No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
— 1 Corinthians 10:13
A man noticed an emperor moth struggling to emerge through a small hole in its cocoon, and decided he would try to assist it. So he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the cocoon. The little moth emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
Sadly, the moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
Later the man learned the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.
When the struggles of life come our way, it’s natural to want to find the easiest way out of them we can. But the easiest way out may not be what God intended – because our struggles often make us stronger.
So instead of jumping at your first chance to get out of a trial, ask God what He’s doing through your trial. He’ll lead you out – but not one minute before He’s done using your struggle for your good and His glory.
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to give you His perspective on the trials you face, and to show you His purpose in them.
Questions for Thought:
How do you think your perspective on your struggles might change if you saw them the way God does?
What trial are you facing today that you can see God using for your good and His glory?