CLING ON

By Christine Jayakaran

August 30^th, 2022

It clung on to that wall like it's life depended on it

Delicate legs planted firmly into crievices of an otherwise smooth wall

The wind raged around it

It's wings fluttered wildly but it didn't budge

It almost looked like it dug its heels in deeper

And stayed put while all else shook

This was my observation of a delicate butterfly perched on my terrace wall. Its quiet resilience had me transfixed for a good ten minutes (I do have better things to do, I promise). I couldn't help but think of how over the past several months there were many times when I clung to the wrong things and almost fluttered into an abyss of despair and hopelessness.

This seemingly powerless creature brought me to a place of repentance and renewed trust in a God who was way more solid and dependable than that wall on which it hung on. Weird happenings, unanswered prayers, wasted investments and tough choices sometimes resemble and feel like never-ending storms that threaten to overpower us or at least try to damage our wings that were meant to help us soar.

The funny thing is that these unsettling moments help us see what ridiculous things we actually hold on to. It could be a business partner, a child, a better half, a firm bank balance, a well-stocked fridge, a group of friends, a parent or a social media presence. I call these ridiculous because they are so finite in capacity and are largely incapable of filling voids that life opens up in us.

There is one person who I find is absolutely worth clinging to, and that is Jesus himself. He can handle you and me at our clingy best. He can carry the weight of our seemingly heaviest burden. He can withstand the storm of our emotions that others say is ‘too much.’ He keeps his word when he says he is with us at all times and is true to every one of his promises, should we choose to take him at his word.

As I keep learning to cling tighter to Him, I find that I don't love the people in my life any less nor discredit the things I'm blessed with in this life. Interestingly, I'm finding that I can confidently let go of them into God's more than capable hands and watch with delight as he leads them (the above-mentioned people) or uses them (aforementioned things) to shape me.