Then he looks at men and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me.’ He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light.
I have been thinking a lot about where I would be if I didn’t have a relationship with God. I look back and see where God has been working on my heart my whole life, even when I didn’t know anything about Him. I believe it is because of God that I am where I am today, and I’m still growing in that relationship. I have also thought about people I know, one in particular.
We have a dear friend, a previous pastor at our church. I was moved to send him a gift. I asked a couple of questions through text, what does he like that is part of nature, and for his favorite bible verse. I took the information he gave me and searched through pictures and thought about the best way to make this gift.
This person’s story, his transformation if you will, is so moving. It testifies of God’s great mercy and love. He told me Job 33 speaks of his life and what he went through. Thinking about his story I chose a picture of a swallowtail butterfly with a damaged wing. I placed his chosen bible text on the picture then had the gift made and mailed to him. Today I got a call thanking me for the gift. During the discussion I explained why I chose the picture I did.
Butterflies start as caterpillars, creeping and crawling around. Then they find a place and build a cocoon around themselves, and the transformation begins. They go through a great deal during this transformation but once they emerge, they are transformed into a beautiful butterfly. The one in the picture had a damaged wing to signify the scars we still carry with us, the hurts, but God still helps us fly. All this is a testimony to Him. Our mess, His message.
God is working on each and every one of us. He has a plan, and He will make something beautiful out of our story if we let Him. Let His love and grace transform us. Let it make us fly.