“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
John 15:2 (NLT)
When I first read this verse, it can sound frightening. Cut off. Taken away. Burned. But Jesus is not contradicting Himself. He already told us plainly that everyone who believes in Him is secure—that He will never cast us out. So John 15 is not about losing salvation; it’s about losing fellowship.
Some translations help us see this more clearly. The picture isn’t always a branch thrown away forever, but a branch lying in the dirt—unfruitful, disconnected, ineffective. And the Gardener lifts it up. He restores its position so life can flow again. Being connected to Jesus is not only about eternal life someday; it’s about real life right now.
When we stop abiding, we dry out. We lose nourishment. We still belong to the tree, but we miss the joy, confidence, and power that come from remaining in Christ. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
And when we are bearing fruit, God is still at work. There is pruning—but not to harm us. Pruning is care, not rejection. It is evidence that the Gardener is invested, attentive, and committed to our growth.
So don’t fear the Gardener’s hands. If you’re struggling, He may be lifting you. If you’re growing, He may be tending you. Either way, He hasn’t left you. He’s working for your good.