Me:  Who is your friend there?

Prodigal:  He is the GREATEST wrestler in the whole wide world.

Me:  Who says that?

Prodigal:  He tells me that all the time.

Me:  If he keeps pattin’ himself on the back, he’s goin’ to break his arm.

Prodigal:  Maybe we should just focus on Christ.

Me:  I agree!

 

This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.

Referring to the analogy at hand, either to prevent or to bring us out of spiritual backsliding, the Father continually prunes our branch.  The vinedresser sometimes cuts a branch vigorously in order to encourage fruitfulness.  This pruning means that God brings painful experiences into our lives to make us seek Him more earnestly.  And those who are already bearing fruit are pruned so they may bear even more fruit.  In times of suffering you often have nothing else to hold to other than this reality.  Through the pruning, you will come to a new awareness, as the prodigal son did, and seek greater communion with Christ.  He “grafts” us into Him so that we can draw life from Him.  This fellowship with Christ gives us the strength to persevere and grow, and to rejoice in the midst of our trials.

 

When life goes down that path that looks like a dead end.  Do we turn from our Father?  Or do we praise Him knowing that even with a path of suffering he can bring sunshine and a blessing.

 

Romans 8:28

And we know all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org