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Chris Beam

Oh Man, or Amen?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4


Am I responding with pure joy when I face struggles in my life? Am I thinking “Oh, man...” or

“Amen”? It’s difficult to be thankful, grateful, or joyful when we are in the middle of the storm;

and yet God uses difficulties to shape and mold us for His purposes.



It sounds good in theory – on paper – but in the middle of it all, I sometimes have a hard time

for my good, for His glory, or for His purposes. Sometimes, struggles feel like another hurdle, another stressor, one more blow that caught me off-guard… again.


This may be what a tree feels like – if trees could feel – when the gardener comes in to prune the branches. A stripping-away of everything we are trying to hold on to; a cutting-out of what, or who, we value most. Maybe it’s a struggling relationship, a dark depression, daily anxiety that suffocates and overwhelms, or physical ailments that overshadow the good. Pruning is a painful process, but it’s a process with great purpose.


Testing is how our faith is grown and proven. As we go through difficult times, how we respond determines whether challenges will be used to build us up or tear us down. Sometimes we retreat. It seems easier to back off, find other sources of comfort, or look for ways to feel good rather than grow. At other times, we may not welcome a loss or difficulty, but we embrace the situation and grab on to our source of hope and life.


Hebrews 5:8 tells us, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Even Jesus learned obedience through the difficult times. So often I want to take the shortcut. Instead of undergoing real-life trials and learning from them, I would rather take a class or listen to a podcast. But would I really learn what I need to? Seasons of pruning create growth. The vineyard that is not cultivated and pruned does not bloom.


In John 15, Jesus explains the process of pruning:


“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also 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. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such



branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” – John 15:1-8


There are three key lessons to be gleaned from this passage. God intervenes in our lives: (1) for

our good, (2) for His glory, and (3) to have an impact on those around us.



For Our Good.


Jesus tells us that branches which bear fruit are to be pruned so that these branches will give

even more fruit. Pruning isn’t punishment for what we are doing wrong. Instead, it’s part of the

process of shaping us and molding us to be more like Christ.


If we focus on pain or problems, emotions consume us. We lose sight of the purpose. We’re so focused on the problem that we take our eyes off the solution – Jesus. James 1 reminds me that “the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” In short, to get to the root of a problem, sometimes God has to dig deep; and it hits where we really hurt. Pride, selfishness, fear, and self-reliance have deep roots and produce no good; and fear is the opposite of trusting and abiding.


What are you dragging around that is weighing you down? It may be bad habits, unhealthy relationships, poor attitudes, self-defeating thoughts, sin, laziness, or avoidance. Even good pain is painful, but rest assured that the gardener doesn’t hack away at the branches because He is angry or spiteful. Like a skilled surgeon, the Lord strategically uses a scalpel to remove unhealthy tissue. In those painful moments, God is actually working to draw us closer to Him.



For His Glory.


Jesus tells us in John 15, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” God is glorified as we draw near to Him and rely on His strength through difficult times. In our weakness, He is strong. Verse 4 reminds us that “no branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” The fruit we produce is evidence of God’s work in us. Any goodness that we experience or do is all because of Him, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.


Yes, hard things happen in life – the consequences of our poor choices; the result of the choices of others; or the harsh reality that we live in a fallen, sinful, decaying world. But God uses tribulations for His purposes and for His glory. He brings beauty from ashes. The branches on the vine flourish and produce more fruit only because of the gardener’s pruning.



To Have an Impact on Others.


Did you know that how we respond to pain and suffering can be a testimony which points others to God?


2 Corinthians 1:3-4 exclaims, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” We are able to comfort those around us with the same comfort that we have received. We are able to speak truth and encouragement to others as we experience truth and encouragement in our own struggles. Having an impact on others doesn’t always mean we’ve endured our personal struggles perfectly, or even gracefully. It does mean we know where our strength and hope are rooted – in the confident trust of hope, which we can share with others.


 

If you or someone you know is struggling with feelings of anxiety, depression or hopelessness,

seek out a pastor or trained professional counselor. If you are facing a season of pruning, there are some steps you can take to help navigate the uncertainty of God’s process:



Abide in the Lord. Pruning and abiding go hand-in-hand. The way a branch thrives is by staying

connected to the vine, the source of life. Abiding is crucial for surviving – and thriving – in a pruning season. It’s how we experience God’s peace. So, spend time in His Word, and listen for His voice in the midst of your troubles.



Flip the script. How often do we say things like “I’m praying, but this is too much,” or “I know God can handle this, but this is a huge problem”? Let’s literally flip the script. Rather than answering your faith with fear, answer your fears with faith: “This feels like too much, but I’m praying,” or “This is a huge problem, but I know God can handle it.”



Be aware of negative thoughts. In the early 90s, psychiatrist Daniel G. Amen, MD, coined this term ANTs to describe “automatic negative thoughts.” Are we going to listen to what fear, anxiety, or depression tell us; or are we going to listen and believe God’s truth? Dr. Amen’s advice? Simply don’t invite ANTs to your picnic. They’ll eat up your fruit.



Instead of worrying, pray. Turn your worries into prayers. In The Message, Eugene Peterson interprets Philippians 4:6 as “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.” Each time a negative thought arises, rather than dwelling on the magnitude of it, shape your worries into a prayer.



Don’t listen to the “what ifs.” When we go through difficult times, we tend to fill in the blanks based on our hurt, fears, doubts, or worries. Rather than dwelling on the “what ifs,” shift the dialogue. Embrace the positive outcomes of the “because ofs.”



Connect with others. You are not the only branch connected to the Vine! Be open and honest

with others who are safe. Let others comfort you, just as you comfort them. Humans weren’t

designed to go through difficult times alone

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