A Lesson from the Cicada

He reached down and drew me from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded,
mired in the muck and clay. 
(Psalms 40:2 Voice)

The cicadas are back! Those red-eyed, raucous insects that return every seventeen years, to the delight of some and the horror of others. Like the woman, who was happily driving along a scenic road by the river, fresh, sweet spring air wafting in the open car windows, followed by a swarm of cicadas! She was so freaked out she drove straight into the river! Luckily, the only damage done was to her dignity.

I never thought I would ever compare myself to a cicada, but God brings insight in strange and wonderful ways. He used the beady-eyed cicada to help me understand my current situation. Sorrow and disillusionment sent me into hibernation, into a dark hole of pain and discouragement. Hiding from people and asking God questions.

But slowly as He always does, His Spirit went to work, quietly healing and restoring during the dark days underground until finally the warmth of spring came, and He brought me out of the darkness.

I am not flying yet – I am still in the process of shedding my dry exoskeleton of anger, bitterness, and hurt. But it is sloughing off – a little each day. Soon I will be out, drying my wings in the sun, waiting to take off and, unlike the cicada, who seems to blunder from bush to bush, I will take to the skies and soar like an eagle.

Are you a cicada? Hiding in a dark cave? Hold on, spring is coming. You too will emerge to spread your wings to dry in the sun and then you will fly again.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles.
(Isaiah 40:31)