Here are three lessons we can learn from a Dragonfly.
Limitless
A dragonfly has four wings that allow it to fly straight up and down or hover, similar to how a helicopter flies. They are not limited like other insects but have the freedom to fly as they desire. Life as a follower of Jesus Christ is limitless as well. On earth, we have limites to our strength and energy, how and where we travel and are weighed down by gravity. However, when we trust God and obey Him, we are giving the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and in the areas we are weak, God's strength is revealed. Don't let the limited ails of this world weigh you down, remember that God's grace is sufficient, God provides for your needs, and you have the power of the Holy Spirit inside! When we leave this world and will be given our new perfected bodies, all earthly limitations will be removed and we will truly live limitlessly!
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Frailty
Some adult dragonflies live for only a few weeks while others live up to a year. Humans are given a certain amount of time to live on this earth. God creates each life and knows when we will take our first breath and our last. "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." (Psalm 139:16). When tragedy happens or a close loved one dies, we are reminded of how frail our life really is. It reminds us of what truly matters in life and that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow. When we fly on an airplane and look below at the towns and cities continuing to carry out their day, we are reminded of how small we truly are compared to all of the heavens and nature God created. If we woke up each day with these reminders at the forefront of our minds, we would handle situations differently, speak to others with more kindness, forgive quicker, be more productive, and live with humility instead of pride. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will bring these important facts to our memory each morning, first thing and that we, in turn, would produce more fruit of the Spirit and let God prune the rotten limbs from our heart.
“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” - 1 Peter 1:24-25a
“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue. - Job 14:1-2
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them. - Psalm 103:11-18
Sight
If you look at a dragonflies' head, their eyes take up the majority of the area. They have a large peripheral vision and can see almost every angle except directly behind them. Shouldn't we live like that as well? God gave us two eyes in the front of our head to see with, look towards the future, and focus on the day at hand. We have zero eyes in the back of our head, so our past should not be our focus but instead, it should be our guide.
We are to learn from the past in order to help us make better decisions and gain wisdom for the present and future. Max Lucado says it best, "There is a reason the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror. Your future matters more than your past. God's grace is greater than your sin. What you did was not good. But your God is good. And He will forgive you. He is ready to write a new chapter in your life."
Focus today on the limitless power the Holy Spirit provides you with, the frailty of human life which God views as precious, and the power of sight God created for us to focus on Him in all things during all seasons of life!