A post on
Facebook from Delilah, a late-evening and night syndicated DJ, stated, “If a
butterfly is released from its cocoon without having to struggle against it,
perhaps by a kindly person trying to help, the butterfly will soon die. Without
the painful struggle against the cocoon as it emerges, the blood is not forced
into the wings, they do not become strong and soon the beautiful creature will
die...so it is with people. We must struggle against the cocoon that engulfs us
in order to strengthen our wings, so that we might be strong enough to fly...”
I know many times in my life, it is
much easier to look for a path already cut, a door already opened. . . in other
words, an easy way out. But, if you are
like me, you find that just doesn’t happen, and if you truly want to emerge as
the “butterfly” in any situation, you will want to obediently follow Christ and
work your way out of your “cocoon”, no matter what that cocoon may be in your
life.
Oh, did I say “obediently”? I meant to say you will want to follow
Christ, even kicking and screaming all the way. . . .”
There are things changing, things are
happening in my life right now over which I have no control. I do not like them. But I must face them. I feel the cocoon
closing in. I have been spiritually “storing
up” for the day when it [the cocoon] closes completely so that I (hopefully) will
have the [1] patience that the pupa has to wait until the appropriate time to
emerge, [2] that I will have the strength to struggle and work my way out of
the cocoon with God’s help (Philippians 4:13), and [3] that I will emerge as
the butterfly that He desires for me to be with the sole purpose of
accomplishing His will and returning 100% of the honor, glory, and praise to
the Father in a victorious manner.
If you feel like you are about to be
closed inside of a cocoon, the world and its weight is closing in on you,
please be encouraged with the words from Job 23:14, “For he will
complete what he appoints for me, and
many such things are in his mind.”
I know that Jesus
will not allow you to be alone in that cocoon, as He has promised His undying
presence and His unfailing love. And
last, the apostle Paul has instructed us how to get ready to “fight” or “struggle”
our way out of the cocoon in which we find ourselves. In the book of Ephesians,
as he instructs and warns the church at Ephesus to be ready, he writes, “Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of
God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is
not against [e]flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual
forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the
full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and
having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins
with truth, and having put on the breastplate
of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 [f]in addition to all, taking up the shield of
faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
evil one. 17 And
take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God. “
I’m not really a fighter but I won’t run from one
either and, if you notice, in that passage of Scripture, there is NO armor for
the back. God makes it very clear that
we are to face off with the enemy in the power of HIS might and strength.
The cocoon is closing, I’m ready. “Lord, help me to emerge as the “butterfly”
you want me to be in order to glorify and lift you up. Amen” -RS
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