Learning to Grow In Life’s Storms 2026

John 15:1-2

John 15:1–2 CSB

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

Introduction

Church, let me tell you, Storms don’t come to bury you—they come to build you!

Every storm in your life is a classroom, and every raindrop is a lesson.

God doesn’t send storms to destroy your dreams—He sends them to develop your destiny.

If you want to grow, you’ve got to get comfortable being uncomfortable!

Growth is not a gentle process; it’s a stretching, a pulling, a pruning.

If you’re feeling the pain, you’re in the right place—because pain is the birthplace of progress!

Context

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”

He didn’t say, “I’m the easy chair and my Father is the comforter.”

He said, “My Father is the gardener, and He prunes every branch that bears fruit.”

That means if you’re growing, you’re going to get cut!

If you’re fruitful, you’re going to feel the knife!

But don’t get it twisted—the cutting is not to kill you, it’s to cultivate you.

God prunes you not because He’s mad at you, but because He sees more in you!

Let me make it plain:

If you’re in a storm, it’s not because God has forgotten you—it’s because He’s focused on you!

He’s got His hands on you, shaping you, molding you, and making you into something greater.

Biblical Illustration: Mephibosheth’s Storm and Growth

Let’s talk about somebody who doesn’t get much spotlight—Mephibosheth.

Mephibosheth was the grandson of King Saul, the son of Jonathan.

When he was just a child, his world was rocked by a storm—his father and grandfather were killed in battle, and in the chaos, his nurse dropped him, leaving him crippled for life.

He lost his family,

he lost his home,

and he lost his ability to walk.

He was carried to a place called Lo-debar, a land of no pasture, a place of isolation and lack.

Mephibosheth’s storm was not just physical—it was emotional,

it was mental,

it was spiritual.

But hear me, church:

Even in Lo-debar, God was growing something in Mephibosheth.

He didn’t realize it, but the storm was preparing him for a seat at the king’s table.

When King David remembered his covenant with Jonathan, he sent for Mephibosheth—not to punish him, but to restore him!

He told him, “Don’t be afraid; you will always eat at my table.”

Mephibosheth went from being broken and forgotten to being honored and restored.

His pain became his platform.

His storm became his story.

He learned that growth hurts, but God’s grace heals.

He learned that the storm doesn’t have the final say—God does!

I need you to know three things today:

1. Growing Pains Are Real

If you want to grow, you’ve got to get ready for some pain!

Growth is not a spa day—it’s a surgery.

Ask any child with aching legs—growing hurts!

Ask Mephibosheth—sometimes storms will leave you limping, but limping doesn’t mean you’re losing.

God will stretch you, bend you, and sometimes break you to make you better.

You can’t get new wine in old wineskins, and you can’t get new growth with old habits.

Sometimes God will let you be uncomfortable so you can become unstoppable!

Don’t run from the pain—run to the promise!

Because every pain you feel is proof that God is still working on you.

2. Storms Remove What We’ve Outgrown

Some storms come to clear your path, not block your blessing.

God will use the wind to blow away what you don’t need.

He’ll use the rain to wash off what’s been holding you back.

He’ll use the thunder to wake you up to your purpose!

Just like a gardener prunes a tree, God will cut off relationships, habits, and mindsets that are stunting your growth.

It hurts to lose what you thought you needed, but God knows what you really need!

Don’t mourn what God has removed—celebrate what He’s making room for!

If it left your life, it wasn’t meant for your next level.

Let the storm do its work, because what’s left after the storm is what’s meant to last.

3. Trust the Process Even When You Can’t See Progress

Growth is not always visible, but it’s always valuable.

Roots grow deep in the dark, and fruit grows after the pruning.

You may not see the change, but God is working beneath the surface.

Don’t judge your future by your current frustration!

God is not finished with you—He’s just getting started.

When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.

When you can’t see the way, know that He is the way!

The process is painful, but the promise is powerful.

If you hold on through the storm, you’ll come out stronger, wiser, and more fruitful than you ever imagined.

Closing

As I get ready to take my seat, let me leave you with this:

Storms don’t last, but what God grows in you will last forever!

Don’t curse your storm—thank God for your growth!

You are not a victim of your circumstances—you are a victor in your calling!

You may be in the storm, but the storm is not in you.

You may be pruned, but you’re not punished.

You may be pressed, but you’re not crushed.

God is using every drop of rain, every clap of thunder, every gust of wind to make you more like Him.

“This is your season to grow—right in the middle of the storm!”

Because after the storm, you’ll see new fruit, new strength, and new purpose.

You’ll look back and say, “If it had not been for the storm, I wouldn’t be who I am today!”

So stand tall, stand strong, and let God grow you in the storm!