Name: Living Proof | Christian T-Shirt
Brand: Unveiled Design Co
SKU: 5:4183;14:200002130#Wine Red-3256806248483695
Price: 18.99 USD
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The Message in the Details - What I Learned from a Butterfly

There are messages in the details of our lives.

Now that’s a statement. This is a story that has been marinating on my heart for a couple of months now. A friend read something I had written for church this morning and told me “THIS is within your control” and I knew it was time to share.

I believe God speaks to us in whispers in the details of the world around us.

This summer while the boys and I were at the pool this butterfly kept landing on us. It was persistent. We would swat it away and it would come back. It would land on us and stay for upwards of 20 minutes. This went on for a little over an hour. At one point, one of the boys asked what kind of butterfly it was, so I Googled it: an Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly. Liam instantly asked, "What does that mean when you see one?" That’s such a hard question to answer, but just like sailors used to watch the skies to tell them if the seas would be conducive for sailing, I believe God speaks to us in whispers in the details of the world around us. Just like when things stick out in scripture, it’s called Rhema – the Word of God or the utterance of God – it is specific to your life when God is speaking directly to you. So, I Googled it: “In many cultures, butterflies, including the Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly, are seen as symbols of transformation, growth, and renewal. They represent the beauty and resilience of nature.”

“So I went to the potter’s house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.” (Jeremiah 18:3-4 MSG)

As sometimes happens… sometimes in life things turn out badly or they don’t go our way, but we serve a persistent God. He doesn’t leave us there when things turn out badly. He’s right there with us. Read that again… He doesn’t leave us there. He’s right there with us. We can choose to stay there, but just like the potter with the clay, He will continue to pursue you, He will continue to mold you, transform you, grow you, and renew you. It might be hard (it’s likely going to be hard), it might hurt (it’s definitely going to hurt), but He made you beautiful and resilient, because He is beautiful and resilient – you are made in your Creator’s image.

“This is God’s Word on the subject: ‘… I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.’” (Jeremiah 29:10-11 MSG)

Just like the words in Jeremiah, that Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly is a promise. And just like with me and my family, God is working on you. There is something so much better in store for you.

“This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, The God who summons horses and chariots and armies – they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: ‘Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sunbaked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people of custom-made to praise me.” (Isaiah 43:16-21)

Don’t you see it? Can’t you feel it? God CHOSE YOU! God is about to do something brand new in your life. Don’t be afraid, trust, believe… praise Him through this storm. Better days are just around the corner.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Portner-Shillingburg

Sarah is a single mom of three active boys. She grew up in the hills of West Virginia, and loves to spend her time outside exploring God's creation with her boys.