Be Like the Tomatoes Not the Snap Peas

For the first time ever I’m growing tomatoes. Or at least I’m trying to grow tomatoes. Earlier this year I convinced my husband to let me invest in an elevated planter. I had to convince him because my track record with plants is not that great, especially for the plants. It really wasn't that hard to convince him, he's a supportive guy. So I decided to grow two of my favorite things: snap peas and tomatoes. 

Both started off as seeds. Both began their life in small pots in my windowsill. And when the timing was right, both ended up in the same soil with the same organic feed. I purchased a trellis for the snap peas so they could grow properly. 

Then I waited. The snap peas took off! They began reaching for the next bar on the trellis and even began budding. But then just as quick as they had sprouted, they began turning brown and withered away. Yes, I was watering them as needed, not too much, not too little. The amount of sunshine they were getting was, as Goldilocks would put it, “Just right!” 

But they didn’t make it.

Oh how Linda would be disappointed for me. Linda was a gal we met when we lived in another state. She would bring her fresh from the garden produce to church and hand it out for free. She grew the biggest, sweetest, snappiest snap peas I have ever tasted! They were amazing. I want to be like Linda one day. But apparently I have some learning to do first! 

When standing over the wilted vines and mourning my loss, I noticed a handful of small spider webs growing. After a quick internet search I learned that spiders are snap peas’ enemy. I made a mental note to try again next year and make sure I protect them from those annoying arachnids.

In the meantime, my tomato plants had already gone kaput. At least, that’s what I thought. The small little seedlings had sprouted and then disappeared. I assumed the transfer from the pots to the planter was more than they could handle. About two weeks later when I was hanging up my garden gloves for the year I was surprised when I looked over and saw two more green shoots sprouting up through the soil. 

The tomatoes had been resurrected! I am still not sure how this was even possible, but they were alive nevertheless! 

I did some more research on what they would need to survive. I was not going to let them meet the same demise as the snap peas. I quickly ordered some tomato cages and canopies, which took a little bit of finagling to put together. But now my tomatoes are properly protected, growing and even budding! 

I have no idea how much they will produce. But I do know that bugs and birds won’t be their downfall. Not this year! 

During this whole process I found myself chuckling at the image these two little plants gave me to represent spiritual growth. Some of God’s children sprout up right away and appear to be doing all the right things to meet their potential. They reach for the trellis, they aim for the next level up, and then poof! They wilt and die away. 

Spiritually, not literally. 

So many new believers seek after all the right things, but without the right protection the enemy disguises himself like a tiny spider and destroys them before they can even bear fruit. 

Then there are those who are like my tomatoes. By all appearances there is not much growth taking place on the outside. But their roots are reaching down and the foundation is strong. Even though they suffer a shock and appear to wilt away, they are working internally.  They reach down and push back up toward the Son. Then with the right protection in place they keep growing. And hopefully one day they bear fruit, the kind that leads others to the Lord and strengthens His Kingdom. 

Both believers start off in the same soil. They attend church, they sing the songs, they recite the prayers, they listen to the sermons. They listen to podcasts and they even read the blogs. Both face the same initial struggles. The world entices them to sin. Their non-believing friends convince them the worldly ways are more enjoyable. Their bodies convince them to sleep in one Sunday, then the next, then the next. 

Both face the same temptation. One is not quite protected enough and withers away. The other seems to weaken at first, but ends up more resilient and resists the things sent to destroy it. Then it surrounds itself with the right kind of protection so it can continue to grow and thrive. 

And what is the protection that we believers need? Well, there’s not just one answer. A tomato needs a cage and a canopy. Snap peas need a trellis (ok, and apparently a canopy too!). As people, our needs vary and it depends on the season of life we are in. 

Ultimately, we need a healthy variety of the following: mature Christian community, Bible study, prayer, worship, solitude, silence, service, etc. We need a mixture of things to help us spiritually form into Christ’s likeness. 

How are you being protected these days? Are you in His Word on a regular, consistent basis? Are you spending time in meaningful conversation with other believers? Are you finding ways to be silent and alone in His presence? Me? I need to get back into His Word more regularly. And since I’m being transparent, fasting is another weak spot. Since we most likely have not met in person, I don’t know where you are on your journey. For today, I hope that you find what you need to keep growing. Find a way to put your roots down, reach for that trellis, and surround yourself with what you need to protect you from the Enemy. He is relentless. He won’t stop because he hates seeing God’s people bear fruit. 

But I believe in you. I know you have potential to grow. And I know the kind of fruit you can bear. Today, I pray that you protect yourself so that you can continue to form spiritually into Christ’s likeness. Amen.