[Jesus said] “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 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 15:1-2 (NLT)

As Christians still in this earthly life, we all need work. God the Father watches over our growth, and sees the fruit we bear. Then He prunes us to make us even more fruitful. This pruning may be uncomfortable, or even painful, but it is necessary (and done for a good purpose). We can endure the pruning by drawing strength from Jesus, the vine, and by remembering that the alternative to pruning is being cut off entirely.