You may have heard the story about the little boy who watched the butterfly struggle to get out of its cocoon. The little boy wanted to help, so he got some scissors and cut the cocoon so the butterfly could be free. Instead of fluttering away, however, the butterfly fell to the ground and died.
What the little boy didn’t realize is that when a butterfly is trying to come out of its cocoon, the only way he can strengthen his wings is by beating them against the cocoon. The struggle allows it to develop muscles so that when it finds freedom, it will have grown strong enough to fly. Interference actually prevented the butterfly from developing the muscles it would need to survive.
God uses things in the natural realm to display a picture of things in the spiritual realm. Like he uses the struggles of a butterfly to escape its cocoon, God also uses our hardships to prepare and strengthen us. When we crave comfort and escape our struggles prematurely, we forfeit strength. We prevent ourselves from developing the muscles we need to survive.
None of us like difficulties. It’s human nature to try everything in our power to escape. But when we escape our own cocoons before God is finished with us, we don’t fully develop.
Next time you encounter difficulties, ask God, “Is this something you are allowing to develop me?” If so, surrender. Let God complete the work He began in you! You’ll never be the same again.
First let me say that your book Love Junkies has been a life saver for me! I first came across the devotional on YouVersion and immediately got the book. When I started reading it I just cried and cried. I thought “how does this person know me?” Right now I’m going through a very difficult situation. I am dating a recovering drug addict and while he hasn’t gone back to drugs, he’s started drinking. When he gets drunk and doesn’t get what he wants he becomes so cruel. Even when he’s sober, he’s amazing when everything is going his way but when it doesn’t, he makes you feel like you are the worst person in the world and everything is your fault. I thought he was a Christian. He seemed so strong in the Lord at first and now it doesn’t seem like God is on his mind at all. I am now pregnant and I’m so confused as to what to do. I keep asking God do I stay or do I go? I have a tendency to run into another relationship or run in general when things get bad. Does this article mean you should stay and let God perfect you? My situation doesn’t even compare to what you went through in your first marriage. I feel like me and my soon to come son deserve better than this life but I put myself in this situation because all of my baggage. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you so much!
I will be praying for you and your soon-to-be Son. NO we don’t deserve to be treated like this. My story is similar to yours and I’ve asked God too “should I stay or should I go” for my own peace, since it’s not stabilized in my environment. Wishing you all the best!