A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its
body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit
of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would
enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get
through the tiny opening was Allah's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If Allah allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us.
We would not be as strong as we could
have been. We could never "fly!"
I asked for Strength. Allah gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom. Allah gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity. Allah gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage. Allah gave me a danger to overcome.
I asked for Love. Allah gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favours. Allah gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted. I received everything I needed!
"Fatabâraka-LLahu aHsanu-l khâliqîn"
"So blessed be Allah, the best of creators!" Sura The Believer (23) verse 14
(Sourced from Balik Islam on Facebook)
*I'm going through a tough time right now. It was nice to read this story. Hope it helps anyone going through a rough time too. Also, check out Duaa For Distress and Sorrow in my book Gateway To Jannah.