InstaEncouragements Blog

Glory from the Ground Up

5/24/2019

Today I caught such a sweet glimpse of God revealing His glory in the beauty of His creation. I walked outside the doors of my church and spotted one of the most exquisite creatures I’ve ever seen. It was a giant moth. Now, I don’t normally find moths of any sort very attractive, but this one was an exception. My son and I stopped to look at it and we were awed by the glorious display of its wings moving to avoid our touch. Its wings were a vibrant green, about 3-4 inches across and had two sets of brown eye spots at the top. At the bottom was a billowing tail that looked delicate, almost like ribbons on the end of a kite. Its body was white and furry, with feathery antennae. I was enthralled. Some friends came out to see the moth with us and one said, Oh, that’s a Luna Moth.

Having never heard of Luna Moths before, I had to find out more.

A quick Google search gave me five intriguing facts about Luna Moths:

In the caterpillar stage, they eat voraciously for a month (think Very Hungry Caterpillar style).
They only live for about 7-10 days.
Adults have no mouth or digestive system, therefore they cannot eat and only live off of food consumed as a caterpillar.
The sole purpose of the moth is to reproduce.
The female will lay hundreds of eggs, and then her life will be over.

As I walked to my car, my mind swirled with spiritual questions and truths related to the sight of this unusual product of God’s handiwork. For instance, why would God create something so intensely beautiful, but only allow it to remain alive for such a short time? God brought to my mind Ecclesiastes 3:11, which says,

"He has made everything beautiful in its time" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

God’s timetable isn’t defined by mine. In His timetable depth of beauty doesn’t rely on length of life. One short life can certainly bring immense glory to God.

I was also curious about the purpose these moths have in nature. The only reason for their existence I could find is they live to reproduce. So, in essence, life is their purpose! What a beautiful reflection of the Creator of life! Psalm 36:9 says,

“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9).

I wanted to know about the eye spots that so beautifully adorn the wings. I found they are meant to camouflage the moth and confuse a predator. God equipped these creatures with everything needed to survive their lifespan, even though their lifespan is incredibly short. That speaks to me of God’s desire to protect life. Over and over in the Bible, we’re given the picture of God as our Protector. Psalm 139 sings of His protection over us. Verse 2 speaks of how God knows and understands us.

“You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off” (Psalm 139:2).

Verse 5 shows us His protective hand.

“You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me” (Psalm 139:5).

When I stop and meditate on all God does for His creation, to protect, shelter and nurture, I can say with David,

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).

I think it’s this reality that brought so many questions to my mind when I encountered the Luna Moth today. God’s knowledge of His creation, His way with the things of the world He made, is too lofty for me. That truth brings me comfort because He is not a God I can figure out and place in a box on a shelf, only to be brought down when I need something. He is the sovereign God, concerned with the vastness of the universe and the life of a little moth. He is the sovereign God concerned with all of creation and the life of little me and little you. Wow! I don’t know where you are today or how you may be struggling; but I do know one thing. If God cares enough to give a moth life, beauty, and protection, He cares about the everyday details of your life. You can trust Him with whatever may be concerning you today.

As a matter of fact, this morning before I left my house, I was thinking about how through Jesus we have a sweet friendship with God the Father. He wants us to know Him and His great love. I know the primary way God reveals Himself to us is through His Word. But, He also reveals Himself to us through the wonders of His creation.

I remembered Romans 1:20, which says,

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

This idea was still in my mind as I came upon the Luna Moth on the ground. It was as if God was showing me His love by stopping me in my tracks and allowing me to see something special from His hand.

While I was hesitant to write a whole blogpost about a moth, my hope for you is that it sparks a new desire to see what God is revealing about Himself through His creation today. Take some time to stop and look around. Mark the wonder that you find. This world is full of man-made hustle. What if you stepped out of it for a moment and stepped into the hush of His stillness? I promise you’ll be amazed at what He has to show you there.

I love where Stephanie writes: "He is the sovereign God, concerned with the vastness of the universe and the life of a little moth. He is the sovereign God concerned with all of creation and the life of little me and little you. Wow! I don’t know where you are today or how you may be struggling; but I do know one thing. If God cares enough to give a moth life, beauty, and protection, He cares about the everyday details of your life. You can trust Him with whatever may be concerning you today." Isn't it the truth?!

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When Hope is Lost

4/19/2019

20 Comments

When Hope is Lost: Recently, my husband said something that gave my heart a serious wake-up call. I was crying like I’ve been doing for the past two months since my best friend suddenly and unexpectedly went to heaven. My grief can be overwhelming and I was drowning...

Recently, my husband said something that gave my heart a serious wake-up call. I was crying like I’ve been doing for the past two months since my best friend suddenly and unexpectedly went to heaven. My grief can be overwhelming and I was drowning in an ocean of tears when my husband walked in the room. He desperately wanted to comfort me, but when he looked me in the eyes, he said, “You know God’s Word tells us as believers that we do not grieve as those without hope. When I look at you like this, I don’t see any hope in your eyes.” Although I knew he meant to help me, that statement felt like a punch in the stomach. His words continued to tumble in my mind until I sensed the Holy Spirit confirming what he said. “It’s true.” I thought, “My hope feels as broken as my heart does.”

Where Do We Go When We’ve Lost Hope

I had to find out. As I sought the Lord, He reminded me of a statement my pastor made while speaking at a funeral for his own friend. He said, “Brokenness is not healed by explanations. Brokenness is healed by the love and grace of God.” — Pastor Ryan Bowman

He’s right. In my grief, I was fixated on finding an explanation for why God would allow this horrible tragedy. My friend lived for the Lord, serving Him in missions and ministry. For years we prayed for her to find a godly husband, and God answered her prayers with the most amazing man. Yet, before they could have their wedding day, God took her. Why? I couldn’t understand how this could be His plan. My grief focused on all that was lost of our past and of the future. Broken dreams, broken hopes. But, brokenness is not healed by explanations. Brokenness is healed by the love and grace of God. That’s where I had to go to find hope again.

So I Began with the Love of God

John 3:16 tells me, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (CSB) The love of God was displayed in the gift of His Son. When I look at Jesus, I see Him hanging on the cross, bleeding the blood of redemption, bearing the weight of my sin, taking my shame, my guilt and giving Himself for me. There is no greater love than that. God’s love gave me the hope of redemption.

God’s Grace is a Gift I Don’t Deserve

I looked for God’s grace and I found it in a garden just outside an empty tomb. John 20 describes the moment when Mary Magdalene met the risen Savior:

“But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘Because they’ve taken away my Lord,’ she told them. Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ Jesus said to her, ‘why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?’ Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, ‘Sir, if you’ve carried Him away, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ (John 20:11-16 CSB)

Suddenly, Mary recognized Jesus and wanted to hold onto Him, never letting go. He told her to go and tell His disciples. She found them and announced, “I have seen the Lord!” Her hope was restored by His grace. God’s grace is found in the risen Savior. God’s grace gave me the hope of the resurrection.

Because of God’s Love and Grace I Can Grieve with Hope

Because of His love, my friend and I both have been redeemed.
Because of God’s grace, I can look to the resurrected Savior who promises eternal life with Him.
Because of the love and grace of God, I will see my sweet friend again one day in Heaven.

I’m thankful God restored my hope, even in grief. And I long for the day when my hope is fulfilled in eternity with Him.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope." I Thessalonians 4:13

Resources for Help in Walking Through Grief

A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty by Joni Earekson Tada
In this eloquent account of her current struggle with physical pain, Joni Eareckson Tada offers her perspective on divine healing, God’s purposes, and what it means to live with joy.

Over four decades ago, a diving accident left Joni a quadriplegic. Today, she faces a new battle: unrelenting pain. The ongoing urgency of this season in her life has caused Joni to return to foundational questions about suffering and God’s will.

A Place of Healing is not an ivory-tower treatise on suffering. It’s an intimate look into the life of a mature woman of God. Whether readers are enduring physical pain, financial loss, or relational grief, Joni invites them to process their suffering with her. Together, they will navigate the distance between God’s magnificent yes and heartbreaking no—and find new hope for thriving in-between.

“As a matter of fact, God isn't asking you to be thankful. He's asking you to give thanks. There's a big difference. One response involves emotions, the other your choices, your decisions about a situation, your intent, your step of faith.” ―Joni Eareckson Tada, A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty

Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense by Paul David Tripp
“This book is a balm to the soul that you will pick up and not be able to put down." ―Ann Voskamp, New York Times best-selling author, The Broken Way and One Thousand Gifts

Sometimes life just hurts. Out of nowhere, death, illness, unemployment, or a difficult relationship can change our lives and challenge everything we thought we knew―leaving us feeling unable to cope. But, in the midst of all this pain and confusion, we are not alone.

Weaving together his personal story, pastoral ministry experience, and biblical insights, best-selling author Paul David Tripp helps us trust God in the midst of suffering. He identifies traps to avoid in our suffering and points us instead to comforts to embrace. This raw yet hope-filled book will help you cling to God's promises when trials come and move forward with the hope of the gospel.

“Weakness simply demonstrates what has been true all along: we are completely dependent on God for life and breath and everything else. Weakness was not the end for me, but a new beginning, because weakness provides the context in which true strength is found.” ―Paul David Tripp, Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love by Raymond R. Mitsch and Lynn Brookside
Few losses are as painful as the death of someone close. No valley is as vast as grief, no journey as personal and life changing. Compassionate and wise guides Raymond Mitsch and Lynn Brookside shine a light on the road through grief. They can help you endure the anguish and uncertainty; understand the cycles of grief; sort through the emotions of anger, guilt, fear, and depression; and face the God who allowed you to lose the one you love. A series of thoughtful daily devotions, Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love shares wisdom, insight, and comfort that will help you through and beyond your grief.

Download a free sample of Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love here.

"Christians are not exempt from grief, not yet anyway. When we lose someone, we too will deny; we will hurt; we will weep; we will rage; we may even bargain with God. The difference for us is that we have hope." —Raymond R. Mitsch and Lynn Brookside, Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love