Time In The Cocoon

The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone—a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. John 12:24

A caterpillar on its journey to becoming a butterfly goes through an amazing metamorphosis. What’s most incredible about this change is that it requires the caterpillar to go dormant for a time. The caterpillar spins itself into a cocoon and stays there—seemingly dead to the world.

Sometimes as God moves us from one place to another in our lives, he takes us through “cocoon” times. We usually don’t like them. They seem boring, and we may start to think that God isn’t moving fast enough. We may even be tempted to ask him, “If you gave me this plan, why don’t you do something to move it forward?” We may even be tempted to take matters into our own hands, ripping the cocoon apart ourselves and running ahead of God. But the cocoon time is all part of the plan.

Science tells us that if you were to tear open a cocoon and set the butterfly free, its wings would be underdeveloped. That’s because the very act of struggling to get out of the cocoon strengthens the butterfly’s wings, allowing it to fly. Likewise, if we try to escape God’s cocoon before he’s done transforming us, we may delay or even nullify what he’s trying to do.

So when you are going through your time in the cocoon, relax! For it is in the stillness that you hear God. It is in the waiting that your character is formed. If you wait and nuzzle close to God, when he finally releases you from the cocoon, you will be strong and beautiful and able to fly in ways you never could have if you had struggled free too soon.

Make it obvious to me, Jesus, when I need to stay in the cocoon.