A man came across the cocoon of a butterfly. A small opening soon appeared. So he sat and watched the butterfly for hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. After a while, it seemed as if it had stopped making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and could go no farther. So the man decided to help the butterfly.
He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then proceeded to emerge quite easily. But it had a swollen body, with small, shriveled wings. Eagerly the man continued to watch, expecting that at any moment the wings would enlarge and expand, and be able to support the body, which would contract in time But neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was this: The restriction of the cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were essential for its survival. The intense struggle was exactly what was needed to force the fluid from inside the body of the butterfly out into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
And so it is with our spiritual lives. Struggles are exactly what we need. They teach is to rely on the inner man, that we might shed the outer man— the cocoon of our old man—and thus stimulate growth in the new man, and develop our spiritual strength. Oh yes! Going through life without any obstacles is the easy - and the chosen - path for the flesh, but it cripples us spiritually.
You see! By choosing the easy way, we will never be as strong as what we could have been. We will never mount up with wings as eagles; never enjoy the vistas of mountain top experiences. In short, we could never fly!
I asked for strength ... God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom ... God gave me problems to trust Him more. I asked for prosperity... God held out the riches of an inheritance in Christ. I asked for courage ... God taught me, there is no fear in love. I asked for love... God showed me the needs of the troubled, the poor, and lonely. I asked for favours... God showed me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted... And everything I needed!
Please join us at Sidley Mountain Cowboy Church 6 p.m., the second and fourth Sunday nights of the