Change: The Lesson of the Mealworm

When I was in the third grade, we were each given a styrofoam cup with some sawdusty stuff in it—in the midst of the “bedding” was a mealworm. My very own mealworm to take home, name, and take care of. I liked to watch him move and to talk to him. I’d show my parents how much he had grown and would be so proud of my admirable care of this tiny creature.

I honestly don’t remember what I named the worm—probably something worm-o-typical like Herman or cheesy like Mealy--but I do recall what happened after several days (it may have been a couple weeks) had gone by. I went to the cup to check on my precious, wiggly friend. I expected to see that he’d gotten bigger and was all prepared to comment on his size and obvious good health. But as I peered into the cup, it was with a spontaneous shriek. I nearly dropped the cup. I burst into tears. My mom came rushing my way with great concern.

I was horrified. In the cup, where my mealworm had been, was a gigantic black beetle! My mom was surprised as well and tried to comfort me. I didn’t want anything to do with this new life form. I wanted my worm back! Clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

I left the room puzzled as to why my teacher would do this to me. Did she not like me? Looking back years later, I can surmise that perhaps the kids in my class were warned—but I missed a lot of school that year; maybe I was gone on that day. Otherwise, I might have known that mealworms are the larval form of the mealworm beetle, which I had just met. Maybe most third-graders wouldn’t become so attached to a worm in a cup. But I was an only child with a vivid imagination who really was fascinated by all of God’s creatures…until I came face to face with the beetle, that is.

I didn’t understand the lesson in it then. But now I do. Change can be difficult. And unexpected change can be the hardest. Even painful. But change will come all the same. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Sometimes it’s relational, sometimes financial, sometimes spiritual, sometimes physical.

There is one constant, though—God, who will never change. He is fully reliable, trustworthy, and consistent in all His ways. "For I the LORD do not change; …” (Malachi 3:6a). And He will use these things for His good purpose.