Women Arise Weekly Devotional (April 6, 2009)

Women Arise! Weekly Devotional (April 6, 2009)

 

PERFECTED THROUGH THE STRUGGLE

 

We are as clay in the Potter's Hands (Jeremiah 18:1-6), and He is molding us all (believers) into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29). But we first have to go through a process called, 'sanctification'. This is where we are being made holy day by day.

 

1. "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)
2.  

This is done through the Holy Spirit, reading the Word of God and obeying it, through what others may have taught us, such as our Pastors, etc. But I believe that a major way is through our struggles! This process isn't something that takes place immediately upon accepting Christ as our Savior. If that were so, then God would just take us straight to Heaven once we become saved. Obviously there is much more for us to learn on earth. I believe that this life we live on earth is just preparation for eternity! We will not have achieved perfection (holiness) until Christ returns for us! We just have to remember that we can't do it alone. In and of ourselves we can do nothing! (John 15:5, Matthew 19:26) We have to allow the Spirit of God to change us. Our job is to submit to and obey whatever it is He teaches us, and learn how to wait patiently! 

 

 

The problem is, we as humans want things right away! We live in what I've heard someone call, "the microwave generation". We want everything instantly and easily! Anything from fast food to cell phones, we want comfort and convenience! And when things aren't working according to OUR plans, we quickly become frustrated and discouraged. But many times, the way WE view things are completely different from how God views things. What we see as negative, He often sees as positive! (Isaiah 55:8) He knows ALL-He sees the end from the beginning. In other words, He sees the end result or the end product. That's how He can love those who we see as difficult and unlovable. He looks deeper. He sees the heart. He knows and understands 'the struggle' taking place inside of each and every one of us, and He knows exactly what that struggle will produce! (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

 

This reminds me of a story that you may have heard before but I think it's so 'appropriate' to share right now:

 

 

The Butterfly and the Cocoon

 

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. The man sat and watched the cocoon for several hours as the butterfly struggled to force its body through the little hole.

 

Then it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if the butterfly had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. The man decided to help the butterfly in its struggle. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

 

The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

 

He continued to watch the butterfly. He expected that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge and expand to be able to support the body. He knew that in time the body would contract, and the butterfly would be able to fly.

 

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 that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

 

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

 

We could never fly.

 

 

So you see, there is always a purpose for the hard times, and what we perceive as bad, is not always bad! Submit yourself to God and trust that He is doing a new thing, a great and wonderful thing in you! (Isaiah 43:19) So stop expecting beauty without the ashes, transformation without the trials, pleasure without the pain, deliverance without the bondage, salvation without the obedience, faith without the works, works without the faith, victory without the war, patience without the testing, love without the heartbreak, and strength without the STRUGGLE!    

 

P.S.  Think about how many people on the morning of 9/11 who were on their way to work at the WTC, who were held in traffic or on their way out of the door when the phone ringing stopped them. Think how many were frustrated and probably thinking and saying all types of negative things because they were going to be late to work. Think NOT only on how many lives were lost that day, but rejoice at how many lives were saved! And they were saved by situations that many of them thought were negative, but God used as a positive!   

 

God bless you and I love you!

 

LaTanya Scott