When the Butterfly Hides: A Lesson in Resting Through Storms

Did you know a butterfly will hide when it rains?

When dark clouds begin to gather and the sky grows heavy, butterflies instinctively return to the places they go at night—tucked away in safety. You see, rain poses a real danger to them. If their wings get too wet, they may become too heavy to fly. At best, they’re grounded. At worst, their delicate wings could be damaged beyond repair.

So what do they do?

They seek shelter.

They cling to the undersides of leaves, nestle deep into tall grasses, or find refuge in the cracks of rocks and trees. That last detail caught my attention and wouldn’t let go:

A butterfly hides in the cleft of a rock when a storm is coming.

Butterfly in a Vibrant Field

Let that settle for a moment.

We love to use butterflies as symbols for one another—beautiful metaphors of transformation, encouragement to trust the process, inspiration to rise up and fly.

"Fly like a butterfly! Soar high and free!"

But rarely do we speak of the other side of their story.

Rarely do we say, “Butterflies hide when storms come.”

They don’t try to face the rain head-on. They don’t shout into the wind, “I’ve got this!” They don’t posture, strive, or push through.

They fly to shelter. They rest. They wait.

Isn’t that powerful?

And then—there are Monarchs. A different kind of butterfly.

If they do happen to get caught in the rain, they don’t panic or rush. They simply stay still. Quiet. Grounded. Waiting for the water to evaporate before they fly again.

Stillness is their strength.

So if we’re going to keep using butterflies as our metaphor, let’s use the whole story.

Let’s honor the wisdom of hiding in the Rock when storms approach. Let’s normalize the sacred art of strategic rest. Let’s be the kind of friends who say, “You don’t need to fight right now. Let me help you find shelter.”

Let’s start a movement of peace—shalom—in the middle of the storm.

Because maybe…rest is the real power pose.