A Lesson from Charlotte’s Web – by J. Hopkins

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,A time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.  – Eccl 3:1-8

 One day as I was doing my daughter’s hair, we were watching Charlotte’s Web.  It was at the point in the movie when Wilbur first met Charlotte, the spider.  She was explaining to him about her unusual feeding habits of eating insects, which grossed Wilbur out.  Charlotte explained to him that if she didn’t eat the insects the world would be overrun with them.  Wow, I had never thought of that!  That spider has a purpose.

A Natural Lesson

When I thought about that, I had to pause the movie for a moment to teach my daughter a lesson.  Everything that God has made, perfectly works together.  Not only that, but everything has purpose.  Even something as gross and annoying as a spider has a purpose.

A Spiritual Lesson

In our lives we will face hard and rough times and they too have purpose.  We may not understand why and we may not understand God’s plan, but there is a purpose.  God uses these storms, trials, times of lack to grow our faith.  Sometimes He wants to break strongholds off of our lives or for our tests to be a witness to others about His grace and power.  No matter the reason, the Word says that there is a time for everything.   Just as we thank God for the times that are good, we must learn to also thank Him for the times that try our faith.

Prayer

Lord help me to trust in You.  Help me to have faith in the process no matter how hard it seems.  Your word says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)  Because I understand Your ways are higher than mine, help me to humble myself and trust that there is purpose in all I go through.

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