Convoluted Path for the Finished Product

Who among us wouldn’t like to experience a nice, easy, pain-free life? Only in our dreams. The reality of everyday living – as it’s been since time immemorial – is that it’s often a struggle. At times adversity seems like our closest friend.  

However, struggles we encounter can be good, especially if we embrace them, strive to learn from them, and grow as we go through them. The late author and poet Maya Angelou observed, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”

 

What a perfect example, the butterfly. It starts as an egg, then hatches into a worm-like larva (which we call a caterpillar) that we see slinking along the ground or a sidewalk, desperately hoping no one steps on it or some kid doesn’t decide to use it as a little play toy. 

Then, when the time is right, it forms a chrysalis, a shield to protect it from extreme temperatures, parasites, and drying out. This serves as its home while the insect undergoes an amazing metamorphosis, body tissue breaking down to reform into wings, legs and other adult parts.

 

But the would-be butterfly’s struggle isn’t over yet. One important step remains. It must work its way out of the chrysalis, a struggle releasing chemicals that strengthen its wings. If a well-intentioned human tries to “assist” the butterfly in escaping the chrysalis, the butterfly is likely doomed. The Houdini-like struggle is critical for its development into the beautiful insect we observe flitting from place to place.

 

That’s basically how the ugly, fuzzy caterpillar changes into a glorious flying specimen. This mirrors the process God uses to transform His children from helpless, clumsy spiritual “caterpillars” to the “butterflies” He intends for us to become. It’s how we can trust 1 John 3:2 is true when it says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

 

Can you imagine someone communicating with a caterpillar and showing it a photo of a butterfly, explaining, “This is what you’re going to look like”? If this were possible, the caterpillar likely would respond, “No way!” That’s what I think whenever I read the promise of 1 John 3:2, but it’s right there.

 

Contrary to those who would preach a theology of health, wealth and prosperity, the Bible repeatedly reminds us that struggle and hardship are part of the “job description” for all true followers of Christ. After declaring, “we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,” the apostle Paul adds, “we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us…” (Romans 5:2-5).

 

Lest we make the mistake of rationalizing, “oh, that was just Paul. He went through some very hard times and was trying to make sense of them,” we find basically the same declaration by the apostle James: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).

 

“Mature and complete.” This kind of sounds like that industrious caterpillar constructing the chrysalis in which it would transform into a wondrous winged butterfly, an indispensable step in its transformational process. Similarly, when we face times of suffering, trials and testing, we can grumble and complain, muttering “Lord, why me?” Or we can accept them as being allowed by God to move forward the necessary spiritual process of transforming us into the image of His Son.

 

Sometimes difficulties we face are the result of our own doing, as God admonished the Israelites, “you will suffer for your sins” (Numbers 14:34). Sin, even when we receive forgiveness, still carries consequences. However, that’s not always the cause of our struggles. Just as Jesus Christ endured suffering on our behalf, as His followers we’re called to experience “the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (Philippians 3:10).

 

Are you going through a particular struggle right now – financial difficulties, health problems, family strife, challenges at work, adjusting to an unfamiliar stage of life, battling a recurring area of temptation? Remember the butterfly and its convoluted path to become a finished product, the lovely creature God made it to be. 

 

And most of all, remember the Lord Jesus, who not only suffered for us, but also is present with us in our own struggles: “For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are being tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).