My Chrysalis

The journey to becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. Along this journey we all will face different seasons, designed by God, for specific purposes. Unlike the seasons on our calenders, these seasons don't necessarily happen in a certain order and it seems impossible to determine how long they will last. Actually I believe the length of the season has more to do with how we respond to the season than anything else. My difficult seasons seem to last a loooonggg time. I tend to be a stubborn, bullheaded one. I believe we pass through the seasons many times on our journey but each time is different. Each time God does a deeper work within us.

No season is as difficult to go through as the season of darkness. As I said earlier my seasons seem to be lengthy and this season of darkness was not an exception. It is painful and there are moments of great doubt, fear, and challenges that threaten to rock your faith. I call it a season of darkness because the pain and disappointment is severe enough to be called death. I believe this season is unavoidable in our spiritual journey. Well, I'm not completely sure "ALL" Christians experience it, but I know many have and those that have know it is real, it is dark, and it is difficult. It is a time of brokenness that eventually leads to incredible change and blessings. It's a time of deep transformation in a place of personal darkness. A chrysalis. I wish I had a more rugged, manly example but I guess this is part of that work of humility.

During this time of darkness and difficulty God is at work. He starts revealing impurities and sin in our own life that greatly affect our relationship with Him. He begins to expose weaknesses in our foundations that need serious attention. This season of darkness, weakness, and suffering reshapes us and begins to give us a new approach or direction to our journey.

Throughout this extended season I have asked God, "Why?" on numerous occasions. God has revealed several reasons why He has allowed this season.

1. to create humility
2. to reveal my weaknesses
3. to prove His greatness
4. to break pride
5. to cleanse my soul
6. to prevent spiritual apathy
7. to teach me deep spiritual truths that I would not learn any other way.
8. to remind me to pursue Him
9. to test me
10. to make me more like Jesus

This season of darkness has created an intimacy like nothing else could do. The difficulties were not the toughest part, it was the surrendering to Him that made the season so long and so dark. Surrender and a willingness to be broken and transformed were/are the keys to this seasons end. In that end the time of pain becomes the source of one of life's greatest blessings...being transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.