Crossroad Christian Church

Pain, Pruning, and the Process of Peace

Many times, in relationships, there’s adversity that comes through a relationship—what I call friction—designed to prove the validity of what we say we have.

“I do” usually is easier than “I WILL.”

You don’t consummate the wedding on the honeymoon. The act of consummation is so fun, most people do it outside of vows. But the vows are actually consummated in front of God. If you think about the four general stages of relationship, it usually goes like this:

Ecstasy (where you been all my life), then reality (feet stink), then confrontation (never heard this side of you, I’m kinda scared, and I have a point of view on it too!), and then a 4^th stage, reconciliation.

We get angry in significant relationships, whether it’s with a person we serve in leadership, a spouse, even God, but at some point we come to a place of peaceful resolve (Not my will, but YOUR will Lord).

So what do you do while you’re waiting for the resolve? I gotta believe that Jesus knew I could withstand the pain that comes before the reconciliation. In fact, I believe it’s a required part of the process. Let me explain.

Second Corinthians says He wouldn’t give me a temptation I couldn’t escape. God is faithful, plain and simple, and until we see the manifestation of His promises in our life, we as Christians need to mature, cause God’s not Santa.

“But Pastor, what God has me going through is different than what you’ve had to endure, what my parents, others had to…that’s not fair!” Wake-up call: The Bible doesn’t say He’s a fair God, it says He’s a just God. In a covenant contract, BOTH parties are held to certain standards and responsibilities. Within that contract, there’s an understanding that both will perform to best of ability what’s required in the contract.

God says that about His relationship with us. He says, in essence, “I’m not just a good-time Charlie.” Just like a tree that brings the biggest harvest ever, the master gardener still prunes it! Why? So it can feel the pain of the cutting? No. It’s pruned so it can be sure to produce more fruit!

There’s an old saying, “You live and learn.” One of the purposes of living is to learn! Paul said He learned to be content in any season. Jesus learned obedience in every stage and season. Why live if not learning? TO me, it’s like getting the water without the wet. While no one welcomes the friction associated with dear relationships, Jesus said “let me just focus on the joy, ‘cause if I can’t find the joy on the other side, what I have to endure will wear me down.” So He did (to the cross) and set an example for us.

What are you enduring? If you’re being pruned, count it joy. Bigger blooms and bigger life are destined to break out on the other side.