Onedayasmallopeningappearedonacocoon,amansatandwatchedforthebutterflyforseveralhoursasitstruggledtoforceitsbodythroughthatlittlehole.Thenitseemedtostopmakinganyprogress.Itappearedasifithadgottenasfarasitcouldanditcouldgonofurther.Sothemandecidedtohelpthebutterfly,hetookapairofscissorsandsnippedofftheremainingbitofthecocoon.Thebutterflythenemergedeasily.Butithadaswollenbodyandsmall,shriveledwings.Themancontinuedtowatchthebutterflybecauseheexpectedthat,atanymoment,thewingswouldenlargeandexpandtobeabletosupportthebody,whichwouldcontractintime.Neitherhappened!
Infact,thebutterflyspenttherestofitslifecrawlingaroundwithaswollenbodyandshriveledwings.Itneverwasabletofly.WhatthemaninhiskindnessandhastedidnotunderstandwasthattherestrictingcocoonandthestrugglerequiredforthebutterflytogetthroughthetinyopeningwereGod’swayofforcingfluidfromthebodyofthebutterflyintoitswingssothatitwouldbereadyforflightonceitachieveditsfreedomfromthecocoon.Sometimesstrugglesareexactlywhatweneedinourlife.IfGodallowedustogothroughourlifewithoutanyobstacles,twouldcrippleus.Wewouldnotbeasstrongaswhatwecouldhavebeen.
IaskedforstrengthAndGodgavemedifficultiestomakemestrong.IaskedforwisdomAndGodgavemeproblemstosolve.IaskedforcourageAndGodgavemedangertoovercome.IaskedforloveAndGodgavemetroubledpeopletohelp.IreceivednothingIwanted.IreceivedeverythingIneeded.