Spiritual Metamorphosis Occurs During Times of Hiddenness

Lady bug pupae are a wonder of God's handiwork.   After ladybug larvae molt four consecutive times after consuming dozens of aphids daily, they go through a remarkable transformation process.

This is one stage of the 4 stages of a complete metamorphosis.  Much like a butterfly larvae wrapped in a cocoon, lady bug pupae go through a biochemical inner change that will transform them into lady bugs.

However, before they become ladybugs, they hunker down and remain still and seemingly lifeless while they are undergoing a miraculous inner work that will develop them into a mature ladybug.

We can gain much insight from looking at this stage of the ladybug's metamorphosis.

We too go through seasons of hiddenness as we grow and are transformed into the image of Christ.  

Isaiah 45: 3 states;

I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that is is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.  

These hoards are referring to hidden treasures or underground stores.  It is these seasons of  our lives, the seasons where we are hunkered down, seemingly not doing much, where the Lord is doing a deep internal work.

His purpose for these seasons of hiddenness is to give us deeply hidden treasures so that we may know that He is God and that He calls us by our names.

Being still and wrapped tight in the arms of His development we are growing and changing and being conformed into His image.  It is vitally important for us to know that He calls each of us by name.  

This hiddenness is a place of deep intimacy with the Lord.  We need these seasons of hiddenness to know what is in our own hearts so that God can do a transforming work and open our eyes to who He is and how He loves us.

1 Peter 3:4 

-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart and the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.  

We have a great opportunity during seasons of our lives where we seem to be hidden from others or even God himself.  During these times when our outer shells are soon to be cracked open for all to see we must recognize that God is doing a deep heart work that we may not even perceive ourselves because of the difficulty of the season.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7, 16-18

For God, who said, 

"Let light shine out of darkness,"  

has shone in our hearts 

to give the light of the knowledge of the 

glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, 

to show the the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

So we do not lose heart.  

Though our outer self is wasting away, 

our inner self is being renewed day by day.  

For this light momentary affliction is preparing

 for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 

as we look not to the things that are seen 

but to the things that are unseen.  

For the things that are seen are transient, 

but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Our inner self is what matters to the Lord.  We are so prone to judge by what we see but this is not how the Lord judges us, He looks at the heart and it is the very things of the heart that are eternal.

Seasons of hiddenness are there to help us grow and develop by His great power and to be transformed from the inside out but this process is not done in a vacuum.  Our relationships help us to see our own propensity toward sin.  

It is during these times when I become most aware of my own pride and corrupt nature that I gain insight into God's great love, mercy and forbearance when it comes to my defiled heart.  

There is an internal undoing and rebuilding much like the mysterious biochemical change that occurs when a  ladybug is being transformed from a larvae to a an adult beetle.  

Father, we thank you for seasons of hiddenness where you are working in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.  Help us to look deeply into our hearts today and see what you are seeing.  

We are so prone to get caught up in the trappings of our own identities all the while disregarding what you desire to do and show us deep within, shining your light in our hearts, giving us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Let us not forget that Jesus himself had no outward form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him, yet He is the most desirable because of what and who He is internally.  

We want the deep and hidden treasures that are found in the secret place with you.  Help us to relish the times of hiddenness in our lives, realizing that during these times You are accomplishing great and miraculous things that will last for all eternity and will reflect the light of Your countenance just like the shiny shell of a fully matured lady bug.