Sabbath Thought – Pruning

It seems axiomatic that cutting back a plant would actually bring healthier growth – but it does. I have experienced this regularly in our yard. Our property originally had few trees and almost all of them were Boxelder trees. These trees are members of the maple tree family and are known for fast growth but relatively short lifespans. They easily grow in areas other trees may not, and are especially common here in Wisconsin along fence rows. As I have pruned the Boxelder trees that I have, I have found that they tend to become less prone to disease, splitting or generally dying young.

Roxanne and I have also observed this in other things in our yard. Roxanne loves her flowers and flowering shrubs, and every time she prunes them back, they come back the next year with even better growth, more flowers and foliage. Even when the deer get into the young trees and shrubs and eat them back, the growth the next year is reassuring that the plant hasn’t been killed by the deer.

We are now in the middle of February, and spring is officially still about 6 weeks away, with the spring growth even more weeks beyond that – and yet now is also a good time to be pruning. Fruit trees are best pruned this time of year, but pruning is not just aimlessly cutting off branches. Rather, it is removing branches that are crowding other branches, removing branches growing in the wrong direction, or removing shoots off branches to focus the growth on the branch. Pruning in such a manner will increase the yield of the fruit tree in the coming year.

For those who are not familiar with pruning, it can seem like you are hurting (or possibly even killing) the plant. But pruning done right brings air circulation within the plant and jumpstarts the plant into pushing out more growth. Spiritually, it is much the same with us.

God allows us to be “pruned” occasionally for our benefit. In John 15:1- 8, 16, Jesus uses the analogy of Himself as the vine and branches coming off of Him being pruned for greater growth. It is through growth in God’s Spirit and nature that bring us to spiritual maturity. But pruning on a spiritual level can seem hard – growth can be uncomfortable. Afterall, pruning removes material, but ultimately for the benefit of the plant.

The Apostle Peter wrote about this using the concept of trials (which are also allowed for our ultimate benefit): “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy,” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

James speaks of this concept in James 1:2-4: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Patience becomes necessary in our “pruning” because the fruit or benefit is not immediately seen – in the case of our fruit trees we will not see the benefit of pruning until the literal fruit begins to develop in about 4-5 months.

The Apostle Paul also speaks of this “pruning” in terms of “chastening” in Hebrews 12: “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” The Greek word for “chastening” has to do primarily with “training or discipline”, which is also the concept of pruning. The plant is being “trained” to grow a certain way to produce more fruit. The plant is being “disciplined” so it is focused. But notice in the verse above that the chastening is for fruit to be borne as well.

Pruning, spiritually speaking, can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary for our growth. May we remember that as we strive for God’s Kingdom.

I wish you a very meaningful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

14 February,, 2026