Constricting Struggles

Story of the day:  Constricting Struggles

I have heard it said that going through trials will help me to grow.  As a child, not knowing exactly what they meant, I would measure myself to see how tall I was becoming.  And although, I didn’t grow in an upward motion, I did grow as a person, and I learned from my trials.  Now, as an adult, going through trials doesn’t get easier, and I have to catch myself and recognize that no matter what the trials are, that growth is about to come.  If someone always bandaged my trials or kept me from going through them, I may not ever have learned from them, thus stunting my growth as a Christ follower.  As hard as the trials may be, they are important to go through.  I found a great story written by Criag Larson that I found to be great at explaining this.  He writes:

A man found a cocoon of the emperor moth and took it home to watch it emerge.  One day a small opening appeared, and for several hours the moth struggled but couldn’t seem to force its body past a certain point.

Deciding something was wrong, the man took scissors and snipped the remaining bit of cocoon.  The moth emerged easily, its body large and swollen, the wings small and shriveled.

He expected that in a few hours the wings would spread out in their natural beauty, but they did not.  Instead of developing into a creature free to fly, the moth spent its life dragging around a swollen body and shriveled wings.

The constricting cocoon and the struggle necessary to pass through the tiny opening are God’s way of forcing fluid from the body into the wings.  The “merciful” snip was, in reality, cruel.  Sometimes the struggle is exactly what I need.

Quote of the day:  C. Everett Koop

“We grow and mature spiritually through adversity–not when everything is going smoothly…[I]n a time of adversity or trouble, the Christian has the opportunity to know God in a special and personal way.”

Bible verse of the day:  James 5:11

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure.  You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord–that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Although I may not want to go through trials of any kind, I do know that I always grow closer to You through them.  Because of Your love, I am able to endure them and learn from them.  Father, I pray that You continue to mold me and teach me through these times.  I pray for safe travel as I am heading out and traveling a couple of hours down the road.  I thank You for this day!

In Jesus Name I pray,

Amen