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The Flight of the Bumblebee
Sometimes it's the little things about life that help teach us valuable lessons if we will but stand up and take notice. Take the bumblebee for example. According to scientists, the bumblebee’s body is too heavy and its wing span too small. From an aerodynamic viewpoint, it can’t fly. But the bumblebee doesn’t know that, and yet it still keeps on flying. Can it be there’s an admonition here for us all?
Many of us fall short of our potential because of the little things we know or assume about ourselves. Franklin D Roosevelt once said, “Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.” What’s holding you down? Do you have anything in your life that is impeding you from doing what’s right? Although many would argue there may be some natural or even social limitations that prevent you from achieving certain goals, self-imposed limitations can be the worst of all.
Most of us spend countless times worrying, whining, blaming, and arguing the reasons why we are limited, instead of utilizing those moments to meditate on the promises found in God’s Word. Many of our struggles and battles are in our minds (Eph 6:12). Therefore, to truly confront your limitations in life, you have to change the way you think, do things differently, and trust in the Lord . . . regardless of what may come your way.
Consider this from Revelation 12:11 . . .
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
Did you catch that? “They did not love their life even when faced with death.” How does someone do that? Or how about the unnamed people in Hebrews 11:33-34 “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight”? Despite what limitations they may have had, these men and women of faith endured harsh mistreatment, stood up to powerful kings and rulers, refused to cave in to pressure, and looked death straight in the eye. Even when their walk with Him could very well cost them their very lives!
Although we may not be faced with the dire threats that these early disciples endured, we too can prevail. We can do amazing things, despite what we perceive our limitations to be. Reading about others ought to motivate us, encourage us, and make us recognize that we can stand up for what is right. There will be moments where we will face scary and uncertain circumstances. Moments where we feel we can’t possibly overcome them. But it is exactly in those moments where we need to have the perspective of a bumblebee and overcome our limitations and have the courage to do the right thing. We must have a conviction that is so true and so right, no matter what the circumstances might be. For the Christian, we must have the state of mind which will enable us to face dangers and trials with confidence. We must understand that God is our ultimate source of courage (Psalm 27:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 13:6).
When the battle is right before us, when we are being tempted to sin, or confronted with error, throwing up one’s hands and giving up or simply doing nothing may seem like the reasonable thing to do. But to the Christian, that is a defeatist attitude. Oh yes, there will be times when we may fall. But our Lord is there with us and for us.
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
Micah 7:8
What are you asking of God? Are you whining or praying? Don’t let your self-imposed limitations restrict what you can do for Him. Observe the flight of the bumblebee and take notice.
