A little girl noticed a cocoon dangling on the stem of a bush in her backyard. It wiggled, and as she watched more intently, a Monarch butterfly struggled to emerge. It fought and fought, barely making progress. The girl felt sorry for the butterfly, so she gently peeled away the cocoon to set it free.
She didn’t know that butterflies have to struggle out of the cocoon in order to strengthen their wings enough to fly. By “helping” the butterfly, she actually damaged it, dooming it to crawl on the ground for the rest of its life. The butterfly would never be able to do what it had been designed to do.
Struggle has a purpose, even if we cannot see it right now. Struggle teaches us perseverance, empathy for others struggling, and how necessary it is to lean on the Lord. It tests our strengths and identifies our weaknesses. We learn life lessons through struggling a lot more than we do when life’s road is smooth and easy.
Even while in the cocoon, the butterfly knew it could one day be free. Instinct urged it to keep at it.
We humans, have it even better. No matter what your circumstances are, freedom is a mindset. You may think your struggles are too much right now, that life isn’t fair. But don’t give up. Choose to see your struggles not as obstacles but as opportunities. Find something, anything positive in each day and thank the Lord for it. You will be stronger in your faith and find joy in all circumstances. Never lose hope. Your struggles will be fruitful if you allow them to be so.
The Holy Spirit is there beside you. Jesus is praying for you, and the Father loves you as His own.
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:11-13
God keep you safe and wise!
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