Withering away
John 15 NIV
The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Honestly? I felt myself dying inside this morning. My soul was so dry and my tears were abundant. I couldn’t stop crying. I kept repeating, “God knows. God knows.” (God Knows by Lisa Whittle)
I had been cut off from the Vine. Well, I cut myself off. Withered and let myself die and fall away from Him. These past four years have been a season of pruning, dying, regrowth, burning, sprouting, withering, and trying to push up out of the dirt.
Sin is like that. It buries you deep, deep, deep and hides your joy in a pit of despair. It steals the light and covers you in darkness. But, God knows.
Lisa Whittle writes about how God knows everything, and when we fail to name that thing, to come face down in front of Him and declare, “I did this!” then we are denying Him the access to our hearts and forgiveness and cleansing and renewal. He longs for us to remain in Him. He never leaves. He is the Vine, firmly planted. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Nothing.
Why do we think we can hide from the God of the Universe? He created all, knows all, loves all. Why oh why did I not remain in Him? Why did I not seek His shelter when I was tempted?
Perhaps you are feeling pruned away, dear friend. Cut off. Abandoned. Thrown in the fire. Fire is pretty when it’s glowing before us. Tempting us to hold our hands close to enjoy it’s warmth. But there is death in that fire. Jump in and you will be burned. Destroyed. Separated from the God you love.
Are you ready to grow? Ready to feel fruitful and blessed again? Today is the day. God knows. He knows that thing inside that you think you can keep secret and hidden away from Him. God knows. You might as well talk to Him about it. Let Him prune it, cut it out, shine His light on it, and restore you to Him.
This is how we fight our battles,
xoxo Carolyn
