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Benefits of Struggling

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 farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so 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 never was 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 were 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 life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.

And we could never fly.

Author Unknown

{ 43 comments… add one }
  • Ayub Muriithi Mwangi February 6, 2022, 12:40 pm

    wow!!!!.
    I think this story shows of Gods perfect timing.

    Also l would want to believe that this story shows that we should not be too quick to give solutions and answers what we think are problems may be actually our breakthrough in it’s first stage.

  • Gary August 13, 2018, 6:01 am

    We must stop pandering to our chilren and give them a chance to develop their wings.
    We can also learn not to mess with nature

  • Kwizeera ezekiel May 10, 2016, 6:31 am

    Very nice story..!

  • Vishal Singh October 7, 2015, 1:03 pm

    All the stories are good. This help me very much.

  • Shiladitya Mandal January 12, 2014, 3:06 pm

    A very thnx for this excellent tip. Struggle is another name for an excellent life.. struggle and obstacles are like having internet connection without computer.. like internet without computer is nothing life without struggle is void..

  • Clifford E. Sunday January 2, 2014, 6:04 pm

    This is what we, helpless, people need to progress to next stage in life. May your days be long (the writer of this article).

  • Meyly November 7, 2013, 6:03 am

    Perfect website!!

  • Labanya Kumar July 9, 2013, 3:38 pm

    By mistake we feel help comes from outside….it’s us that get stronger due to sincere prayer and dedication and give us immense strength to overcome obstacles. So have faith in yourself, you are the power house of strength as you are the son of Him. You also posses some power of your Father. So move on and pray, you will overcome, no one can stop you. God is always with you. He gives you pain so that you remember Him.

  • Arlene Acantilado June 20, 2013, 7:53 pm

    This story made me realized things I’ve never known before, this inspired me a lot. Hope I’m strong enough to face every struggles coming my way. 🙂

  • Wandera June 2, 2013, 1:31 am

    Wonderful story, wonderful reality.

  • Kalandhar May 9, 2013, 12:53 pm

    A real life depecting story. Highly inspired.

  • Tazman May 6, 2013, 12:15 am

    This story can be seen from two different perspectives. As a struggler and as an enabler. The man was an enabler. Helping the butterfly. But because of his help. The butterfly never learned how to fly. The man thought he was helping but in fact hurt the butterfly never allowing nature to run its course but by intervening he was at fault for hindering the natural progress. Never allowing the butterfly to naturally grow and become what nature intended it yo be. STRONG WILLED! I love this story it really makes me think especially the situation I’m in now. Thank you!

  • Zafaryab April 8, 2013, 4:18 am

    A wounderful story. Thanx for posting.

  • Binod April 6, 2013, 6:46 am

    Good

  • Arun April 2, 2013, 5:36 am

    Hi Stephen!

    I am doing good. Hope your are doing good as well. Thank you for the clarification. And let the good stories keep coming. Keep up the good work.

    You too take care brother.

  • Stephen March 18, 2013, 8:23 am

    Hi Arun! How are you?

    You are right, caterpillars transform into butterflies but cocoon (pupa) is a stage in between.

    Cocoon is just like a nest for the caterpillar to stay protected inside while its body transforms into a butterfly. Take care brother!

  • Arun March 18, 2013, 8:01 am

    It’s a wonderful story, really motivating. But only one thing confuses me, is it not that, butterflies actual evolve from caterpillar instead of cocoon?

    Please excuse me of my ignorance in case I am wrong.

  • Jiji Gangadharan February 28, 2013, 8:30 am

    Very Nice.

  • Karan October 12, 2012, 4:30 am

    Struggle for success.

  • Sunil Vohra October 8, 2012, 1:39 am

    Inspiring to read but in practice people do fumble in life. Worthy story.

  • Traci September 18, 2012, 10:24 pm

    Lord knows this story speaks worlds to me…hope that I learn to fly soon

  • Rossi September 8, 2012, 4:26 pm

    Two years back, I got into a terrible situation and thought that it was the end of my life. Everyone I knew deserted me but my wife stood by my side and with her lovely assistance I got myself out from the near death encounter but little did I know that the whole period I was in pain and days without food, sleepless night and tension were preparing me for greatness. It is just a matter of time and the world will hear about me. I thank God for allowing me pass that situation and struggled alone with her and the result was a pleasant triumph.

    Experience in Cuba 2010-2012

  • Prem Achyuth September 3, 2012, 11:51 am

    Awesome!!

  • Rebeccacibiyal August 1, 2012, 9:09 am

    Superbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

  • Mosopefoluwa July 23, 2012, 8:15 am

    Just the last struggle can make the greatest difference

  • Rachel Caratao June 27, 2012, 10:03 pm

    Thanks for this eye-opener story.

  • Nanda Kinra May 23, 2012, 4:56 am

    Oh men who have failed to rise up and do it again for there is no such thing as failure in the annals of truthful men except a craven hearted fellow who fails and does not attempt again.

  • Rose Mary May 21, 2012, 10:29 am

    This story inspired me a lot.. Thank u God for letting me to struggle.

  • Apalowo Abayomi May 21, 2012, 4:59 am

    You guys are just too awesome.

  • Cedell February 1, 2012, 6:11 pm

    This is so true. May God bless the writer and may we all learn to give thanks to God in both good and bad times. Glory be to God.

  • Chemene January 11, 2012, 7:38 am

    A nice story for all of us

  • Excellent Story......... December 26, 2011, 10:56 am

    My sir used to say this story

  • Chaitanya November 30, 2011, 12:40 pm

    A nice story……. keep on going

  • Jo September 19, 2011, 2:33 am

    Very true.. and i wish im blessed with such struggles in my life so that i get stronger in life..

  • Prashant Singh September 6, 2011, 12:25 pm

    Really a nice story….

  • Shaz August 11, 2011, 1:40 pm

    Thanks. It is an important lesson for my life.

  • Pritee August 8, 2011, 1:45 am

    yes

  • Pritee August 8, 2011, 1:44 am

    nice story and really inspires and movitates strugglers to move on without any hesitation

  • Abhishek August 7, 2011, 12:38 pm

    ONE of the best stories i have ever read………………………………… it lifts my morale

  • Md Ekhtakharul Alam Hasib July 28, 2011, 3:39 pm

    This is an important story for every man.

  • sarita July 22, 2011, 5:32 am

    every parents let the children to struggle so the child can have a better life

  • Ton Myrna July 9, 2011, 3:15 pm

    Much as gold passes through fire and diamond shines under pressure, the butterfly’s processes called “metamorphosis” needs to take place. I pray that God continues to help me to overcome my difficulties and struggles in life in order to be worthy of His kingdom to which I belong. To God Be the Glory! Ton.

  • Binisha July 6, 2011, 5:37 am

    This is indeed a very thought provoking story.

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