Lesson From a Butterfly

“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” – Psalm 40:2

Today, when I went out to fill my bird bath with water, I noticed that sitting on the fountain mechanism was a swallowtail butterfly. Its wing tips were in the water, and it wasn’t moving. I thought that perhaps its life cycle had been completed, and it had landed there to die. However, since I wasn’t too sure, I gently reached under it and lifted it up. Its tiny little feet moved slightly, so I knew it was still living. Its wings were too wet for flight, so  I carried it to my butterfly plant and set it upon one of the blooms. After a few moments, it adjusted itself slightly, but seemed unsteady on the plant. I left it there, hoping it would regain some strength.

A few minutes later, to be sure it didn’t fall off due to its weakness, I quietly returned to see if the butterfly was still on the bloom. It was, but it had positioned itself differently, spreading its wings, perhaps to avail itself of the sun’s warmth. After another few minutes, I returned once again and saw that it was now feeding from one of the tiny blossoms on the large bloom! I was elated and gave thanks to the Lord for allowing me to help one of His creatures!

This whole event reminded me that when I accepted the gift of salvation that God’s precious Son, Jesus, provided for me when He died on the cross, God lifted me from the miry clay of sin that threatened to destroy my life. Then, like the butterfly who was renewed after feeding off the bloom, after I accepted Christ as my Saviour, I was fed from His Word which gave me new life in Him! Now I can spread my spiritual wings and fly for Him, sharing the gospel… the good news of God’s plan for mankind’s redemption… whenever He provides an opportunity for me to do so!

My heart was distressed ’neath Jehovah’s dread frown,
And low in the pit where my sins dragged me down;
I cried to the Lord from the deep miry clay,
Who tenderly brought me out to golden day.
He brought me out of the miry clay,
He set my feet on the Rock to stay;
He puts a song in my soul today,
A song of praise, hallelujah!

(from “He Brought Me Out” by Henry J. Zelley and H.L. Gilmour)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31

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Oh, to be a butterfly in the hand of God! What joy divine!