Mired In It and Needing a Bandaid!

Okay, I'll admit it- I am NOT particularly crazy about the problems and situations that I have to go through to grow during my time here on earth. But I know that it is necessary for development spiritually, mentally and emotionally, so what can I say? We are told that we are to grow in the fruit of the Spirit.

Hmmm, everyone knows that you plant tomatoes and other fruits in compost and fertilizer, so that they grow to be fruitful, robust and strong. Fruits also need lots of rain to thrive and produce bountiful fruit.

So just equate the smelly stuff with the problems that we find ourselves mired in, and occasionally find ourselves REAL deep in, to develop our own roots (strength and character, and fruits of the Spirit) to grow tall, strong and productive. We can equate the rain ( our tears and heartaches) necessary for growth with inconveniences, sadness and misfortunes in our lives.

The Word tells us in John 15:1-2
"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."

So either way I go, bearing no fruit or bearing fruit I am going to be cut--(OUCH, can I get a bandaid here, Lord?) So according to the Word, I am a branch that will be cut if I bear no fruit, and that I am a branch that will be pruned when I do bear fruit. I remember from my mom's gardening tips that pruning is when you cut off or cut back a flowering/fruitful branch to force it to blossom fuller and produce more fruitful growth. The Word also tells us that He causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. So we learn to live through trials and tribulations, and hopefully grow as a result of each situation.

So it makes sense to me if I going to be cut (pruned) I should make sure it is so I can blossom fuller and produce more fruitful growth, rather than just being cut off and withering away, right?

Jesus says in John 15:4, 5 "Remain in Me, and I will 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. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."

There's hope for me! I know I can't do this alone - and God gives me strength and makes me bear MUCH fruit if I remain in Him. According to Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

No fruit going to be dropped into my lap, appearing magically just for the taking. The fruit develops through being planted in compost and fertilizer; remaining on the branch, yielding crop after crop of bountiful robust fruit flourishing and continuously producing fruit on the branches throughout a lifetime of pruning by the Master Gardener. All the while, the branches are faithfully drawing all its strength, nourishment and sustenance from it's central core - the Vine. In times of drought, the branches derive its water from streams of Living Water to sustain it. Halleluyah! \o/