“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope”
—Romans 5:3-4
One of the most eventful experiences in nature is the emergence of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Of course, we know that caterpillar in the cocoon struggles, and in the process of the struggle, he comes out of that cocoon and spreads his wings and flies as a beautiful butterfly.
There is an old story told of a person who was watching that natural experience, took out a knife and wanted to help the caterpillar along in the process, and cut the cocoon open to release it. But to that individuals dismay the moth fell limp on the ground and the wings never blossomed into a butterfly.
That butterfly was doomed to a short life, crawling and struggling on the ground. Why? Because the process of struggle was short cut. In our lives we must never seek to short cut the process of pain. All of us experience pain and struggle and suffering in life and often we wonder why. We ask God questions like; God why, why now, why me, why this. Jesus said, "In this world, you will have tribulation. But, be of good cheer, I've overcome the world."
God is committed to making you into a beautiful Christian. God wants every Christian to be a powerful display of His Glory and a gorgeous, gracious expression of His Love to the world. One of the tools that God uses to make into beautiful Christians is the tool of adversity.
GOD WANTS TO TAKE OUR SUFFERING AND OUR PAIN AND USE IT IN OUR LIVES TO MAKE US MORE USEFUL VESSELS FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
