“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Metamorphosis

Have you ever felt like a lowly little caterpillar creeping through life munching on leaves, leaving nothing but holes and tears in your wake? Nothing you do seems to go right or be of any benefit no matter how hard you try. And then, just when you feel like you’ve had your fill of it, you get tucked away in an even more difficult and darker place. Did it ever occur to you that it was God’s intended purpose all along?

Just like a little caterpillar shut in its dark, lonely chrysalis, God sometimes orchestrates events in our lives in order to bring us to Himself. Sometimes He wants us to listen to Him. Sometimes He wants to correct us. Sometimes He wants to teach us something, and sometimes He just wants us to rest. Whatever the reason, our time in the “chrysalis” is not in vain, for it is in this dark and lonely place that the ugly little caterpillar goes through a transformation. It sheds some legs, loses weight, gets a smaller head, grows some wings, gains color, and prepares for flight.

Maybe God’s purpose for shutting us away at times is so we can: shed some “legs” (busyness); lose some “weight” (burdens); get a “smaller head” (deal with pride); grow some “wings” (gain some wisdom); gain “color” (reflect the light of time spent with Jesus); and prepare for “flight” (be released for new adventures).

The Bible calls our trials “light and momentary.” These trials achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. It would do us well to remember this promise when we are in those dark times and begin to look forward to the transformation it will create in us.

Dear Jesus, thank You that You are with us in the dark and lonely times in our lives. Help us to allow You to do Your good and perfect will so that we are prepared for the grand adventures that await us outside of the “chrysalis.” In Your name we pray, Amen.