Have you ever watched a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis? It’s a slow, tedious process, but once the butterfly breaks free, it spreads its beautiful wings and takes flight. At some point, it is tempting to just help the little fellow out and open the chrysalis. But opening a butterfly chrysalis can hinder its development and potentially cause death. In many ways, our Christian faith mirrors this transformation.
The Struggle is Real
When the butterfly is ready to emerge, it must struggle to break through the chrysalis. Though this is a very difficult and time-consuming process, this struggle strengthens its wings so it can fly. Likewise, our journey of faith is one of challenges and struggles. Proverbs warns that even a “righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity”. James 1:2-4 reminds us:
“Consider pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
God doesn’t waste our struggles. He uses them to strengthen our faith, so we can soar into the purpose He has designed for us.
Plunging to Inevitable Death
I watched a recent documentary on barnacle geese native to regions of Iceland. In the documentary, the young hatchlings must make the leap of hundreds of feet down the rocky face of a cliff in order to survive. The irony is the leap could also kill them. One of the last goslings jumps, spreading his featherless wings as if to soar. But he plummets. All is well until several hundred feet below he collides with a rock outcropping. Tumbling end over end, the gosling hits again and again, until coming to rest at the bottom, lifeless.
The mother looks around and calls for the little one. Slowly and a little dazed, it lifts its little head. Hearing the voice of its mother, the hurt baby totters toward its mothers sound. While not all of the goslings made it, three are marched off quickly in order to survive.
The Struggle to Survive
The video is a little hard to watch. We all want to step in and help. But the truth is, the baby must do it on his own if he hopes to flourish later. Such is the case with our own children. Watching our own children spiral out of control is heart-wrenching. We just want to cradle them and set them back on their feet. But letting them fall is the only hope of them experiencing their own faith in God. And, yes, they may even hit a large rock outcropping on the way down. May we only pray that God keep them safe in the journey.
Embrace the Struggle
Whether you feel like a caterpillar crawling through life, are in the waiting of the chrysalis, or are spreading your wings in newfound faith, know that God is with you. Even though the righteous fall seven times, they RISE AGAIN. The fool continues to wallow in filth. No one is perfect. But as we grapple with our own sin and frail humanity, God strengthens us. And the struggle of someone else may be God getting my attention as He works all things together for His purpose.
Never give in to the struggle, remembering that your transformation is His masterpiece. And He is faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6).