Latest Devotion
Trust the Gardener
By: Wendy Sanders
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
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. John 15:1-2
I must admit, I had some tough moments in 2025. Moments of questioning God about my situation, and moments of crying and praising God for the amazing things He did. But the hardest moments aren’t always the visible ones. Sometimes, they're the ones God is working in us, the ones on the inside.
Scripture calls God our gardener, and it says He is always at work in our lives. God is our gardener because He is pruning and shaping us so we can live the rich, abundant life He desires. When God prunes us, He is removing anything unnecessary to make us more fruitful. The fruit on a plant isn’t for itself; it's designed for others. But fruit contains the most precious thing the plant has, it's seeds. A plant's seeds are precious because their purpose is reproduction. After the fruit is eaten, the seeds are deposited in places the plant can't go, and the plant's reproductive cycle continues.
We aren't plants, but God has a similar plan for us. He wants us to bear much fruit so others will have access to His seed, the gospel of Jesus Christ. As they mature, they will bear fruit too, and they will share it with others. But here’s the catch... The only way to bear much fruit is to allow the Gardener (God) to prune us. To be healthy (spiritually) we must remain connected to Him, and we must abide in Him. Trust the gardener! Pruning can be uncomfortable, but He will only cut away what is unnecessary!
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10
Do you trust your heavenly gardener? As 2026 begins, I am praying for many things. But the hardest one is asking the Lord to continue pruning me. God doesn't prune us to make us attractive; He prunes us so we can bear much fruit for others. Christ follower, will you join me as I pray this prayer to our Heavenly Father?
Lord, we give this year to you. Remove anything in me that isn't bearing spiritual fruit. Prune me so that I will be more fruitful for You. Lord, help me abide in You so I can bear your fruit for others.