Most of us sadly are victims of a fast-paced lifestyle. Perhaps you have chosen that lifestyle or maybe you just acquired it through marriage, or whatever your circumstance may be. So, what happens when our get up and go lifestyle just can’t get up and go anymore? What happens to our mind, bodies, and spirit when we are not pedal to the metal all day, every day?
Patience Through the Process
I cannot speak for you, but personally I am not good at being patient. I find myself failing at things unless I am performing full throttle. Whether you are recovering from an illness or surgery, waiting for the arrival of your firstborn, anxiously awaiting your wedding day, or the sad anticipation of losing a loved one. Whatever circumstance has led you to have to seek patience through the process, know there is beauty to come.
The Life Cycle Lessons of a Butterfly
I am not sure how many of you have taken the time to notice the life cycle of a butterfly. If I had to guess, not very many. After all, who has time to sit and watch the process, right? I must admit that the last time I even thought about the process in which a butterfly was produced was maybe the 3 rd grade. So, for those of you who are not aware, a butterfly starts off as an egg on a leaf, the egg hatches a caterpillar, a cocoon is made, and produces a beautiful butterfly. Regardless of that being one of the vaguest science life cycle lessons I have ever given, it gives you a perspective.
Christians are a lot like butterflies. I think about the process that the egg goes through to become a butterfly. Depending on the species of butterfly this process can take a month or even over a year. As Christians, we too go through a process that could be shorter than some or longer than others. But who is counting? We start off innocent, living year after year maturing and working our way to the result of a beautiful butterfly. But, what about the middle piece of the cycle? The not so pretty, cocoon. Think about it, usually dull in color, may have an odd shape, outer layers flaking off, and more than likely just looked over.
The point I am trying to make is this, it doesn’t really matter what it looked like getting you to becoming a Christian. Same with the butterfly, it came from things that are not viewed as “pretty” but through the process, a beautiful colorful butterfly was created. We all come from different walks of faith, some are pretty and some not so pretty. But, thank God for being patient with us through the process. Thank God for not giving up on us because our “cocoon” wasn’t perfectly shaped but Praise Him for the beautiful Christian women we turned into through the process.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is in the spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
Giving and Receiving
This past week I have been recovering from a procedure. Several times throughout the week I found myself frustrated with the healing process. I struggled with the fact of having to rest and lay low. I am guilty of living one of those pedal to the metal lifestyles. Always on the go, doing whatever I can for others, running the kids here, there, and everywhere.
But something I learned through the healing process, I know how to give and provide when I can, but I was unsure how to receive. All my life I have been a giver, and never once did I think receiving would be this hard. I have had to learn to have patience throughout the process. This time of healing has given me a chance to slow down and appreciate the process
and realize that being a Christian is not just about the giving but also the receiving of God’s grace and mercy.
Give yourself some grace, sister! Have patience through the process for God is creating you to be the person He wants you to be. There is no specific timeline or any reason to be in a rush.
Paul stated in Romans 12:2 “be transformed by the renewing of your mind”.
God is working on creating us to be the most beautiful Christian/butterfly there ever was, no matter
what cocoon you came from. Spread your wings.
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on
your own understanding.”
Read also: The Slow Drip
