One reason for struggle

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I received this story a while back via e-mail and thought it was a good illustration of at least one reason why we have struggles in life: that we may grow and develop through them.

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A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared and he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly by taking a pair of scissors and snipping off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as we could have been. We could never fly.

Of course, we can’t take the analogy too far — this doesn’t mean no one should ever help anyone through a struggle. The Bible teaches that there are some burdens people are meant to bear, but others that we’re supposed to help each other with. But at least one reason for some of our struggles is the growth and strength we will develop as a result.

Romans 5:3-5: And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience
And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

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(Photos taken by my husband, Jim at Callaway Gardens Butterfly Conservatory)

7 thoughts on “One reason for struggle”

  1. This is a beautiful and thought-provoking post, Barbara. I’ve read this story before too. Someone sent an email to me. Bless that soul. Thanks for sharing!

  2. I read this one before and it never fails to touch me whenever I read it again. I guess sometimes we need to go through certain struggles in life to prepare us for something greater in life. Thanks for sharing.

  4. How true, Barbara, how true this analogy is. Thanks so much for your thoughtfulness in sharing it here with us. Blessings to you!

  5. I had never read this story before but how true it is, something I’ve had lots of ocassion to learn this last year or so. But, the Lord is right there through it all and He knows the plans He has for us. Not too long ago someone used this little sentence, “God knows.” in their message. Those two words are enough, no matter what the problem.

  6. What a beautiful story. It makes so much sense, and sometimes using analogies like this really make it so much more understandable. Thakns for sharing this with us.

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