Key scripture – “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).

Can a caterpillar fly? If you said, “No,” you would be partially correct. Actually, a caterpillar can fly, but it must have a transformation first.

The butterfly begins life as a caterpillar, a wormlike larva that spins a cocoon for itself. For weeks, the larva remains hidden within the cocoon as it undergoes metamorphosis. When it’s time for the butterfly to emerge, it must struggle and fight its way out of the cocoon. We might be tempted to help this process by tearing open the cocoon – but that’s the worst thing we could do, because the struggle makes it strong and enables it to fly. Butterflies need adversity to become what God intended them to be and so do we.

The Book of Job is the story of a wealthy and prominent community leader named Job. He was a successful and righteous businessman with ten children and huge holdings of livestock and real estate. Job “owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a large number of servants. Among Easterners, he was the most powerful and influential man” (Job 1:3). One day Satan came before God and God asked him, “Where have you come from?” Satan replied, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” (Job 1:7).

God said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Notice that God pointed Job out to Satan, and God gave Satan permission to put Job through a trial of adversity. (Job1:12). Job’s herds were stolen, his servants were murdered, and all of Job’s children were killed by a sudden tornado. (Job1:14-19). In addition to losing everything, when Job’s closest friends came to comfort him, instead of helping him, they told him that all of this happened to him because he sinned.

Through his trial of adversity, Job grows in strength, wisdom and faith, and that is why He could say this about God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15a). His entire perspective on God is transformed by his suffering. “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:10-12).

All of us who are Christians will go through trials of adversity, therefore, we must get beyond the immature notion that God is only interested in making us healthy, wealthy, and happy. More than anything, He wants us to be like Christ, and the road to becoming like Christ often leads through the wilderness of adversity, that is why Peter said, “Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. Instead, be really glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory in that coming day when it will be displayed. Be happy if you are cursed and insulted for being a Christian, for when that happens the Spirit of God will come upon you with great glory. Don’t let me hear of your suffering for murdering or stealing or making trouble or being a busybody and prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being in Christ’s family and being called by his wonderful name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin first among God’s own children. And if even we who are Christians must be judged, what terrible fate awaits those who have never believed in the Lord? If the righteous are barely saved, what chance will the godless have? So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you” (1 Peter 4:12-19).

We all know that in order for the butterfly to fly, there must be a transformation process that is developed through adversity, and the same is true for us. So stop whining and complaining about the trial, and instead get on your knees and ask God how He wants to use this trial to change you and make you more like Jesus.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I want you to be able to say about me what you said about Job; that I am Your servant, a good person, whose character is spotless, and whose integrity is unquestioned. I want my faith and trust in You to be so strong that I seek You in all things, I honor You in all things, and I deliberately seek to avoid evil in all of my affairs. Father, I know that my steps are established by You and You take pleasure in my way. Even though I slip and fall, I will never be overwhelmed, because You hold my hand. (Psalm 37: 23-24.). Thank You Father that You will never forsake or abandon me. You are, Yahweh Nissi, The Lord is my Banner. While I am in the trenches, going toe to toe in the battle, I can turn and look up and be reminded that You are my banner and You are over me. Nothing is better than that, because no matter what I am going through I will be victorious because You are making pathways through the wilderness and creating rivers in the dry wasteland, and in the Valley of Baca, which is the Valley of Weeping,You are creating refreshing springs which are pools of blessings that collect for me, while You pour Your Spirit on me, and Your rod and staff guide me, protect me, and comfort me. I am strong in the Lord, and I want above all else to follow Your steps and the plans that You have for me. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.