In my garden I have multiple butterfly bushes that are amazing to watch in the spring. The butterflies come and the garden comes alive with activity. When the chrysalis of a butterfly finally splits open, the butterfly must quickly free itself. The pressure of this struggle inflates the butterfly’s wrinkled wings with vital fluids. Without the struggle, a butterfly’s wings harden into misshapen stubs!
It takes patience to wait and watch the entire process of butterfly reproduction. In life we dodge the difficult situation, rather than just simply accepting it patiently, without giving God a deadline to remove it. Those who wait on the Lord through great loss experience great gain. “Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius!” (Buffon)
“No one will ever know the full depth of our capacity for patience and humility as long as nothing bothers us. It is only when times are troubled and difficult that we can see how much of either is in us.” (St. Frances of Assisi) How do we view the sovereignty of God? Do we joyfully endure pain and suffering? Are we patient to wait on God and His timing in times of turmoil? James tells us to “welcome trials as friends”! We are commanded to “run with patience the race that is set before us.”(Hebrews 12: 1)
Most of us will have an opportunity to see this proved out in our life, as the holiday season takes on expectations and new challenges that call for endurance, renewed strength and hope. The promise is that ”they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up wings as eagles; they will run, and not be weary; and they will walk and not faint”.(Isa. 40: 31)
The test of our maturity is how long we can wait between achievement and reward.
Have a great week!
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
