Metamorphosis!

Forget about what’s happened – don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new! It’s busting out! Don’t you see it? Isaiah 43:19 The Message

Spring is here, and with it comes colorful blooms, greenery everywhere, pollen, and the promise of new life. There’s been an increase in the animal population, baby birds are hatching, bees are pollinating, and even an occasional butterfly or two! The earth is going through a metamorphosis.

One of the most exciting times for me as a kindergarten teacher was the lesson we taught on the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. It starts with several caterpillars who slowly inch along and devour lots of leaves and food. The caterpillar gets fat and longer, and then it rigs up a silk thread and fastens itself to a branch. Once it’s secured to a branch, it begins to move around furiously until it unzips the outer skin revealing a chrysalis and wraps itself into it.

The caterpillar is motionless for about 14 days, and some of the students were upset because nothing apparent is happening. On around day 12, the cocoon becomes transparent, and we can see that something dramatic has happened. All at once, the little creature begins to move and push until the shell on its little incubator breaks open. It pushes itself out of that impossibly small pod, and we behold a Monarch butterfly!

The awe on the faces of young children as the butterfly stretches its wings and begins to slowly flap them is one of awe and excitement as they experience one of God’s wonders. Where there once was an ugly cumbersome caterpillar now is a magnificent butterfly which bears no resemblance to its former self.

My sweet three year old nephew, Griff, is involved in this process now. The first day as his Mom explained what would happen during this time, he listened intently, nodded approval, and went off to take his nap. When he got up, he ran to his Mom and excitedly asked, “Is it a butterfly yet?” Time frames mean nothing at that age.

Aren’t we so like this on many occasions? Metamorphosis is defined as a complete change in the form or nature of a person or thing into a completely different one. We want a change in our everyday life, our prayer life, our relationships, or just our outlook, but we want it now! Just like Griff, we think the metamorphosis comes in an instant, and we are disappointed when it takes time for the change to occur.

God has a plan for our lives. It includes things we can’t necessarily have today, but we will be able to enjoy tomorrow. When spring comes, the grass grows on its own timeline. The flowers bloom when the time is right. We see God being in control of this, but often forget to apply this knowledge to our own lives.

When kids are little and parents refuse to give them something that’s not good for them, they will stomp their feet and say, “I want it now”, but we don’t give in to that request because we know they aren’t ready for it! We need to stop struggling to accomplish something now that will be easy when the time is right.

God is teaching us that change happens on His timeline, but He’s also teaching us patience in the process. James writes, “Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do it’s work so you can become mature.” (James 1:4) God takes his time with our lives so that we can learn important principles.

He allows certain things to happen in life to teach us principles like maintaining our faith when times get tough, developing new skills and better ways of thinking, and showing grace under pressure by controlling our responses.

God’s classroom for our metamorphosis is His church. When God wants to start a metamorphosis in his world, community, or home, He puts us with a family of believers where His spirit can work in us.

The process of metamorphosis takes time and patience. I love it that Griff is learning all about that, and I’m trying to remember that lesson in my own life. God is developing qualities in us right now that can’t be developed any other way. When He’s finished, we will have been through the metamorphosis that will provide the maturity to handle whatever He has in mind for us!

Father, thank you for all the prayers you’ve answered during my lifetime. You’ve answered small prayers and big prayers, evening prayers and morning prayers, quiet prayers and loud prayers, anxious prayers and peaceful prayers. May my own prayers be shaped according to you faithfulness. become less selfish and frantic and more calm and trusting each day that passes. Give me patience for the metamorphosis. In Jesus’ name. Amen copied