I Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Galatians 3:4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

EVERY SUFFERING THAT THE LORD ALLOWS IS NEVER IN VAIN. But you can actually make it vain if you don’t let it train you. DO YOU WASTE YOUR PAIN? Selah!

I once read an article of a gentleman who one day went into the green fields. And on one of the tree branches, he saw a caterpillar which appeared to be suffering and struggling to come out of its cocoon. The gentleman thought to himself, “Oh poor butterfly! Suffering all by itself. Let me help you out of your misery.” He got closer and gently tore open the cocoon and brought out the caterpillar. Then he took the caterpillar home, waiting and expecting for it to turn into a butterfly and fly away. Days turned to months and the poor caterpillar never transformed into a butterfly for the rest of its short life.

What really happened? By intelligent design, the CREATOR made it such that in the transformation process of the caterpillar into a butterfly, it must suffer a little when emerging from the cocoon. As it struggles and forces its way out, bodily fluid which are needed for the development of the limbs and wings are squeezed into the developing wings and limbs. It’s only when the caterpillar has successfully gone through the suffering will it  emerge out with developed wings and limbs to fly. Without it, it may never fly.

It’s not in your best interest to Dodge and Avoid some afflictions and suffering which was meant to develop you. Despising and avoiding the chastening and discipline of the Lord won’t help you in the long run. You might end up like that caterpillar which never became a butterfly. Is that what you want to be? Selah!

This year, resolve to become all that God wants you to be; not despising the discipline of the Lord. Be blessed! Amen!

                 GRACEFUL MORNING