The Struggle Is Essential

If we give our attention to anything that God has created, we will find purpose in it. It is when we study the design that we begin to understand the Designer.

Something we learn while we are young is that caterpillars turn into butterflies through a process called metamorphosis. Before it forms its chrysalis, the caterpillar has no physical features resembling a butterfly; it must alter its form dramatically and transform into a completely different shape.

Chrysalis

During this stage of a caterpillar’s life, it surrounds itself with a silk thread and begins a transformation that will take around two weeks to complete.

Within the chrysalis the butterfly wings begin to develop, but if you were to cut the chrysalis open, the wings would be useless. The new butterfly was designed to undergo a struggle that pushes fluid into the wings; and without that struggle it would not be able to fly.

Conversion

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2). God requires all who desire to be in His family to take part in a metamorphosis-like process. We are immersed in water baptism, symbolizing that change from a physical substance to a spiritual vessel.

Like the caterpillar, we will struggle in our change. God tells us that He corrects those whom He loves (Proverbs 3:11-12). We will twist, fight, ache and long for someone to make the pain stop when our trial comes.

Do we really want it to stop? In the midst of heartbreaking times, we would say yes. Through human reasoning we conclude that if something hurts, we should find a way to make it stop.

God’s plan does not support the same conclusions. While God has no pleasure in watching us suffer, He knows what He intends to use us for, and that responsibility is so great that He cannot allow us to be composed of weak minds and fair-weather relationships. Sometimes, in His mercy, He will remove the obstacles. Other times the answer to our prayer may be that we have to stick it out a little while longer.

What to do when it gets hard

• Go to God in prayer. It may seem obvious, but sometimes it’s hard to talk to Him when you are busy wondering why He would let this happen in the first place. Talk to Him anyway. Bowing before Him gives us a chance to remind ourselves that when we’re in pain our only refuge is God our Father. It also brings to light His way of thinking instead of just our own logic.
• Read healing scriptures. The Bible is not just a book of laws. It is a living Word, which means it has the capacity to have an active part in bringing us peace and understanding. Usually the hardest part of the trial is when it affects our ability to sleep, eat or think clearly to do everyday tasks; it consumes our lives. Find rest in God’s promises.
• Fellowship with people of like mind. “I long to see you … that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11-12). We can share in each other’s good times and bad. It will be those experiences that will create our family bond. A united, immensely strong family structure is God’s whole desire.

We will not always understand the reason we must experience a trial, but as we grow closer to God, we will start to better understand His reasoning and find joy in being transformed into a part of something much bigger than this life.

Sarah Henderson, a nanny of a 2-year-old boy, and her husband attend the Columbus/Cambridge, Ohio, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association.