There are some seasons that I wish I could use my Global Entry access for. If you’re not aware, Global Entry allows you to enter the United States because a pre-clearance has been done and you walk to a kiosk that uses facial recognition, and you walk to the TSA agents and pretty much walk out of the airport. This process takes about three minutes.
Often times I look over to the regular line and it is long and filled with maybe hundreds of people, especially if multiple flights have just landed.
There have been some seasons that I would have happily skipped the line and bypassed any waiting.
This week, as I walked in the park and pondered this message that was starting to be laid on my heart. I wasn’t sure it was the one that I wanted to share.
I thought of different aspects of my own life and how others would have wanted me to not be in a season for as long as I had been or matter of fact that I did not want to be in either. The questions would invariably come as would the suggestions from my very well meaning loved ones.
In this time of choosing not to move because I realized my instructions had not changed; it did not change the circumstances, it changed me.
There is a story that I have loved for many years. It is the story of the caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. I had read somewhere that if you tried to help a transforming caterpillar and try to break the cocoon that you would permanently damage the butterfly.
The reason behind this is that as the butterfly is transforming, in order to break out of the cocoon, it has to build its own strength, which is in turn is what allows it to develop beautiful and strong wings.
I know, especially as a parent, it is difficult to watch our children go through really hard seasons without trying to get them out of it quickly.
As I texted with a friend yesterday and she was sharing the hard season that she was in I wanted to offer to change it for her if I could. Then I asked her a question instead: do you think God is trying to teach you anything in this season?
I don’t know if all the hard things that we walk through are necessary, but what I do know is what Romans 8:28 says, “and we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
As I reflect on my own life, I realize that while some seasons were incredibly hard, I would not be who I am today, and I do realize that God does not waste anything, even the hard seasons.
Dear Heavenly Father, at times it is so difficult to watch our loved ones hurting. But, You have promised us to never leave us or forsake us. Would you show us the good that can come out of the hard seasons? Open our eyes to see as you do.