You that we can trust You to use even the difficult times in our lives to mold us into the image of Your Son (Romans 8:28-29).