Butterflies :)

 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

I love butterflies.  I mean, really love them.  Anyone who knows me well knows that they’re one of my favorite things!  They’re always so happy!  I especially love the yellow ones.  They aren’t the prettiest ones I’ve ever seen, but they are always so happy!  :) 

Although I love to see them fly by, they’re special to me for a bigger reason.  God uses them to encourage me—especially when I’m feeling down.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been anxious about something or upset, only to see a butterfly.  I don’t just see them outside either!  There have been so many times I have seen various butterfly-related things inside as well.  It might be a magnet, a sticker, a picture… RANDOM stuff!  It’s like He places butterfly-related things around my house ahead of time, just because He wants to show it to me on a day I’m feeling down. 

Whenever I was pregnant, I was VERY afraid that something would go wrong.  I didn't have a reason to believe this, but it was my first pregnancy, and I was scared.  Well, one afternoon I started to pray.  The only part of the prayer that I had actually said yet was, "Lord, please protect my baby...", and a butterfly flew right in front of me.  I immediately whispered, "Everything will be fine."  I didn't even have time to think of saying that--it just came out.  I truly believe that was the Lord speaking to AND through me.  I was so very thankful for this promise, because each time I started to become afraid in the following months, I remembered His promise, and felt comforted.  Guess what?  I have a healthy little girl.  The Lord is good.  That is only one example of how God uses butterflies in my life, but I assure you--He sends them to me when I'm in need, even in the dead of winter.  One time I stepped on a butterfly hair clip (not mine, by the way).  The Lord provides for His children.  :)

  

You may be wondering what this verse has to do with butterflies--well, I guess it all goes back to the transformation of caterpillars to beautiful butterflies.  They start out as, well, let's face it... they look like worms.  NOT the prettiest sight I have seen.  Then, somehow, they build a cocoon to live in, and then they emerge as BEAUTIFUL butterflies!  God transforms them from something not-so-pretty (in my opinion at least) to something amazing.  He has a plan for them from the beginning.  :)  This verse is special to me and gives me comfort when I'm feeling anxious about things that are going on in my life--which has happened a LOT this past year!  In the past year, I had a baby girl, moved to a NEW (old) house in a NEW town when she was only two months old, had stomach problems for months, which led to my gallbladder being removed and then finally being diagnosed with a mild case of Crohn's Disease.  Whew.  Don’t get me wrong… having my baby girl and moving to our new house were both WONDERFUL things, but it’s still really hard to adjust to being a mom, while moving away from everything familiar in the process!  I REALLY needed some butterflies and the knowledge that God had a plan for me!  

That's how our lives are sometimes, or maybe even a lot of the time.  Things are difficult, and we can't see what the future holds.  Well, God can.  He has a plan for our lives, and in this verse He says that they are plans to give us hope and a future.  We may not always like the plans because God thinks differently than we do (thank goodness!), but He knows best.  He can see the WHOLE picture, while we can only see a small part.  

  

Life is going to be difficult at times.  Things aren't always going to go our way.  However, just because things are hard, does NOT mean that He has abandoned us.  I truly believe he ALWAYS has a plan, even when it feels impossible to understand.  So, when you find yourself in a situation that seems hopeless, I urge you to remember this verse and remember that HE has a plan for you--plans to give you hope and a future!  :)  

P.S.  If you find yourself in a situation right now that seems hopeless and need somebody to talk with, please feel free to leave me a comment with your email address.  I don't have all of the answers by ANY means, but it would be my prayer to help encourage you!  :)  

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