Cultivated: Pruned but not forsaken

What if the point isn't that we're not doing enough, but maybe we're doing too much? Explore biblical encouragement and practical insights for Christian women in leadership, helping you grow spiritually, embrace your calling, and walk confidently in your faith journey.

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Welcome back to Women Under Construction. I'm your host, Katie Wood, Bible teacher, writer, podcaster, and the girl you'd want to grab a coffee with. If you're looking to build kingdom confidence and step fully into what God has called you to be, you are in the right place. So grab your Bible, get ready to mark up those margins, pull out your journal, pour a good cup of coffee, and let's get started. Hi, friend, welcome back. I'm really so glad that you are here today because today we are stepping into something that if I'm being honest, most of us would rather avoid. You're like, Katie, you're coming into the second episode of this series with something we want to avoid. Yeah. We are talking about pruning, not planting or growing or building something new, but removing. We are cutting things back, pulling things up, letting things go. And I know even just hearing that idea can feel a little heavy. Because if you're like me, pruning doesn't exactly feel exciting or productive or progress. Sometimes it feels like a loss. But what if pruning isn't actually a setback? What if it's the beginning of real growth? I think one of the reasons that we can struggle with this idea of pruning is because we naturally associate the idea of growth with addition. We think like if I just add one more discipline, if I add more time with God, if I try harder, then I'll grow. But the thing that I've learned is that the kingdom of God doesn't work like that. See, sometimes growth in the kingdom doesn't come from adding more, it comes from removing what's already in the way. And that is uncomfortable because it forces us to confront something deeper, that not everything in our lives belongs there. And even more than that, not everything that's growing in our lives is healthy. Ugh, I'm already icking myself out. And I think we know that, but we don't always want to deal with it. So when we moved into our home, our first home, I was on this like journey to become a gardener. And the thing was that while I was a woman on a mission, I didn't have clear ideas of what was a weed and what was a plant. And you're like, oh my gosh, Katie, come on. It's it's pretty easy. Actually, it's not. Because weeds, some weeds are really pretty. Um, and I think too, like, we don't have to try to grow weeds. Um, so like if you've ever tried to garden, you know that like weeds just show up. They show up quietly, they show up super quickly and relentlessly. And at first you're like, oh, it's not a big deal because they're kind of small, they're easy to ignore, you can justify it. And you're like, oh, it's just like one dandelion, it's just one little sprig of ivy, it's just a little patch of clover. But here's the thing: over time they spread. And when they spread, they take up space and nutrients and they begin to choke out what's actually good. And here's the part where it gets real for us spiritually. That's the same. See, sin it doesn't enter into our lives loudly, it's gonna creep in subtly. There's a thought that you don't challenge, a belief you don't examine, a habit you don't address. And before you know it, it's taken root. And I want to just like clarify that not everything that harms you, it's gonna look harmful at first, right? I said that I struggled with trying to understand weeds that looked beautiful, but were still weeds. See, things that harm you, they're not always gonna look like big flashing warning danger signs. Some things are gonna look good. Some things are gonna look disciplined and admirable, and sometimes it's gonna even look wise. But when something begins to control you and shape your identity and take up more space than it should, it stops being life-giving. See, I believe that even good things can become destructive things when they're no longer in their proper place. So, what does God actually say about pruning? And I want to like caveat this. We tend to interpret pruning as punishment. The idea that God is taking something away because I did something wrong. And that is a broken world, a fallen world identity. I want us to turn that off for right now because I want us to root in what scripture says about pruning. In John 15, Jesus says that the Father prunes the branches that are already bearing fruit. What's that saying, Ken? Already bearing fruit. Pruning, it's not a sign that you're failing, it's a sign that something in you is already alive. See, God, He doesn't prune dead things, He prunes living things so that they can grow more. Which means that when something is being removed from our lives, the better question isn't why is God taking this away from me? The better question is, what is God making room for? And then in Hebrews 12, he takes it even deeper. Scripture says that God disciplines us for our good so that we can share in his holiness. It also says that it's painful, it's not easy, it's not pleasant, but painful. But if we endure, it produces something. A harvest of righteousness and peace, a harvest. That means that pruning always leads somewhere because it's not random or or careless, it's intentional. But let's be real, right? Even when we understand that pruning is good, it can still feel like a loss. It can feel like something you wanted is being taken, something familiar is being removed, something you depended on is no longer there. And that can feel disorienting, uncomfortable, even painful. I think that this is where Isaiah 43 is so grounding. This is a passage of scripture that got me through a really hard season of life. So I want to read it over you right now. Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Sheba in exchange for you. See, there's this idea that God says, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Because you're not alone in it. You're known and you're seen and you're held. And so there's this reminder that God is not careless with his pruning. He's not out here like Edward scissor hands. He's intentional and kind and he knows exactly what he is doing. So, how do we take this idea of pruning and practically apply it? Because we love to be more than just theoretical gals here. We love to be women who apply what the Lord is revealing to us. And I think it starts with asking better questions. Right? You're like, oh, thanks, Katie. Instead of asking, what should I add? Ask what needs to be removed. What is taking up space that doesn't belong? What is shaping you more than God's word? What is controlling you even subtly? I said it earlier in the podcast. Asking better questions is not asking why is God taking this away from me? It's asking what is he making room for? We can ask those questions. And I'm hopeful that you did when you did the cultivated soul quarterly check-in framework. This was step three. What needs to be uprooted before planting anything new? We make space. So we asked the questions what do I need to say no to in this season? What habits are draining me spiritually? What distractions are keeping me from a deeper connection with God? And then I went one step further and I asked you to list three, one to three things that you will intentionally remove or reduce this quarter. See, it's not about ripping out everything overnight. Because if we're being honest, there are probably more than three things that I could remove from my life that distract me from having a deeper connection with the Lord. And that's that's me being honest. But we're not being extreme and reactionary in our change. We are trying to develop intentional spirit-led pruning. See, we're opening ourselves to allowing God to show us what needs to go, what needs to be cut back, what is taking up too much space, and trusting Him in the process. So if you're listening to this and you have not done the cultivated soul quarterly soul check-in, there's still time. You can find the link in my show notes. This is a rhythm that I created for myself to assess, align, and intentionally grow in my spiritual life. Because I know that healthy growth, it doesn't happen by accident. It takes intention, attention, and a willingness to pause, assess, and adjust. And I also know that when it comes to our spiritual lives, we can sometimes skip that step. So the quarterly check-in framework will walk you through a process where you will honestly assess the current state of your soul. You will anchor yourself in what scripture says about spiritual growth. We're gonna go through that step we talked about today, gently uprooting what is crowding out our relationships with God, intentionally identifying seeds to plant that align with this season of life, and establish simple, sustainable rhythms that help us to stay rooted in Christ. I said it last week, and I'll say it again. Community is so important, y'all. When we live these things out, we are not intended to live out in isolation. Formation is intended to be done in community. And that's why I created the founding circle. This is a community of women who are intentionally growing together. They want to do it with others and they want to be more than just consumers. They want to be doers of the things that they are learning. So if you are sitting there thinking, Katie, this sounds great, but I don't want to grow alone, friend. I have community for you. Go ahead and click the link in my show notes for the founding circle. You can still get 20% off your first year. All right, friends, as we get ready to close, I want to leave you with this. Pruning is not this idea of God taking something from you, it is God making room for something better. So don't resist it, don't rush past it, lean into it. Because the life you're longing for, it often begins with letting something go. Friend, thank you so much for being here today. If this episode spoke to you, be sure to follow or subscribe so you don't miss what's next. And if you'd leave a quick review, that would mean so much to me. You can go deeper into today's conversation over on the Women Under Construction Substack. You can find the link for this in your show notes. And I can't wait to see you back here next week.