In the Garden with God: A Lesson from the Butterfly
While raking leaves today on my driveway, this beauty showed up, the wonderful monarch butterfly. My son and I watched it land gracefully on one of our holly bushes nearby, despite the strong winds. I knew butterflies move quickly so I dropped my rake, grabbed my phone, and ran over, hoping I could capture its beauty before it flew away. There were also bees in the bush, and normally I run from them, but not today! I wanted to take as many pictures and videos as possible because my daughter, who was gone at the time, is fascinated with butterflies too. They have become her life and business symbol, and I knew she’d appreciate whatever I got!
As you can see, the butterfly didn’t mind me at all. My son said the butterfly seemed to be posing for me, as it continued to open and close its wings almost on cue. The winds picked up even more, but still the butterfly persisted, moving about the bush. As I moved in closer, I noticed its upper right wing had been damaged, which made me think about everything the sweet butterfly had been through before it arrived in my yard.
The butterfly goes through complete metamorphosis, a total change of structure and appearance in about four weeks to a year. The first three stages (egg, caterpillar, and chrysalis) are all necessary to get to the final stage – the one we most anticipate – the stunning butterfly. Since they are a cold-blooded species, they quickly learn how to fly so they can go to warmer climates and find food. These delicate, intricate specimens are responsible for helping the life cycle of flowering plants by spreading pollen around. Every year millions of butterflies take flight from one part of the world to another, a persistent flight plan that could only be orchestrated by the Most High God. Butterflies come back year after year to do their part like little missionaries doing God’s work, certain of their purpose and faithful to their calling.
Butterflies are special creatures and a sight to behold! Even with brokenness, their magnificence is remarkable. Thankfully, the precious visit today lasted longer than usual. After about fifteen minutes, the speckled winged lovely went on its way. The encounter left me in awe of the great wonder. I knew it was a God moment for me especially after He brought back to mind a conversation my daughter and I had last night about trusting God with our hurts, fears, healing, and future. Here’s what God spoke to my heart.
When you submit to the process of your purpose and calling, you will ultimately experience a beautiful transformation. You may have to go through some changes to get where you’re supposed to be, but don’t give up. In dark times, God is preparing you. In hard times, He is growing and maturing you. In your weakness, He strengthens you. In your tiredness, He will give you rest. In your lack, He will provide for your every need. In the good, bad, and ugly, God is watching over you and promises to be with you in every stage. The work He started in you He will complete. His timing is perfect. Trust God with your development and the flight plan of your life. Stay the course, and He will no doubt bring beauty and change to the world through you!
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”
2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
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