I had finally accepted the fact that I was being followed. Whether I was coming or going, working or resting, they always seemed to be near. Sounds like a scary movie right? Well, wrong! Quite the opposite actually. I wasn’t being followed by a creepy stalker or anything alike, but I seemed to continuously find myself surrounded by one of nature’s most delicate creatures….
Butterflies. And what took me a few months to realize that their constant presence wasn’t just a coincidence anymore, I had to push aside my thoughts of “ possibly going crazy”, and replace them with the full belief that God himself was giving me signs of His continual presence.
Most of the things we know exist in seasons. All four seasons of weather in ONE day #Midwestlife, school & graduations , weddings, sports, planting & harvesting. The flowers bloom, leaves fall, animals move and hibernate, all in their due seasons. The bible says “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (amp). So at first I wasn’t surprised to see the butterflies floating around, considering it was the end of summer and beginning of fall. I just assumed it was butterfly season . What started off with seeing 1 or 2 a day, ended up reaching 15+. They would crash into my windshield while I was driving, swoop down on me while I was standing, and I had to watch my step when I was walking. I even had to pluck them out from the grill of my car. God sparked my attention when I started to ask others about this influx in the butterfly population, and they couldn’t remember seeing even one. They hadn’t noticed all the butterfly activity, nor did they feel like they were being surrounded by them. So then I started asking God, “ Am I crazy…Is this a sign…Am I imagining this?” kind of questions.
I heard Him say, “ Why can’t I use these butterflies to show you who I am? I created them, they are my creation.”
I don’t remember ever saying that God couldn’t use the presence of butterflies as a sign of HIS presence in my life, but I guess that’s what my doubt was saying for me.
Besides the change between the summer and fall seasons during this time, there was another season of change I was in the middle of, and that was in my career. The year before I had decided to leave my first job of 10+ years, to broaden my horizons and gain more experience. And yes…that’s exactly what happened and so…much… more. I’m convinced I was working in the midst of such a special place by the enormity of knowledge and skills that buzzed around the building and the organization as a whole. I had the confidence to take on this new venture, but that quickly evaporated as I continuously felt overwhelmed and I mistook those feelings as being inadequate . I found myself out of my comfort zone most days and had the constant, fearful feeling of trying to keep my head above water. This was a heavy burden to carry around everyday and I wasn’t used to feeling this way. I became desperate for those feelings to go away, so I prayed. As I prayed and started reading the bible more, it seemed like God was giving me signs of His presence in multiple ways, including the surrounding of butterflies. While he was
giving me these specific signs outside of work, I had been missing the biggest sign of all. It was 18 months before I noticed the giant portrait of a monarch butterfly hanging in my work waiting area, plus the 3 other butterfly portraits hanging around the department. I walked by these pictures every day, and never noticed them. And when the time came that I was questioning “God, is that really you? Are you really trying to speak to me and get my attention? “ He gave me giant YES!! That picture had been there the whole time in this new place of uncomfortable growth, and so had He. I walked passed it, busy and preoccupied, but He was still there. That picture was there first thing in the mornings and last thing at night, just like He was. I believe God had me right where He wanted me and I had to learn that’s right where I needed to be. But why did it feel so overwhelming and threatening? Hopefully more posts on all of those things to come in the future :)
The nature of butterflies are quite symbolic. They start off as a different creature than what they finally end up being. First as a caterpillar, then emerging as a butterfly, the changing or metamorphosis they go through can be compared to the different changes or seasons of growth in our own lives. They say you shouldn’t help a butterfly emerge out of its cocoon, but let them struggle their own way out of it. The struggle they go through strengthens their wings so they can fly….. “No flight before the fight.” The challenging, stressful and sometimes unexpected times in our lives, can make us stronger in our own wings too.
I never expected to gain so much from a tiny pair of wings. I will never look at a butterfly the same way again. It will always be a reminder of the closeness, intentionality, and faithfulness of the presence of God. No matter what season of life I’m in or whether I find it easy or difficult to walk through, I learned I don’t have to journey through it by myself. Whether I was surrounded by my hardworking coworkers, supportive family & friends, or the delicate flap of a butterfly wing, I believe they were all signs from the Lord Himself, and that that season was intentionally and perfectly orchestrated. I now know He is always present. In fact, He goes before us, waits on us and prepares the way. We just have to make sure we are close enough to Him and know Him well enough to see His signs and wonders through it all.
Are you noticing the signs that God is giving you in this season? What are some of the ways He has or is getting your attention? Don’t ignore them or take them lightly, it could literally be the start of something beyond what you can think or imagine!
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