Author Darlene J. Conard

I watched the men cut away the apple tree’s branches. “Why are they destroying them?” Their beautiful white and pink blossoms brightened the picnic area releasing a soft soothing scent into the air in the spring. This year I will not be greeted by their embellished presence. Heaps of dead limbs laid piled at the end of their row. Why is everything so pleasant destroyed by the hands of man? I was very upset and disheartened. I only reacted thinking in a negative manner simply for the lack of knowledge. Later I learned it’s a necessary process called pruning. The men only did so that they may flourish and not die. I would have to wait until next year to enjoy them. This year wasn’t their season.

In a spiritual sense I understood with a much greater range. If those trees could scream out in pain, questioning, as to why, I could relate. Like the men knew exactly how and where to cut, God knows exactly when and where to remove things from us. He has to. Pruning is an indication of fruitfulness.

Mark 2:22 says, “no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.” It simply can’t be done. Human nature kicks in to do things our way. Prematurely we step in with our thoughts and ideas. God requires us to walk in spirit and in truth.
God deals with people, but it takes time. Saul surnamed Paul encountered the two-edged sword on his way to Damascus. Deep within he truly thought he was doing God service. Jesus’ appearance blinded him.

Acts 9:1-9) He was physically blind; however, he received spiritual sight.
The revelatory experience did more than change Saul but changed the view of believers.
We go through pruning not that something is wrong with us but what is right. God knows much more lays dormant we are unaware of.

I’ve gained much more than I lost before the trials. It didn’t make sense to me at first. Job is a familiar story concerning such trials. News of devastation concerning him rumbled from the mouths of messengers giving him no space for relief. He did what confounds the wise. He rends his mantle, shaved his head and worshipped God. He did what we should, worship God. Instead of rending our garment Joel 2:12-13 instructs a rending of our hearts. He shaved his head as a sign of mourning. (Isaiah 61:3) God says He will, designate those who mourn in Zion beauty for ashes, oil of joy in replacement of mourning and replace the garment of heaviness with the garment of praise.
We receive an honorary position. The Almighty Creator Himself puts us before the small and great as to say, “They have glorified Me well.”

God gave Satan permission knowing that Job was fruitful and would not lose his luster or faith in Him.
Jesus stood silent before Pilate as He searched deep within himself for the right questions. How would he unlock Jesus’ silence. He was wise. His refusal permeated truth into Pilates’s physical authority. “Don’t you know I have power to crucify You?” In response Jesus answered,” You could have no power at all accept it be given from above.” John 19:9-11
Satan only has the authority that’s given from above to test us.

(Photo is of Richwood, WV)

• BLOG