When the Struggle is Worth It
A devotional by by Suzanne Felton
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
The life cycle of a butterfly is sometimes used as a metaphor for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the spiritual transformation of all who put their faith in Him.
The metamorphosis of a crawling caterpillar into a beautiful, soaring butterfly is a powerful picture of Christ’s victory over death and the tomb. It is also an amazing, awe-inspiring thing to observe in nature. I learned a lot the first time I had that chance to be immersed in an outdoor observation one summer when I spotted a monarch caterpillar in our backyard. I watched it munching leaves for several days until there was a small, green, pod—a chrysalis—hanging in the place where the caterpillar had been. It was happening! I knew this was the stage in which the caterpillar was changing into a butterfly. I could not wait to see it emerge! About two weeks later, I noticed a change in the chrysalis. I was so excited that I got a lawn chair and settled in to watch the big event. I was ready to see the new butterfly triumphantly burst out of its tomb and take to the skies.
Much to my dismay, that’s not what happened. There was no bursting forth and there was nothing triumphant about it. Instead, for what seemed like forever (really about half an hour), whatever was inside the chrysalis struggled pitifully to get out through a small crack. It was hard to watch. I was afraid this butterfly had not fully developed and was not going to make it. I felt bad for it and I was tempted to run inside, get some scissors, and help the poor thing out myself, but I decided to let nature take its course.
When the creature was finally out of the chrysalis, it looked nothing like the glorious monarch butterflies I’ve seen in pictures. This was a wrinkled, weak-looking version, like someone had crumpled it up to throw it away. I could not take it anymore. I was sure something had gone wrong, and this butterfly would never fly. I packed up my chair and went inside.
About an hour later, curiosity got the better of me, and I went back to check on the butterfly one last time. What I saw took my breath away. Where the weak, shriveled insect had been before was a gorgeous, vibrant butterfly, wings spread wide and shining in the sun. I had barely processed the vision when the wings fluttered and the butterfly rose into the air, glided across the yard and out of sight.
For Christians, Easter Sunday is a joyful day of victory and celebration. We know that Jesus Christ died on the cross, overcame death, and rose on the third day. We know that He still lives, and that everyone who puts their faith in Him will also overcome death and have eternal life in Heaven. Hallelujah!
However, we might forget this fact of life: Sometimes His path to joy and victory was not glorious or easy to watch. Even before the unthinkable, excruciating physical pain of crucifixion, Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest friends, denied by another, rejected by the masses, convicted unjustly, mocked, and beaten by His captors. To outside observers, it must have looked as though this Jesus, the Teacher who had gained so many followers, was crumpled up, weak, and not going to make it. When His body was sealed in the tomb, it must have seemed like the end. But only a short time later, Jesus was alive again in a radiant, restored body!
It turns out, as I later learned, that a butterfly’s struggle to emerge from its chrysalis is a necessary part of its life cycle. The physical strain as it wrestles its way out is essential for strengthening its muscles and developing its wings. In short, without the struggle, it would never be able to fly.
Christ’s earthly path to the cross was not easy, and He was not eager to suffer. The Bible says that Jesus prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-40) that His Father (God) would take away the burden of what He had to do, but when God did not, He obeyed because He knew that what He would accomplish through his suffering would be far greater than even the weight of the sin of the world. As the Bible tells us, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2 NIV). God could have made things easier for His Son, but the struggle was a necessary part of the plan.
Putting our faith in Jesus does not guarantee us immunity from struggles or pain. In fact, the Bible tells us that the opposite is true. Before he was crucified, Jesus told His disciples what was going to happen to Him, and how they would face trouble because they were His followers. Then He said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). We will all face difficult times in this life, but, as followers of Jesus Christ, we can remember that our faith is in the One who has overcome it all. The Apostle Paul knew this when he wrote, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18 NIV). Like Jesus, we can face the struggles of this world because of our hope in the joy that is to come.
This is Holy Week. As we look forward to the joy and celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter, let us not forget that His path to victory was not easy or appealing. Christ’s struggle was a necessary part of God’s plan of salvation. If you are struggling right now, you can put your hope in the One who has overcome death and darkness and wants to give you joy and peace.
Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, this week we pause to remember the tremendous sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from sin. Help us to remember that no matter what we are struggling with now, we can have hope because the joy of eternal life with You awaits us. Thank You, Lord, for loving us so much. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection: “Thank You Jesus for the Blood (Live)” by Charity Gayle. Listen to it here.
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Author Bio:
Suzanne Felton has been a writer for most of her life, even before she realized it.
She has worked in a wide range of settings, from non-profits to science labs to government contracts to educational classrooms, all of which involved writing in one form or another.
Suzanne is amazed by the power of words and now uses her passion and experience to help authors and students as a writing coach. Encouraging others to find the words and the courage to share their stories is one of her greatest joys.
Suzanne’s devotionals have been published in periodicals and blogs including The Upper Room, The Love Offering, Keys 4 Kids, and The Swallow’s Nest. She is also a two-time finalist in the Cascade Christian Writing Contest for poetry.
She is a wife, mother, writer, reader, teacher, deep thinker, and sinner saved by grace. Suzanne and her family reside in Northern Virginia, but Suzanne will always call her native South Carolina home.
Married to her best friend for twenty-five years, Suzanne is active in her church, where she and her husband have served as deacons for over a decade. They enjoy watching sports and visiting national parks with their two teenage sons. Suzanne is also an avid birder, easily and happily distracted by anything with feathers.
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Connect with Suzanne:
Website: https://suzannefelton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l_suzanne_felton
Email address: suzannefeltonwriter@gmail.com
