Monday Memo 1234: The Funnel Effect
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
— John 15:5
Jesus taught that fruitfulness is not accidental—it's intentional, cultivated, and often an uncomfortable process. In John 15, He explained that God prunes fruitful branches so they can bear even more fruit. Pruning isn't punishment; it's preparation. It's God’s way of narrowing our focus so our lives can produce lasting impact.
I believe there are seasons when God does less adding and more subtracting. When that happens, it can feel like loss, confusion, or even regression. Yet often, it's the clearest sign that God is refining purpose, not removing it. When activities lose their meaning, enthusiasm fades, or doors quietly close, it may not be failure—it may be pruning.
Years ago, I recognized this process unfolding in my own life. Over a relatively short period, I stepped away from several activities I had done faithfully for years—international trips, regular broadcasts, teaching roles, and ongoing content creation. None of these things were bad. They had all been fruitful. But they were no longer aligned with where God was taking me next. I wasn’t retiring or pulling back; I was being pruned.
That experience helped me articulate what I call the funnel effect of purpose.
A funnel is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. When you begin your purpose journey, the top of the funnel is wide—many options, interests, and opportunities are available to you. But as you move forward, God begins to narrow your activity. Things that once energized you may lose their appeal. You start evaluating opportunities differently. There simply isn’t room to do everything you once did, and you have to make difficult choices.
This narrowing can feel restrictive, even threatening. Some people fear that if their lives become more focused, they will become less meaningful. In reality, the opposite is true. The narrow end of the funnel is the point of greatest effectiveness. That is where you discover what only you can do. While it may seem limiting, that focus allows God to send you anywhere in the world that needs who you are and what you bring.
The funnel exists for the narrow point. Without it, the wide top has no purpose.
In my own case, pruning didn't reduce my fruitfulness—it multiplied it. By letting go of good things, I was able to complete more writing projects, help others fulfill their creative callings, expand my leadership teaching, and focus on the work God had uniquely assigned me. Instead of trying to change a lot of the world with a little, I opted to impact a little of the world with as much as I could give. God narrowed my activity so He could deepen my impact.
This raises an important question: What are you holding on to that no longer fits where God is taking you? Sometimes fear—especially fear of loss or lack—keeps us attached to activities that have already served their purpose. Yet pruning always precedes greater fruitfulness. Jesus promised that those who remain connected to Him will bear much fruit. That fruit often comes not from doing more, but from doing less—with greater clarity, obedience, and trust.
Reflection Questions
- What activities or commitments in your life may be losing their sense of purpose or energy?
- How do you typically respond when God begins to narrow your focus?
- What might greater fruitfulness look like if you embraced pruning instead of resisting it?
Prayer
Lord, help me trust You in seasons of pruning. Give me the courage to release what no longer fits and the faith to follow You into greater focus and fruitfulness. I want to remain connected to You and bear the fruit You desire for my life. Amen.
Application
This week as we approach the end of the year, review your commitments and responsibilities. Ask God to show you one activity, role, or expectation that may need to be released or re-evaluated. Don’t rush the process—listen carefully. Pruning is not loss; it is alignment. Let God guide you toward your point of greatest effectiveness.