Uneven Distribution

Alita N. Baggett
Nov 23, 2015
4 min read

John 15:1-8 English Standard Version

“I am the true vine, and my Father is sthe vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples."

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Philippians 1:6

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

I have a drying rack located in my laundry room. I use it mainly for those clothes that I do not wish to put in the dryer, for fear that those articles of clothing would be damaged or shrunk. One day, I had already placed some articles of clothing on the rack and continued to follow the same process of putting clothes on the rack, when the next load was complete. As I was putting new clothes on the rack, the rack fell over with a loud thud. It wasn’t broken, it was just unevenly distributed. I picked up the rack, thankful that it wasn’t broken and proceeded to space out the clothes properly so that this would not happen again.

As soon as the drying rack fell over, I began to question myself then God. I asked myself, “I thought I had done this right?” then I asked God, “Okay God, surely there is a lesson in this. What is it?”

Later on in the week, something happened. Someone had said and done something to me that I did not particularly like. While I knew that it was done innocently, it still hurt. I went to God with it. I asked him, “Why does it still bother me even though I know that this persons actions were not meant to harm me?” He began to show me that I was dealing with fear of rejection. You see, God is the ultimate psychologist and he is free of charge! So I began to ask more questions and what it came down to was this: yes, I had turned that area of my life over to him at one time, but did I turn it over to him EVERY time?

I share this story to ask you this question: what areas in your life is there uneven distribution?

Where are the areas that you will not allow God to have complete control, those areas where he desires to prune and take you through the refiners’ fire? Is it in the area of anger? How you react when someone offends you? When friends walk away because they don’t understand you at the moment? Is it how you react when your spouse or significant other tells you something that you’d prefer not to hear?

I challenge you to review John 15:1-8. In this passage, Jesus reminds us, warns us four times that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, we will not bear the fruit that is most pleasing to Him. We will not be successful in those areas if we do not yield all to Him.

You may be thinking: “Well, that’s good and all, but you don’t understand. I’ve been hurt here, and this person said that, and they did those things to me, and this is why I act or react the way I do.”

Here is my response to you: Yes, it hurt. No, I don’t blame you, I’d be upset too if that happened to me. But, if you would allow God to take that hurt, that insecurity, that feeling of insignificance, He can show you how to turn that into strength, wisdom and be used to help someone else that is struggling in that very thing to get through. Is this an easy thing to do? No. But, I can tell you that the best place to start is asking God to first to help you in that area of your life and then asking for an increase in faith on the matter so that He can began a new thing on the inside.

2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that in the areas where we are lacking, God’s power is made evident and is able to operate in a mighty way. And Paul reminds us that “He that has begun a good work in you shall carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

Today, I challenge you to be honest with yourself and with God in the areas of your life that you are hesitant to turn over to Him.

Where are you unevenly distributed?