Do you ever feel like you're struggling against circumstances in life that are keeping you from being the person you really want to be—or from doing what you really want to do? If so, you're not alone. This struggle is common to the human race, but it’s not without purpose.
The encouraging news is that it’s possible to rise above this constant frustration by viewing your trials and circumstances in a different light. You can draw strength and power from them instead of letting them sap your energy and plunge you into despair.
I’m sure we’ve all wished at times that we could just live without the struggle. Life would be so much easier and enjoyable if things would just go ‘right.’ We think we know what’s best for us and are constantly seeking for a life of ease.
Perhaps you can identify with one of the caterpillars in the following story.
The Butterfly Story
One day in a beautiful garden there lived three caterpillars. Each had spun a chrysalis (often called a cocoon) and was nearing the time to emerge from it to become a fully developed butterfly. However, each caterpillar had different thoughts about how to get out of his chrysalis.
The first one thought that the effort of breaking out of the chrysalis was too great. He struggled to break out, but it just seemed too hard so he decided to not bother. He would just be content to stay snug in the chrysalis for the rest of his life. As a consequence, he soon died.
The second one also began the struggle to break out of his chrysalis. Just then he saw someone passing by and called out, “Would you please help me?” I'm stuck in this chrysalis and I'm having difficulty getting out. Please break it open so I can crawl out.” The passerby had compassion on the caterpillar and, thinking he was doing a good deed, broke open the chrysalis for him.
“O, thank you!” exclaimed the newly emerged butterfly. He crawled out and gently unfolded his new wings, admiring their beauty, letting them dry in the sun.
When they were dry, he was motivated by the instinct to fly, but as he spread his wings to do so, he discovered that he couldn't fly. His wings were too weak. Sadly, he stayed perched on a leaf swaying in the breeze. All he could do was crawl around on the plant. What he hadn't realized was that the process of breaking out of the chrysalis was required to strengthen and develop his wings. Because he had thought the struggle was too great and had asked someone else to break open the chrysalis, he missed the opportunity to develop and strengthen his wing muscles. Unfortunately, it was too late; nothing could be done. He would never be able to fly.
Meanwhile, the third caterpillar had struggled and struggled to break out of his chrysalis. Many times he had to stop and rest, but he didn't give up. Little by little he could sense the chrysalis loosening, so he kept pushing with his folded wings, trying hard to crack open the dark, tight casing in which he had been entombed so long.
Then, to his great joy, it happened; the chrysalis casing gave way and the caterpillar crawled out into the warm sunlight. He stretched out his wings to let them dry. He felt a surge of strength as he moved them around, letting the sunlight reach all sides. When his wings were dry and he sensed the urge to fly, his wings worked beautifully; up he soared, flitting from one flower to another to sip some nectar. He had become a fully transformed caterpillar; he had become a butterfly! Indeed, he had become all that the Creator had intended him to be!
Ultimately, we want to be like the third butterfly; we want to be completely transformed into all we are created to be. What we fail to realize is that struggling, and overcoming in that struggle, are both a part of the transformation process. Persevering like the third caterpillar is the most difficult, but the most rewarding.
The comforting and encouraging news is that God has a purpose in all He puts in our paths on life’s journey, and He provides the strength for us to accomplish it. When we realize this, we can learn to embrace end engage in Purposeful Struggle.
