Dormant or Dead

An essential part of our life with God in recovery is recognizing what is harmful and decaying and what is healthy and returning to life after a time of dormancy. 

I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.  (John 15:5-6, 8 NLT)

In early spring lots of branches on trees and bushes look quite dead.  However, given time and proper pruning, those trees and bushes will soon have green leaves, buds, and some will have delicious fruit.  Row after row, of what now seem like dead bushes, will be filled with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, and then sold at farmers’ markets and stores. They are then brought to our tables for us to enjoy eating. 

God wants our lives to be filled with fruitfulness.  He has created us with life-giving abilities and talents but knows that we need to balance our seasons of action with periods of recreation and reflection.

It takes the seasoned eye of a gardener to know what’s dead and what is still alive and healthy and resting until the right time to grow and flourish and bear fruit.  In our new lives with God in recovery, it takes God’s wisdom to identify which thoughts, behaviours, and relationships are harmful and need to be let go.  Also to be identified are those which are life-giving and will need to be protected and nourished for the new season ahead.

This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.  (Colossians 1:6 NLT)

As we turn our will and our life over to the care of God, He can be trusted to give us a joyful and fruitful life as we navigate through the seasons of recovery.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for sorting out dormant branches in my life from dead ones. I desire to feed on Your Word so I can be everything You created me to be.  Amen