“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
-John 15:2
There is a saying in Judaism, “may it be for an atonement” I like this saying because it puts a different perspective on encountering life’s hardships. Messiah’s words here in John also serve to shift change the way we can look at suffering. We do not need to be crushed by our struggles in life. We may be, but with the right mindset and some grace, we can emerge from our trials better and stronger for it. The dead weight is cut off yielding a better crop.
MJ Muñoz 