cocoon.jpg“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20) NIV

One of the benefits of having small children is that I get to be a part of the science projects that they bring home. Our most recent adventure involves a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. Well, at least that is what we are expecting in a few days. Right now, this glob on a stick in a shoebox looks downright nasty. Kinda freaks me out to be honest.

I recently heard a song by Gary Allan that reminded me of this thing growing in our kitchen. The words say “Life ain’t always beautiful, tears will fall sometimes. Life ain’t always beautiful, but it’s a beautiful ride”. While I know this thing in the Adidas box ain’t beautiful, I know that soon it will be one of the more amazing creations we have ever seen.

The song also says “but the struggles make you stronger, and the changes make you wise. And happiness has it’s own way of taking it’s sweet time”. While I am sure this future butterfly hates his current surroundings, the struggles are making it stronger. Does all of this sound a bit familiar? How often have you been trapped in a situation that seems to capture you? Have you ever felt like if you could just break free, you could be so much more than you currently are? The struggles make us stronger and the changes make us wise. Like my favorite (and very personal) verse says, what others intend as harm, God can use for good.

Life is a beautiful ride. We just need to spend our season in the cocoon of change in order to get there.

Originally posted May 2006

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