DIFFICULTY PRODUCES DIAMONDS, GOLD AND BUTTERFLIES

Only the hottest heat and the greatest pressure
have sufficient force to change black,
worthless carbon into sparkling diamonds of immense value.

Gold is refined by fire too.

The caterpillar's necessary metamorphosis
into a glistening butterfly demands he spin himself a cocoon.
Once the brown capsule is finished nothing must touch it.
When the newly formed butterfly starts to emerge,
he must struggle and fight to push himself free.

If there is any help from the outside,
the little creature will never fly.
Only through the agony and struggle of cracking the cocoon,
can the Monarch's wing spread.

True fire will burn also.
Tragedy and calamity can shrivel and shrink our lives.

These times of trouble can embitter and stunt every good emotion.
In the midst of the heat, the hidden voice of God
 might usher forth as it did in Moses' expereinece with the burning bush.

Most of us just don't stay long enough to hear Him.
Waiting in the midst of the fire until God can be seen and heard
 melts away the residue of our trials.
What seems worthless and unnecessary
 can result in purification and perfection.

If God uses struggle to transfrom such an insignificant
 source of beauty as a butterfly,
would He keep us from anything less?

What seems to be so hindering may be the very strength
that allows us to fly.

These times of silence from God may be the times
 when we are refining our faith.
No matter what the trail may be,
our pain can forge new dimensions of life and vitality.

1 Peter 1:6-7  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season,
if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
[are] not worthy [to be compared]
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

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God Bless!
Kathy

Isaiah 40:31 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.