Seeing struggles as opportunities for growth Published Aug. 28, 2012 By Chaplain (Maj.) Olga Westfall 94th Airlift Wing Chaplains Office DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Have you ever thought what your life would be like without any struggles? It often seems like as soon as one issue gets resolved, a few others stand right by the door. Sometimes people ask me, "Chaplain, why would a loving God allow all of these problems in my life?" I believe that God allows certain challenges to come in our lives to help our character development and make us stronger. Without these challengers, we would never reach for maximum potential and become stronger human beings. A friend of mine posted a quote on her Facebook wall stating, "God did not promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow or sun without rain, did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and a light for the way." Sometimes things come up that require more perseverance and patience but in the long run, if we handle those issues with the right attitude and humility, it will all turn out for our good. The following story helps to support this thought. (Author unknown) A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further, so the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It would never be able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening was God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly! I asked for strength... And God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom... And God gave me problems to solve. I asked for prosperity... And God gave me brain and brawn to work. I asked for courage... And God gave me danger to overcome. I asked for love... And God gave me troubled people to help. I asked for favors... And God gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted........ But, I received everything I needed! Trust in God. Always!
