Joy A. Mead

This week my daughter, Anna, wanted to draw a butterfly but was struggling to do a detailed drawing without looking at an image. That’s when I was reminded of the magnet on our fridge of the beautiful monarch butterfly.

These delicate, orange and black beauties are some of the most lovely, little creatures and I remember being a girl myself, fascinated by seeing the clusters of butterflies in Monterey, California on our annual trips.

Although small, these amazing mini-beasts, are incredibly strong and instinctively migrate between North America and Mexico for the winter season. This involves several generations along the round trip journey there and back. The adults lay their eggs on the southbound journey, while the next generation then migrates northbound.

Thinking about these butterflies made me ponder their strong wings and the Bible verse which speaks about “healing in his wings.” Healing is complex and with deep hurt, it can take a very long time to make progress. Yet, similar to the monarch butterflies who make such long annual journeys, if we keep going along the journey of healing and even if no progress is found readily, eventually God can lead us into freedom from the hurts that have gone deep into our hearts.

But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

Malachi 4:2

Whether you have been hurt or did the hurting, there is a journey to be made towards healing. Malachi 4:2 opens with acknowledging those who fear God. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is keep trusting God when our hearts have been broken. Our human instinct is to question how God could love us, yet allow such hurt to invade our lives. Sadly, there aren’t always clear answers as to why we sometimes get hurt so deeply in this earthly life.

Though we may not feel like choosing to still trust God with our hurting hearts, He is the safest place we can run to. And God can bless even the smallest amount of hope that we have to bring. We choose to let Him journey through this messy life with us, even when we can hardly have faith in a way out of the pain. Slowly, day by day, month by month, our burdens are eased. We learn to let God take our hurt, and He exchanges it with healing and freedom that we never thought possible.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that you are here with us even when we can’t feel you.

And even when our hearts are hurting beyond what we can handle, you gently scoop us up in your loving arms.

Just like the monarch butterfly who flies for up to two months in migration, help us to persevere and keep going along the journey towards healing.

May we acknowledge you still, praising your Name when we find it most difficult.

And as we make that choice to trust You through the pain in our hearts, we ask that in time, You would bring healing in your wings. Healing that we couldn’t find on our own. Healing that brings true freedom in our hearts.

Come alongside us in our brokenness, be our hope, and bring healing in your wings.

Amen.