Can you still remember the first time or how many times you’ve experienced extreme hardships? I guess it’s a handful already. And I’m sure it was heart or even soul-breaking during that time, like you couldn’t do anything and didn’t know when it will end. Even if you thought you did everything, bothered all your friends and dyingly prayed over and over again, the suffering didn’t stop.

It seemed never ending, but it ended. We’re able to go through all of it. In one way or another, it impacted our lives. We realized something and learned a lesson or two. And after that experience, we somehow felt like a new person.

Isaiah 43:19

“See, I am doing a new thing!…”

What we’ve experienced is God’s process of saving us and transforming us. He allows us to go through the three stages of making us new – Pruning, Purification and Pivoting.

1^st stage: PRUNING

There are a lot of verses in the bible about Pruning but John 15:1-8 tells it so beautifully.

John 15:1-8

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. 2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered 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, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

Food for thought:

• Jesus is the Vine – where we should always keep connected to so we won’t be harmed
• God the father is the Keeper of the vineyard – who removes unwanted and unfruitful branches like sins, anger, addiction to money, fame or even people and all other things that can lead us away from the vine
• We are the branches – that are being pruned, like plants, to flourish and bear more fruits (peace, loves, generosity and all good deeds that we are capable of giving to others)

One may be in a chaotic family, failing at school or can’t attend at all, super stressed at work, lost in life, enduring a heartbreak, have livelihood crisis, have major sickness or even lost a loved one. As it is usually hard, this is God’s way of pruning us. He removes our livelihood or money maybe because we have made it the center of our lives. In this pandemic, he cut-off the luxury of time we used to spend outside so we can be more with our family. Sometimes, he makes us sick so we can just stay home and be safer from the worldly things that could harm us. At times, he removes even lives or people in our lives to teach us a lesson, make us strong, save us and lead us to the true happiness that He only wants for us.

2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”

Hardships are inevitable part of life. At times it may be a result of our decisions in life. It is not a one time event. So, the next time we come across it, even if it’s really hard, we can try telling ourselves “It’s hard, it’s happening for a reason, this is God pruning me, this is just a stage and it will pass, just like all the problems that has passed.”

The Pruning process is tough but remember that God won’t allow problems beyond your limits. And all throughout, He is with us.

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

2^nd stage: PURIFICATION

After Pruning comes the Purification process. After He cut-off the unhealthy branches, the things that can hinder us to bear fruits, he wants us to be cleaned of all the impurities in our life (distractions).

In the bible, people, Israelites and especially priests needed to be cleansed before worshipping God. People who have skin disease or gave birth needed to offer sacrifices like live birds, lamb, etc. Our habit of washing hands before eating is also a ceremonial act/tradition of cleaning or purification oneself before facing or receiving God.

When He “pruned” the things, people or the ex in your life, you experienced pain and heartbreak, you went to people you trust and prayed at last. Time past but the pain did not. You again seek help from friends and from God. Then you get used to it, had realizations, became busy again and continue with your life as if it’s new again.

This is the process of purification wherein our hearts, thoughts, motives are being cleansed of hurt, anger and all negative feelings by God’s words and presence. Then we start to recognize and embrace the pain from pruning. And we begin to release the heavy feeling, feel our hearts soften, forgive and finally let go of any bad feeling. Until what’s left in our hearts is only love (for Him, for His people). Now we are more ready for the 3^rd and last stage.

3^rd stage: PIVOTING

After being pruned of baggage and purified of distractions, we are now ready to be pivoted and redirected towards God’s way. It is now easier for us to do God’s will, to bear more fruits, to do good deeds.

Just as how God pivoted Saul’s life even when he persecuted Him or the way He redirected and molded Moses to become the Israelites’ leader that God had long been planned. And like Joseph whom he tested many times, become slave, tested again and finally became Governor of Egypt as planned.

God uses circumstances in our lives to test us, mold us and lead us to the path of righteousness, genuine happiness and overflowing abundance, like the flourishing branches that are capable of giving fruits of good deeds, of love.

Psalm 25:4-5

4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.…

Psalm 32:8

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Pruning, purification and redirection is not a one-time event, just like the times the Keeper the Vineyard cares for the Vine and prunes the branches, or the number of times we take bath or wash our hands. God makes us new every time.

It is also not fast-paced. As in this pandemic, God is giving us time to slowdown, pray, be with our family, talk to our friends, change things for the better and make some plans on how to respond to God’s calling and help pivot other people’s lives.

It’s hard but we can think of these 3 things:

• When we lost something or someone and in pain, we are being Pruned
• When we’re confused and still hurting, it means our wounds are healing, we are being Purified
• When we feel rejected, we are being redirected or Pivoted

And remember, do not be afraid because God loves us and He is always with us.

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.