What’s Keeping You from Blooming? 3 Hidden Threats to Spiritual Growth

Recognize what’s stunting your soul and rediscover the beauty of staying rooted in Jesus.

May 27, 2025

Have you ever looked at something ordinary, and it’s like you’re seeing it for the first time?

As I stood in our kitchen waiting for my second cup of liquid energy to finish brewing, I glanced outside. It’s a beautiful, mild morning in Las Vegas. The kind that invites you to take in the peace, solitude, and 80º temperatures on the back patio before the triple digits return. Our backyard, like most in the city, is surrounded by an 8-foot-high cinderblock wall, which we have hidden with equally tall flowering oliander hedges and rose bushes, not because they’re my favorite plants, but because I don’t have a green thumb and these seem to be the only two things I can keep alive in my yard.

Living in the desert but being from the Midwest, my husband and I need to incorporate as much “green” into the shades of brown surrounding us (hence the number of shrubs). And I like a splash of color to brighten things up, so the green has to include some flowers. I can always count on my favorite rose bush to be the star of the backyard. At its seasonal peak, the sheer weight of the full blooms often causes the plant to bow and bend. And the aroma! I’m not a fan of rose-scented items like lotions or candles, but the intoxicating sweetness from this one plant permeates our backyard!

Earlier in the week, I noticed several baby buds sprouting around the plant. But as I waited in my kitchen, I noticed a deep red color emanating from their tight-green cocoons.

I smiled as I sipped my coffee. I love it when my backyard is in full bloom! I made my way outside to take a closer look, and that’s when it struck me—we are just like these blooms. While we all have the opportunity to blossom, some of us (like these flowers) may not experience the fullness of the beauty God has created in us.

What???
Let me explain.

red rose bush in desert landscaping — My red rosebush full of blooms

Maybe you’re familiar with the parable Jesus told about the farmer who scattered his seeds, some landing on rocky soil, some on hard soil, the wind blew some away, and some fell on healthy soil and took root (Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:11-20, Luke 8:4-15). While I stared at these rose buds, I had another thought: just because a plant takes root doesn’t mean it reaches its full potential. Looking at the variety of blooms on the bush, I recognized three possible outcomes for these new flowers on the cusp of blooming:

1. Burnt by the Sun

It’s not uncommon for flowers to become victims of the harsh desert heat. Exposure to direct sunlight during a Vegas summer with consecutive days topping out at over 100ºF has a damaging impact. While the color remains, the bud never reaches maturity. It remains stuck. And although the plant is still healthy and green, that particular flower’s petals become singed and burnt.

Maybe you feel the same. You’ve been burned by life and experiences. You’re tired of showing up, exhausted from trying, burned out from obligations and responsibility. You’re fragile…brittle…and ready to break.

2. Consumed by Bugs

If heat is one of my roses' biggest enemies, then aphids are the other. Ugh!! These tiny bugs are such a nuisance. Their green color allows them to camouflage into the plant, making them hard to spot but no less destructive. They attach themselves to the stem and premature buds, sucking their sap and preventing them from blooming.

Maybe you can identify. You have people around you who appear to be on your side but are silently draining you. They’re sucking your joy, your creativity, and your ability to dream, leaving you feeling too small and insignificant to be used by God.

3. Robbed of Water

If heat and bugs are the biggest enemies of my roses, then water (and shade) are their greatest need. It’s not a secret that plants need water to grow. However, in the desert, water is a precious commodity. While rare and valuable, it’s essential. Without it, the bloom will wither, and eventually, the plant will die.

Maybe you feel the same way. Dry. Thirsty. You’ve been trying to grow, trying to bloom, trying to do all the things, but you can’t remember the last time you paused for a drink. Jesus said HE is the Living Water, apart from which we can do nothing. But, if we’re honest, that's exactly how we try to accomplish the mission He’s given us…on our own, apart from Him. No rest. No sabbath. No water.

Looking at each of the blooms on the edge of so much beauty, I felt a twinge of sadness. I wondered, “How many of us are also on the cusp of blooming where we’re planted, but we’re allowing the heat from life, the negative voice around us, or the lack of Water to rob us of experiencing the fullness God has for us AND the world from the beauty that will come of it?”

Then He reminded me of one more possible outcome…FULL BLOOM!

In John 15:1-5, Jesus calls Himself the Vine. And when we stay connected to Him, He will allow us to bloom fully in His perfect timing. He will shelter us from the heat. He will protect our thoughts and emotions from negativity and distraction. He will refresh and restore our thirsty souls. When we stay connected to Jesus, we will experience His fullness, becoming a sweet fragrance and radiating beauty that draws others to Him.

So often, we settle for survival when Jesus invites us to flourish. But full bloom isn’t about striving—it’s about staying rooted in Him, trusting His timing, and receiving what only He can provide.

Reflection
Where in your life might you be on the edge of blooming—but feel held back by burnout, negativity, or spiritual dryness? If you feel comfortable sharing, I’d love to chat with you. You can drop a comment or email me at torriesorge@gmail.com.

What’s Keeping You from Blooming? 3 Hidden Threats to Spiritual Growth

Recognize what’s stunting your soul and rediscover the beauty of staying rooted in Jesus.

1. Burnt by the Sun

2. Consumed by Bugs

3. Robbed of Water

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