The Lady Bug Story
When I was in college, I was a member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a college ministry designed to share Christ with and disciple the young people in America’s colleges. After our spring semesters, we would attend our annual retreat in Panama City, Florida, joining many other students from all over the world. Our retreat center was across the street from the beach and in between our worship services and classes, some of us would visit the shores of this breathtaking beach during the quiet time hour.
One morning after worship, I was walking along the white sand beach of Panama City, and desperately praying to God as I grappled with my inability to get a hold of the safety and certainty that I longed for regarding my struggles, and dreams for the future. It had been a very rough semester for me both personally and academically. Try as I might, I simply could not on my own figure out a way to fix the problems that I was facing in my life. As I contemplated, I took in the sight of the beauty of the beach, unapologetic in its majesty and an undeniable testament of the Glory of God. The shoreline was deserted except for a few of us InterVarsity students who were benefiting from having quiet time. Crystal clear sapphire blue water danced along the shore and stretched out unashamedly into a distant cerulean blue vastness.
“Look,” said a fellow student who had walked up on me, catching me off guard, “a lady bug.”
I glanced at the student and then down at the small red and black beetle, which was stuck in the sand and kicking stubbornly as it lay on its back. Try as it might to get out of its situation, it looked as if it was without any hope. It was working very hard, but going nowhere.
My fellow student turned the beetle over, but the bug did not crawl away. Before I knew what I was doing, I was picking up a wooden twig like branch from the sand and gently coaxing the ladybug into climbing onto the young branch. Once the ladybug was on the branch, I examined my new little friend and then, something amazing happen. It was if God pulled back a curtain and allowed me to peek into another dimension of knowledge and understanding.
I had initially suspected that the little ladybug was injured, but I had been wrong. Suddenly, it was clear to me that it was not injured at all, but hindered. The ladybug needed a temporary refuge from the sand and waves because its little legs were weighed down with water and sand. The weight had impaired its movement, causing it to struggle hopelessly and in vain as it fought to make progress in its movement. Patiently, I studied the little ladybug. I held the slender woody shoot and watched the ladybug as it cleaned the sand from its legs. A temporary place of refuge was all that was needed— a safe place to rest, dry off and be restored. I quietly studied the beetle until it was free from what was holding it back. Then it flew away. In my spirit, I could hear God responding to the prayers that I had been praying just moments before encountering the ladybug. God had already extended to me His secure and righteous branch, the Lord Jesus and I had accepted Him along with the restoration that He offered.
We are all just like the little ladybug. Sometimes, we get unmistakably stuck on our journey in this great big world. We encounter and endeavor to take in the magnitude of the wonders that we face in this life. We kick and fight stubbornly and vigorously in our inadequate attempts to set things right in our lives without God’s help. Incredible, mind boggling and even unforgiving at times, some of life’s little surprises force us to search for God and the refuge that only He can provide. Both our sin and the sin of others impair our movement because we are weighed down by the consequences that come with disobeying God, but God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Still we can rest assured that “The Lord Our Righteousness” is able to keep on washing and restoring us even when it seems to us as if all hope is lost. For He has sent Jesus Christ, the righteous branch, who has secured our salvation and restoration through His life, death, and resurrection, establishing the Kingdom of God.
The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a future king from the line of David who would personify righteousness. This is a picture of Jesus who would reign as king.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6).