I spotted this gorgeous visitor to my garden the other day.
He only stopped for a little while and then continued on for his short but beautiful life.
Theres another butterfly that makes me smile....
And my nephew loves him too...
Butterflies are the most amazing creatures, they live this mundane life of a caterpillar, at risk of being eaten by birds, sprayed with chemicals, in my case being plucked off their plant and fed to the chooks, then after they have grown they create a coccoon, hide away and come out a beautiful butterfly.
Sometimes I wish I could just create a coccoon, go away and hide for a while and then come out a beautiful butterfly. But God know better, he knows that the trials and struggles in my life are better for me than a hiding away. It is the prickly bits in my life being sanded smooth as I deal with people who rub me up the wrong way, with plans that go astray and yet I don't attack and blame those around me who are not responsible, as I choose to forgive even when I have been hurt again by one I love.
1 Peter 1:6-7 says "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Are you facing trials, struggles and pain. Don't give up, don't let go of your faith. Pull into God and his unmeasureable love. Be found in him in the midst of the storm, and he will be your peace and your shelter in the midst of the pain and fear. He will be your rock and hold you firm.
