DAY 1 — When God Cuts Back, He Is Not Pulling Away

“Every branch in Me that produces fruit He prunes, so that it will produce more fruit.”

— John 15:2 (CSB)

When something is removed from our lives, our first instinct is often fear. We assume distance. We assume disappointment. We assume God must be displeased or pulling away. But Jesus tells us something very different.

Pruning does not happen from a distance. A gardener must move closer to the branch in order to prune it. He examines it carefully. He touches it. He cuts with precision, not anger. The very act of pruning requires proximity.

If God is cutting something back in your life right now—a season, a relationship, a role, a dream—it is not because He has stepped away. It is because He has leaned in.

Pruning is not abandonment.

It is attention.

God sees what is growing, what is draining, and what is limiting the life He is producing in you. And because He loves you, He refuses to leave things untouched that would eventually weaken your fruit.

If you are in a season of loss or change, let this truth settle your heart: you are not being pushed away. You are being carefully tended.

Prayer

Father, help me trust Your nearness when things are being removed. Quiet my fear and anchor me in Your care.

Remain Practice

When fear rises today, say aloud:

“God is close. God is careful. God is good.”