Transformed Into His Image

Have you ever sat and watched a butterfly struggle for several hours to force its body through that tiny hole in a cocoon? After awhile it seems to... more

by Hazel Holland

Title

Transformed Into His Image

Artist

Hazel Holland

Medium

Painting - Watercolor Pencil - Water Soluble Wax Crayons

Description

Have you ever sat and watched a butterfly struggle for several hours to force its body through that tiny hole in a cocoon? After awhile it seems to stop making any progress at all, and appears that it can go no further...

I remember the first time I saw this I wanted to help the butterfly get out. But my grandmother quickly cautioned me that this was not a good thing to do. I learned that "helping" a butterfly emerge from his cocoon was not a kind thing to do because its body would then remain shriveled and its wings withered.

The wings would never open and expand and become firm. They would never be able to support the butterfly's body. The butterfly would spend the rest of its life crawling around with a withered body and shriveled wings. It would never be able to fly!

What I did not fully understand as a child is that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get out of it was God's way of strengthening the butterfly's wings. He was making them ready for flight once the butterfly achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

The butterfly's struggle to emerge from the cocoon is exactly what is needed for it to become the creature God designed it to be. It's destiny was never to remain a caterpillar, but to be transformed into a healthy and beautiful butterfly.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in life, too. They make us strong. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles to overcome, we would become weak and crippled. We would never be able to fly!

So God allows difficulties to cross our path because they provide opportunities for us to grow. He knows that we will emerge from our struggles far wiser and with a courage born out of pain. His purpose is for us to live life the way He designed... in freedom.

Our destiny in Him is never to remain a captive, crippled by fear, but to be transformed into His image. We were born to fly! ♥

* Top Finisher in "Flights of Fancy" contest 10/3/15
* Won 1st place prize in "Wings of Butterfly Angel Storm" contest 1/4/16
* Won 2nd place in a 3-way tie in "Change Can Happen" contest 2/15/16
* Top Finisher in "Group 10 Plus" contest 3/5/16
* Top Finisher in "Butterflies" contest 6/15/16
* Top Finisher in "Animal Abstract" contest 9/13/16
* Won 3rd place in "Colors of Insects and Spiders" contest 9/`5/16
* Top Finisher in "Anthropod Art" contest 10/30/16
* Top Finisher in "Puzzles Challenging" contest 1/1/17
* Top Finisher in "Big Beautiful Butterflies" contest 3/30/17
* Top Finisher in "The Transformation Contest" 10/3/17
* Top Finisher in "Abstract Beauty" contest 2/6/18

Uploaded

March 22nd, 2013