Fightin’ the thing through…

I’ve heard the story several times where a little boy finds a cocoon and sees that the butterfly is struggling diligently to free itself.  Feeling bad for the creature, he helps it out only to watch the butterfly die.  He learns that it’s in the struggle that the butterfly’s wings are strengthened.  I think that’s a great message, and God made it even more relevant to me today in a lesson He taught me during my prayer time.

I was asking Him how it’s possible to live a holy life and make obedient choices when you feel yourself caught in sin.  In those weakened times, it seems impossible to flee.  Your brain is clouded, and the crucified “self” is once again seeking control.  You just keep returning to your vomit (Proverbs 26:11).  I envision someone in that situation caught up in a brier patch, flailing to get free but caught so tightly that they just ware themselves out.  I asked Him why He wouldn’t just cut through the thorns and free the person so that they could walk out and get back on the path that leads to righteousness. 

And then that butterfly came to my mind.

You see, the butterfly had all it needed to survive.  God created it perfectly.  But it had to become stronger in order for all those parts to work properly.  In the same way, God’s already given us all the things we need to live as obedient children.  He’s given us a heart that’s inclined to follow Him (Ezekiel 36:26-27) and a spirit of self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).  But He also tells us that we must learn to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11-13).  There’s a learning process involved.  He’s provided what we need, but He isn’t just going to make us obedient.  We have to grow those muscles by practicing.  We learn to obey by obeying.  With each choice, we either draw nearer to Him or walk further away from Him.  When we make the right choice, He strengthens us and it becomes easier to make that choice the next time.

Now He’s certainly with us through the whole process.  We aren’t left on our own.  He encourages us with His Word, time spent with Him, His Spirit in us, and the body of believers.  But we can’t expect to become holy overnight.  We have to fight the thing out to strengthen the muscles so that we can run the race with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-3).

And we must also not forget that even a muscle-man can atrophy if his muscles aren’t used.  So regardless of any mountain tops we’ve been on, if we find ourselves in the valley and feeling weaker than a kitten, it’s time to start fighting again to “bulk back up”!

Don't become overwhelmed and anxious about living a holy life forever.  Commit to being obedient today.  Or for the next hour!  And then ask Him to help you.  After that time, thank Him for His faithfulness and re-commit.  Hours turn into days, and days turn into weeks, and pretty soon you're Hulk (by the grace of God, of course)!