To be honest, this piece was a struggle for me to get done.
 
  Every morning I hesitated to put another layer of paint on and I didn't know why I was feeling this way! Procrastination set in, the feeling of exhaustion fell into place, and just wanting to stop working on it.. but I pushed myself and kept going, and Im so glad I did.
  After I put another layer of paint on, I sat on the floor to wait for it to dry and studied its image. I knew the vision that I wanted to create, so why was it so hard for me to get it done? After a while, I asked the Holy Spirit "Why do I feel so hesitant on painting this piece?" Listening for words, but instead, I got a rushing feeling of understanding instead.
  I felt Him teaching me that just like how I was so hesitant to put another layer on, thats what I was doing in my pruning season with Him. I was so scared for the Lord to prune my life because I didnt want to lose or ruin what I already had. I didnt want to lose anything else after losing 2 babies, so I was clinging to anything that felt easy and comfortable to avoid pain. With my future, with my marriage, with my relationships, with my church... everything.
 
Tears streamed down my face.
 
  Then I felt Him say "Every time you put a layer on, it looks better after doesnt it? Even though youre scared of ruining the peace, even though theres fear in cutting off those branches in your life, I promise you that it will look better in the end."
 
  John 15 says : "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." It goes on to say "No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine."
 
  We cannot bear healthy fruit unless we stay connected to Jesus. Pruning the fruit in your life sometimes doesnt feel good. It costs things. It hurts. There will be struggles. Trusting Him when He takes away something is hard, but just like He promised me, It always looks better in the end. He will make it flourish if we give Him control. So If you are in a pruning season, be encouraged. That means He's working for your good!
 
Trust Him in your pruning season.