We sat together on the couch, her head buried into my shoulder as she wept for the things, the people that she was missing. And my heart ached for my daughter as she tried to figure out how to navigate her current season. Change is hard. Being brave and willing to give new things a go and walk down yet unknown paths can be overwhelming. As winter has given way to spring in our part of the world, something deep within us rejoices and celebrates the signs of new life. We have ached for something to come and replace the barreness. But new beginnings aren't always looked for or even necessarily wanted; they aren't solely the territory of the dead and barren places. Sometimes, God asks us to allow Him to prune the fruitful things - the things that are in full bloom - in our lives so that we can be even more fruitful (John 15:2). Over the last two years, God has been bringing restoration and life to areas in my heart and story that I have longed for Him to, but He's simultaneously been asking me to let Him bring about new beginnings - to be pruned - in places where I wasn't looking for change. He has asked me to resign my position and my ministry credentials He has called us out of the Church we helped plant to start over after some 18 years of community He has led us to homeschool when I never even wanted to be a stay at home mum (He sure has a sense of humour!) And each of these changes has asked a question of me - do I really trust Him in the place of exchange? In the place where I don't yet know what my hands will hold and all I can see is what I'm letting go of? Pruning seasons can be a unique type of change because we don't always know exactly what it is that God is making room for in our lives. We often only see the gaping whole left that was once fruitful and flourishing. Pruning inevitably ushers us into an in-between time - a time of uncertainty and waiting - just like in the natural, it takes time for the new growth to become visible. In my own life, the place of exchange has tested whether I really believe that He is who He says He is. Whether I trust His heart towards me and the plans that He has for me. The place of exchange has revealed whether the Scriptures I quote are merely platitudes and bumper stickers or the foundation of truth that I've built my life upon because the place of exchange requires us to live with a deep assurance of His goodness and His love for us. Jesus makes the Father's heart in pruning us abundantly clear - it is not to diminish us in any way but to increase us. To make us more fruitful. Pruning is not about judgment but preparation. And while it can be easy to entertain the voice of condemnation when we feel like we're being cut back, Jesus offers us this assurance: You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 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. Jesus is telling us, You are mine, I have washed you. Don't let the enemy tell you that you don't belong, that you're not valuable because you're being stripped back. Don't isolate yourself from Me; don't try and make things happen in your own strength, Trust that my heart is to cause you to flourish and be fruitful. Come, tarry a moment with Me. Apart from Me you can do nothing, but with Me, you can trust that greater fruitfulness is coming. The word for 'remain' or 'abide' meant to remain, abide; to sojourn or tarry; to continue to be present; to be held, kept continually. It paints a picture for us of lingering in and savouring the presence of God with us. For me personally, I've found this 'abiding' to be both the challenge and the invitation of the place of exchange. My grief, my disappointment, my frustrations and impatience, the uncertainty can either build a wall between me and God or they can become a bridge to greater dependency, greater trust in His wisdom and goodness and in His time, greater fruitfulness. If I want them to be a bridge, I must settle the question of trust. Will I trust His heart to lead me and yes, even to prune me? I've decided yes. What about you?
10 Comments
Lorraine Goulton
9/14/2017 06:41:33 pm
Hi Aimee are these comments put on FB or only for your eyes? Kind regards Lorraine
Reply
On Becoming Esther
9/14/2017 07:03:27 pm
Hi Lorraine - comments are public but you are welcome to email me on aimee@onbecomingesther.com or send me a private message via Facebook messenger. Blessings x
Reply
Lorraine Goulton
9/14/2017 07:08:07 pm
Thanks I will do the latter.
helen@helengwyn.com
9/28/2017 07:45:54 pm
so what i needed to hear today!!
Reply
On Becoming Esther
2/9/2018 09:21:01 am
Thank you Lisa - yes, SO hard but He is SO good and faithful to make it worth it. Thanks for stopping by x
Reply
2/8/2018 02:19:35 pm
Love the verse mentioned!!! I am clean because of the words He's spoken over me!!
Reply
On Becoming Esther
2/9/2018 09:21:29 am
Amen!
Reply
2/8/2018 04:26:03 pm
I really appreciate these encouraging words tonight! Thank you for this beautiful, authentic reminder of exchange. I hadn't considered change in that way before
Reply
On Becoming Esther
2/9/2018 09:22:21 am
You are so welcome Christa. Blessings and grace as you keep trusting in your own places of exchange x
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
One of my favourite pass-times as a kid was writing. I used to make my own books and write poetry on our old type-writer. Thankfully both my writing and technology have come a long way!
It is my prayer that these posts from the blogging team encourage you to embrace the season that you are in and to live it with purpose for God's glory. If you want to get blog posts direct to your inbox pop here. Categories
All
Archives
March 2018
|