Walking With Jesus (Overcoming Stagnation)Sample

A beautiful future

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;”

Psalms 138:8

There is a unique type of butterfly called the monarch butterfly. Its hobby is eating poisonous shrubs. As a result, predators avoid it. Uniquely, every year in Canada, these butterflies begin their lives from an egg, emerge as a caterpillar, become a cocoon, and transform into a butterfly. After becoming a butterfly, this group of insects will migrate to Mexico (approximately 4,500 km away) at the speed of 80 km per day. That is so amazing!

An interesting sight will occur in Canada when those caterpillars turn into cocoons. Life in the cocoons hanging from the shrubs seems to be silent. There is no visible life behind the membrane that covers it. A few days later, the cocoon would break. A metamorphosis reaches its peak. At that time, a butterfly would slowly come out. It would then learn to flap its wings. When its wings are dry enough, the butterfly will keep flapping its wings until it can fly away.  It will then fly south to Mexico to join millions of other monarch butterflies.

One day our lives may seem like a static cocoon when there seems to be no progress. From inside the cocoon, we might see everything in pitch black. The future looks bleak. We really can't do anything. However, don't stop. Keep living those times with hope because when the cocoon breaks, everything is suddenly changed.

The direction and purpose of the monarch butterfly are certain. Let's believe that we are moving towards a definite goal in each process, even though there are times when we don't seem to achieve anything positive. Sometimes, we might not be able to see a movement or determine a direction. However, let us believe that God provides a beautiful future for us. Our part is to be faithful in the process and believe that God will fulfill His promises in due time.

Reflection:

1. What kind of life process are you facing right now?

2. What kind of response do we usually do when our life processes tend to be static?

Application: 

Remain persistent and faithful in God's shaping process while continuing to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.