Unburdened

Have you ever visited a museum and seen the butterfly exhibit, where chrysalises are hanging in a glass case on display?

Some are still fully intact; others are split wide open, their former tenant released into freedom.

Others have cracks, and part of the butterfly is out, showing off their colorful wings. You can tell they are ready to fly free, but something is still holding them back, preventing them from emerging into the next stage of their lives.

Doesn't that feel like where we are on this journey together?

We have been doing a lot of inside work. Safely cocooned in God's love, we have been writhing and squirming, trying to rid ourselves of the former things we want to rid ourselves of.  

But there is still something holding us to this state of inertia.

We must be brave and face the things that hold us back to be unburdened and fly free.

Are you ready to emerge?

You can't stay stuck here forever.

You can do this.

What is holding you back?

Let that go.

Forgive.

Stop.

Ask for help.

God is right with you, gently tugging away the things that hold you back.

There you go.

Oh my gosh - look at you!

You did it!

Stretch out those wings and fly free.

It's beautiful out here - just like you dreamed it would be.

Let's GOOOOOOOOOO!

Isaiah 43: 18-19

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Psalm 124: 6-8

Praise be to the Lord, who has not let us be torn by their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.