Special attention

In the 13th chapter of Luke, Jesus tells this story:

A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed

I'm assuming that this is referring to God and that He is looking to see if there is fruit in our lives.     He comes again and again to see.  

Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig!  Cut it down.  It's just taking up space in the garden.'

When God looks at my life, is he disappointed?  Am I just 'taking up space' or am I bearing fruit?

The gardener answered, 'Sir, give it one more chance.  Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  If we get (fruit) next year, fine.  If not, then you can cut it down.' (vv. 6-9)

I am picturing a scene where God is fed up with those who are 'taking up space' and Jesus is interceding on their behalf.  Give (them) one more chance.  The gardener promises to give the tree special attention and plenty of fertilizer.  Fertilizer is defined as 'a substance added to increase productivity and growth.'  I am assuming that represents the Word of God.  But what does special attention mean?

I remember when Anna was sick and Richard thought God was giving us too much attention.  He begged God to leave us alone--to stop working on us--to give us a break.  He echoed the words of Job,

What is man that you make so much of him,  that you give him so much attention,  that you examine him every morning and test him every moment?  Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? (Job 7:17-19) 

What if 'special attention' involves difficult circumstances.  What if suffering is what makes us better/more useful/deeper/compassionate/wiser?  I can list hundreds of examples of people who have born fruit as a direct result of their suffering.  In my own life, losing a child was the worst thing I could imagine, but even that produced fruit.

No (hardship) discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11) 

The harvest/fruit is righteousness and peace which is produced by suffering.  I would never choose to suffer.  If you gave me a choice to have Anna or to have righteousness and peace I would choose Anna.  I'm human.  I don't like suffering.  But Jesus said that in this world we would have trials and tribulations.  It's part of life.  It can destroy us or it can be what transforms us from a tree that is taking up space to one that bears fruit.
  
Perhaps you are going through a difficult season in your life.  What if you are receiving 'special attention' from the gardener?  It doesn't feel special.  It's painful.  But just because something is painful doesn't mean that it's bad for us.
What if suffering keeps us from just taking up space?
What if suffering is what makes us fruitful?

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we have faith to believe

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
(Blessing, by Laura Story)