Trimming

I was doing research on trimming fruit trees and came across a few interesting points from one expert orchardist. He said that there are actually two heights to a fruit tree, there’s the actual height of the tree, but then there’s the more important height of the tree. This is  what he called the effective height of the tree. The effective height of the tree is where most if not all of the fruit is produced. So while trimming he would cut back the actual height to a few feet above the effective height. Another important factor is that there is enough sunlight penetrating to the core of the tree to keep this fruit wood lively and productive. It is also important to create good spacing horizontally around the tree between the upright branches that allows sunlight to fall into the center core of the tree. Sometimes this trimming may even look like reverse engineering. He may even choose to leave what may appear to be a weaker branch, while trimming back a stronger one. A tree wants to live and the stronger branches are often more focused on the life of the tree and not bearing fruit. Yes the tree has to survive to produce fruit, but the weaker branches want the tree to survive too, but they are also concerned with fruit bearing. So, sometimes a weaker branch equals a more fruitful branch. A weaker branch will also mean that it stays in bounds. By doing this you can prevent it from growing off at a pace that would be counter productive for the tree to bear fruit. He called this cutting to weakness. 

This is where I want to focus. Those words stuck out to me, cutting to weakness. I thought of Gideon’s army that was cut from 32,000 men to 300 men. I would say that his army was cut to weakness. Yet, God performed the miraculous with this, defeating the opposing army of 135,000. 

You see sometimes God will begin to trim our lives. Each trimming experience may be different throughout the different seasons of our lives. And each of us individually may experience different types of trimmings. God may even cut what we consider to be strength from our lives, leaving us in a state of weakness. Remember though that He will never leave us or forsake us. He loves us and what He does for our good. For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 KJV) . The end goal is the same. That we may produce fruit and that God may get the glory.  

So if you’ve been feeling the sharp cutting of the pruning tools, know that God is working for your good. This will not destroy you, but make you stronger and produce more in your life.

2 Corinthians 12:10 WEB Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, and in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.