John 15 is a tough passage to read. We’ve all prayed prayers along the lines of ‘God make it all better’ and ‘Lord take away the struggle and pain’. Unfortunately, God may be ultimately responsible for the catch-phrase No Pain, No Gain.

Pruning is hard. Pruning is painful. Pruning tends to go against our natural instincts.

Through the pain of pruning, Jesus wants us to hold firm and remain in Him. When things get too challenging, our tendency might be to give up or move elsewhere and we don’t see the blessing that comes through remaining and enduring.

When I was 23 I went through a short and sharp season of immense pruning. I had an engagement called off a few weeks before the wedding and a contractual dispute which led to a fall out with one of my closest friends and the loss of one of my main income streams at the time. It wasn’t a fun time and it felt as if the rug had been pulled from beneath my feet… the future I had planned was shattered.

Just one word from God can, however, change everything.

John was a youth minister at a church in Sheffield. He felt that the Lord wanted to speak to me through this time and he committed to meet up with me for coffee each month. He prayed for me and encouraged me in the things he felt God put on his heart. He opened John 15 and talked me through the season I was in and shared some very specific prophetic words which has since come to pass. I am so grateful for John, he brought timely words from God to help me heal, to help me grow, and to help me stay connected to Jesus.

I hope this song will encourage you to hold firm through the challenges of life. Fruitfulness awaits on the other side of the storms you’re weathering.

Andy Baker - Chief Enthusiast, Homegrown Worship