For the last seven years, the kids and I have been raising monarch butterflies.  We became hooked on it thanks to a family friend who has the heart of a life-long teacher and thought we might enjoy watching this marvel of creation.

And she was right.  So much so that we now have our own growing collection of milkweed attracting monarchs to lay their eggs in our yard, and we have released over 90 monarch butterflies during those seven years.

A few weeks ago, we released the last butterfly of the season.  This butterfly is among those who will fly over 2,000 miles to winter in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico.  The capabilities and design of the monarch never cease to amaze us and point us to the Creator.

How does this super butterfly (and the monarchs that make the journey to Mexico are known as “Super Monarchs”) know the same spot of trees that his great grandparents went to in the mountains of Mexico?  Simply put, God designed them that way!

But that is the end of the journey.  I want to back up and talk with you about the 12 days that the monarch spends in its chrysalis.  You see, after roughly 14 days of life as a caterpillar, the monarch forms a chrysalis and the process to come is nothing short of amazing.  While the earth is abuzz around the caterpillar, inside that green chrysalis with its beautiful gold markings, an incredible change is taking place.

 

How does that relate to us?  We live in a crazy world right now.  Things can feel stressful and confusing.  The world is full of anxiety and short on patience.  Let’s face it:  the news alone can stir an uneasiness.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

The monarch’s chrysalis is a reminder that sometimes the Lord changes our circumstances, and sometimes He just changes you.  That caterpillar is becoming a beautiful butterfly.  When caterpillars are in the chrysalis, they aren’t stressed or fretting about what is going on in the world around them.  They are just being still before God and He is doing a MAGNIFICIENT work inside.

What does God want to do in you during this season?  What transformation does He have planned?  We, of course, pray for God to move in our world and I believe He will.  But when we don’t see it right away, when the chaos continues around us, remember to be still before Him.  Maybe the work He is doing at this very moment is an incredible work inside of you.

 

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6

Trust Him to be at work!

For His Glory,
Kristen

P.S.  See more pictures of our monarch adventures on my Instagram page like this timelapse video of a caterpillar forming a chrysalis.