I’ve grown frustrated with the half dead plants that reside outside my window. Recently I’ve become a plant mom to four unsuspecting annuals. And daily, taken the time and care to provide for their needs. I’ve observed their every droop, their every parched soil, their every need. And tried my best to keep them thriving. But as the sun descends on this sun scorched land, it’s become increasingly difficult. With the heat comes crunchy leaves, disappearing florals, and withering luster. Despite my every effort, the climate change has drained their vitality.

Still the Lord has been revealing significant spiritual insights through them. I’ve watched them turn towards the light as their source. I’ve seen what happens when the soil receives enough water, pouring out the bottom and producing an overflow. I’ve observed their differing needs in different seasons- less sun, more water, more care. And I’ve pruned them until only bits remain. With hope that by cutting off the dead, diseased, and dying parts, I can revive the whole plant. While it is painful to cut something down to its bare bones, it’s necessary for new growth.

Perhaps the most poignant insight I’ve gleamed is this realization: If I want to cultivate life, I can’t expect death and life to coexist. This is true in plants, and this is true in us. New life requires the dead parts to be cut off. Therefore, we need to stop allowing death to cultivate in our lives and choke out the potential for growth.  

When the women went to the tomb of the resurrected Jesus in Luke 24, the Angels of the Lord asked them a profound question:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5 NIV

In the same way, we continually cultivate death in our lives by resisting God’s pruning, relying on our own strength, and disconnecting from the Vine, our source and sustainer.

But John 15 teaches us that fruitfulness is a process and growth requires sacrifice.

“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.”

“Remain in me as I 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.”

“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.”

Growth isn’t a me thing. Growth is a we thing. Growth occurs in connection with the Vine.

I’ve been tempted to buy new plants. Wouldn’t that just be easier, simple, painless? But I’ve watched in amazement as these half dead plants continually produce new life. Green buds have made their way through the brown, crispy, dead parts. Even though, I cut one of my dead, diseased, and dying plants down to mere nothing, slowly it is becoming fruitful again. While it may not look pretty or full yet, one day it will. Sister, beautiful things take time to flourish.

That’s how the Father views our lives. When we deem something too dead, too far gone, He dares us to watch Him produce something new, beautiful, and unexpected. The Master Gardener makes new life spring out of the dead parts of us.

Part is ours, and part is His. We do our part and He does His.

We abide, He prunes.

We abide, He resurrects.

We abide, He produces new life.

But it all comes down to this simple question. It’s one I’ve been grappling with recently.

Do you believe He can?

Do you believe He can resurrect the dead parts of you?
Do you believe He can heal what you have deemed broken?
Do you believe He can heal you from the sin that enslaves you?
Do you believe He can transform your circumstance?
Do you believe He can focus your otherwise distracted mind?
Do you believe He can?

New life requires death. He is more than able but we must be more than willing. Are you ready to let Him cultivate life in you?

Let’s pray through this prayer of spiritual growth together and allow the Master Gardner to daily cultivate life in us. Perhaps, you too, will find some much needed healing in the Apostle Paul’s words:

“We’ve kept you always in our prayers that you would receive the perfect knowledge of God’s pleasure over your lives, making you reservoirs of every kind of wisdom and spiritual understanding. We pray that you would walk in the ways of true righteousness, pleasing God in every good thing you do. Then, you’ll become fruit bearing branches, yielding to His life, and maturing in the rich experience of knowing God in his fullness.” 

Colossians 1:9-10 TPT

- Kierstin Almstrum, ARISE Director of Online Operations and Project Management