Lessons from the Dragonfly (Day 1 from Beside Still Waters)

 

". . . You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes." 

Matthew 11:25


     I HAVE NOTICES THAT every time we’re out on the lake we find ourselves with beautiful passengers darting about the boat, dragonflies, they are such unique little creatures varying in both size and color. Every time we go fishing there will, at some time, be one sitting on the tip of my poll just inches from the water; the first time this happened my thoughts went to Genesis 1:2, “. . . And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water.” (NKJV) Maybe that why I always had an attraction to water because from the beginning the Spirit of God was there. When the dragonflies make their appearance on the boat they bring me comfort because they remind me of my sister.  I can’t help but smile because she never too far from my thoughts.  She started collecting them a few years ago and can be found on everything from wall décor to her jewelry; one of the reasons she likes them is because they remind her of the cross. Did you know that when the female has laid her eggs on the surface of the water the male will hover over them for protection? That’s so much like her; you’re not around her for long until you realize she is all about her two great loves, the Lord, and her family. I think of her sometimes like the metaphor used of God in Deuteronomy 32:11, where God’s care for His people in the wilderness is likened to an eagle hovering over her nest protecting her eaglets.

          Out of curiosity, I looked up the symbolism and legend of the dragonfly differ in meaning depending on the region of the world, but one stood out to me a little more than the others, it said that the dragonfly symbolized renewal and transformation as one undergoes self-realization.  It went onto say that this transpires as we overcome in times of hardship; for me, that can only happen when we reconnect with God.  In Romans 8 it explains it this way; “For as many that are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God . . . you received the Spirit of adoption . . . the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” (verses14, 15, 16 NKJV)  Think of my sister for a minute, she likes the image of the male dragonfly hovering over the eggs to protect them [remember, the Spirit of God was hovering over the water]; as children of God I feel His spirit does the same with us. 2 Corinthians 5:12 tells us that when we accept Christ we become like new, one of the ways we do that is by renewing our minds according to Romans 8:12, “. . . Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” I have learned over the years that this renewing comes in many stages.

          Did you know that when the dragonfly eggs are hatched they spend almost their entire life underwater?  The newly hatched eggs, larval, are called nymphs and will remain under the water for up to three years; during this stage of their life they undergo metamorphosis much like the butterfly, the molting process of the nymphs will be done up to 15 times as they grow into the adult dragonfly. As Christian’s undergo many stages as we mature in the Lord, 1 Peter 2:2 figuratively speaks of a new Christian in this manner, “As newborns, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow . . .” (NKJV) Transforming our mind can seem a lot like the molting stages of the dragonfly.  As we grow and mature in Christ, we go through many changes, and yes some setbacks, that’s why we need God's word to become a part of our growing experience. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us we are “. . . Being transformed into the same image [the image of Christ] from glory to glory [from stage to stage]. . . ” (NKJV) One of those stages is how we address the fears in our life that have set us back so many times in our past.


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