We live in a world of clichés, hyper motivational posts, clever quotes, tweets, and catchy refrigerator magnets, designed to jolt us! They attempt to change our feelings by giving us just the inspiration or kick in the pants we need for the moment. Sometimes they cause us to ponder….sometimes they annoy us with their simplistic sappiness….and sometimes they birth an “aha moment” in us! I had an “aha” morning when I received this thought from a friend!
“How does one become a butterfly? You must want to fly so much… that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”
Even though my creative mind could see that on a lovely framed poster, it landed on my heart. The actual rousing in my soul was over the simple word “want”. A very unique chapter in my life story is that at the age of 50 I realized I had been living as a caterpillar. The pressures of that time catapulted my “want” into overdrive. I desired freedom in my soul and spiritual heart so much, that I was willing to allow God to constrain me, in His grip, no matter the cost. The “check it off my list/whirlwind Phyllis” simply had no more frenetic energy to outrun His will. What felt like a season of confinement and stillness turned out to be His hand forming my life His way. I will admit I had moments of spiritual claustrophobia! I had lived a large part of my adult life stuck in the caterpillar stage by avoiding the process required to allow my spirit to fly and soar in God’s promises. To emotionally, physically, and spiritually submit to His restraint transformed me. My “want” was my catalyst.
A happy life is not the result of chance. Life is full of spiritual processes…molding, stripping, refining , forming, sanctifying, cleansing and dying to name a few. These processes are skillfully handled by our loving Shepherd….our Lord….Jesus. Our Shepherd shares His life with us! IN HIM renovation happens. The resources He offers us produces a death to old ways of thinking, acting, responding and living and replaces it with freedom and liberty! As the 23rd Psalm so lovingly describes, I have a Shepherd that supplies my “want” with MAKING me lie down in green pastures. Green pastures are those spiritual places that force our soul to find rest, supply, and nourishment. It is a restful place close to His heart! When we allow that process, He is able to fill us up with still waters…the Spirit of God!
WANT is such a small but descriptive word. We have to “want” to experience the next level in our spiritual journey! Whether it is described as the want to transform from a spiritual caterpillar to a spiritual butterfly OR the want of green pastures and still waters of rest…it is our want that is our motivator. When motivation is fueled by want, and we turn to the God of the universe with our want…we live out II Corinthians 16-18 “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into His glorious image.”
The same God who created the cocoon to transform a caterpillar into a butterfly is skillful enough to make you lie down in spiritual green pastures, is generous enough to lead you beside still waters, is purposed enough to change you! Through processes of want, we are changed into His glorious image!
It is a promise!