“Change is Necessary” by La’Shaunda Ewing
I read a devotional about two weeks ago, and it blew my mind! The devotional talked about transformation, specifically that of a butterfly and how it emerges from its chrysalis. The metamorphosis is remarkable because it starts as something so tiny, alone, and hidden to reveal the greatness that was always on the inside. Or if I can say it this way, We are predestined for a necessary change!
When the Caterpillar starts going through its change, the spinning begins soft, but it becomes hard to allow for a complete transformation. What’s happening on the inside is necessary so that the outside can display the journey you have been on! The hope is that you see that your journey has been ugly at times, but if you don’t abort the process, it will be one of beauty in the end. Perspective, just like change, is necessary.
A butterfly lays an egg that becomes a Caterpillar, a 12 12-legged creature that some people call a pest or some think looks so disgusting. That’s why you can never judge a book by its cover; each of us has something on the inside that makes us look different on the outside. Remember, the Caterpillar is always destined to become a majestic butterfly. It is its destiny!
You, my sister, have been designed from Birth for an extraordinary destiny! It’s yours, and no one or no circumstance can take it from you except you!
The metamorphosis is a challenging process. It’s pretty painful for the Caterpillar. Some of us can say the same thing: our transformations have been difficult. If we look back, the events in our lives have been painful and even near-death experiences. Some things have occurred in your life, and you know the only way it will improve is when you make the necessary changes for a different outcome. We go through these stages where we are happy and then sad. Ready to grow and then depressed about why moving to the next phase is taking so long. Going through these cycles of change is necessary to grow up, learn from lessons that will preserve us in the future, have experiences that will propel us forward, and have tests that provide great testimonies.
For a Caterpillar to start changing into a butterfly, its whole life has to be turned upside down and placed in a place where it can be away so that it won’t be disturbed during its growing process.
Psalm 32:7 KJV says Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Change is necessary
The transformation of a Caterpillar into a butterfly is a process that it must go through alone. Nobody is there except for the creator of the transformation, and he or she is going through the process alone.
Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
You have to be oh so careful about the work you are doing for GOD and the timing of it! It doesn’t have to be shown to everybody. Your transformation can be done in secret. Why? Because every time we tell what God is doing, there will be people praying against us. There will be people who will be trying to figure out how they can sabotage what the Lord is doing in your life. If your relationship is not as tight-knit as that chrysalis, if you haven’t gone through the stages of growth to stand against the naysayers, fear will come in, and people will set up traps for you.
Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
Change is Necessary
The timing of the butterfly’s emergence from the chrysalis is critical; if it’s too early, they’re doomed because they won’t have developed enough.
Doesn’t it sound like some of us are trying to get ahead of God and his plan for our lives? He’s shown you a glimpse of it, but you think you know better than he does. Remember, he says my plans are not yours, my ways are not yours, thus says the Lord. So, we must be careful when trying to get ahead of God. Luke 12:2 Amplified Bible (AMP) says, But there is nothing [so carefully] concealed that it will not be revealed, nor so hidden that it will not be made known.
Now, I’m talking about the butterfly, but for some of you, be careful with how you’re living as well because what you think you’re doing in the dark will come to light. God is the omnipresent God, which means that he sees all and knows all. Our hearts, our struggles, and even our mess. But despite it all. He loves us and will be there all the way to help us move from glory to glory because…
Change is necessary
To become a butterfly, the caterpillar has to go through the last stage of the process. Sis, you are almost there; this is not the time to give up! You are almost there.
1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
Just like the caterpillar, hang on in there! God is working it out for your good.
Just like the caterpillar, do not try to skip a step. We have to complete what is assigned for us to do. A Death is a part of our original design.. Sound familiar
Change is necessary
Butterflies, as it turns out, release a chemical when they’re getting out of their chrysalis, a chemical that strengthens their wings. Their movements/struggle inside the chrysalis pump fluid into their wings, which helps the wings expand. So if a well-meaning human interferes and tries to ‘help’ the butterfly with its struggle, it likely will doom the butterfly due to lack of development.
See, this is the same thing that happens with us or others around us. If God brought the struggle to you, don’t fight it or invite anyone into it. God is working on you to give you a great future. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The struggle is necessary. It is required for your Change, just like a butterfly must struggle to get the blood and fluid released from the place through its wings.
You, too, must go through struggles so that your talents, skills, purpose, power and authority, strength, muscle, beauty, and faith can be revealed! You’re not the only one who has had to go through a transformation/change, and you’re not going to be the last one!
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Change is not just necessary, it’s a beautiful part of life. Once we can embrace it and see that it is working together for our good, we will come out looking nothing like what we have been through, with an awesome testimony of the Change that was necessary!
