Every now and again something happens in your heart or your life which is so significant, so major, that you know that nothing will ever be quite the same again.
Sometimes, in just a few days or moments, your life can become so different that for a while you find yourself out of step with the rest of the world. “How?” you ask yourself, “Can everyone else’s life still be so much the same when mine has changed so radically?”
Sitting here I can think of six moments in my life when I have felt this really powerfully: Asking Jesus to be a part of my life; getting married; the births of my three children and then the death of my Dad. All of these things have so profoundly affected me on the inside that I have struggled to understand why people around me can’t see or sense or be a part of the revolution that has taken place. I’ve felt a bit detached from the rest of the world for a while, and I haven’t always understood or awarded myself the grace that I needed.
I’m kind of in that place again this week.
Last week, at a crazy-beautiful conference in England, Father God revealed to me a little bit more of who he is, and then a little bit more of who I am, and before I knew it, another revolution had taken place in my heart. I’ll get to writing and painting about that soon (when the dust has settled) but for this week, I need to take a ‘wing-drying’ moment.
You see, I read this morning about this butterfly, a monarch, which after hatching out of its cocoon, sits for an hour or more in the sun, allowing its wings to dry and become strong. This moment of rest, of warming, and of taking stock speaks to me really powerfully right now.
So often I experience a revolution in my life or in my heart, and I expect myself to be able to be up and out and flying straightaway. Today I think Jesus is telling me to wait a while, to let my wings dry out, to get used to my new shape. This picture is permission to rest in him for a moment or two before I launch out again.
And that’s good… There’s going to be a lot of time for flying.
Imagine my surprise when I emerge from the struggle the beautiful revolution the inner rewriting with wings.. Still reeling but knowing that one day soon I will stretch out into what I've become and fly. But till then I'll sit here in the light and the warmth of your gaze and let you tell me again who I am.
It’s always good to rest for a while in the warmth of the Father’s gaze. Make sure you take a moment today to ‘sun yourself’.
For your Journal:
If you’re not in this place right now, store up the thought for the future… Decide now that if and when it happens you will give yourself permission to rest and to ask God to shine his light on your wings.
If you are in this place, go easy on yourself. Write a letter to God in your journal about the change that you’ve just been through. Take the moment to say goodbye to what you were before and to stretch out into the new thing you’ve become. Absorb the light of God’s presence in whatever way works best for you right now. Be blessed x
Wow Ellie! I have enjoyed and benefitted from all your postcards but this one speaks to a deeper place in my heart. It’s beautiful, very encouraging & very timely.
Bless you again my friend for sharing so honestly & openly from your heart.
I was inspired & encouraged by the CD by the way. Really faith building. THANK YOU for thinking of me.
Much love, Teddy
Sent from my iPad
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Teddy mou, I am so pleased. Bless you xx
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Beautiful and thought-provoking 🙂 Thank you!
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Oh my goodness, I’m so glad I’ve found you. It’s no co-incidence that I’m reading these words of yours today of all days. Thank you.
Letting my wings dry. Exactly that. I’m always so eager to take off and fly, and then wonder if there’s something wrong with me when I can’t do it… so impatient. God might be saying, wait, just let your wings dry.
Thank you for your wise words and beautiful blog. I’ll be back!
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Nice to ‘meet’ you Helen. Really glad that God spoke to you through this.. Be blessed in your drying and in your flying! P.S. I loved your blog post too 🙂
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What amazes me most is that, for a butterfly, which is specially designed to flit and dart about, sitting still for so long in the sun must be quite a Big Thing. So, even more impressive, for it to wait so long.
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Thanks Fran, I didn’t think of that. maybe because I’m not a natural rester.
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Oh, my…so beautiful and so relevant to me right now. God has spoken to me through this. He did so when he used butterflies 10 years ago to speak significantly to me! Butterflies are a powerful revelation for me!! Thank you. I add also I’m so pleased I found you
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