Parable of the Cucumber Tendrils

I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8, NIV

I discovered tendrils on my cucumber plants.

These pale green threads coming from the cucumber vines look for a support like a fence, trellis, or plant cage. When they find something, they coil around it to keep the plant growing toward the sun.

Under those conditions, the plant bears more fruit — and healthier fruit that doesn’t rot on the ground.

What an amazing God we have for such thoughtful design. I don’t have to use zip ties on those plants because God built them in!

Seeing God’s creation made me think of all the pictures He gives us in nature.

Faith works like tendrils, connecting us to Jesus, our trellis. When God draws us to Christ, faith coils around Him like a tendril finding its support. Connected to Jesus, we naturally produce fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, and patience.

A cucumber plant can still grow without a trellis — but it won’t thrive. It will sprawl on the ground, susceptible to pests, mold, and rot. We’re the same spiritually. Apart from Christ, we may appear to grow for a season, but we will eventually collapse.  

Lord, You are the author and perfector of our faith. Help us to cling to You in every season — knowing You are the one who holds us.

Stacy Graves