“Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
This is one of those verses, you know them…the ones that are true, even when you don’t want them to be, the ones that hit you where it hurts. Who wants trials? Trials are not fun; they are painful. I can’t think of anyone who would ask for one, but ask or not, they come. We can all tell some stories of pain, suffering, waiting or some other kind of challenge we have faced. What must we admit once we are on the other side of the trial? It has usually resulted in growth. We become stronger, more sensitive, and closer to God.
I love the visual the authors use to explain the process we are going through as a lady in waiting. A pearl. For many of us, it isn’t the first time we have heard how pearls are formed. What I loved were the parallels they used. How many of us have felt like the ugly oyster shell just sitting on the beach being passed over, watching all the prettier seashells get picked up and taken home? I know I have. And I think as more time goes on, and I see more seashells go home, it starts to feel hopeless. But God does not want us in that place!
He is doing a beautiful work in us! There is our hope. The grain of sand, whether it is divorce, loneliness, abuse or any number of other trials we face are not meant to be irritating and painful forever. God takes that pain and turns it into something beautiful. This is not an instant process though. The reworking takes time. What is most amazing to me is the greater the irritation, the more valuable the pearl! Think about how beautiful our final products will be.
It is through these works, these trials that God puts us through, and how we come out the other side, that we will become the women that God wants us to be. This is the woman who will be ready for the man who God has for us. There will be someone who wants to know what is inside that oyster shell, and see our true beauty. This is not to say that we are unattractive, that men can only be drawn to our inner beauty despite our outer beauty. But what it does say is that true love comes from true beauty. If someone is only attracted to the outside shell and puts little worth on what is on the inside, the relationship is doomed before it begins.
Beauty fades, character doesn’t. What attracted Boaz to Ruth? It wasn’t her outer beauty. In fact, she looked very different from the other women in the area, beautiful or not. When Ruth asks Boaz why she should receive his favor Boaz replies, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been reported to me, and how you left your father and mother and the land of your birth, and you came to a people who you did not previously know”. It wasn’t what Ruth looked like that caused Boaz to fall in love with her, it was the woman of virtue that she was.
So ladies, let God work in you. Take those sands of pain and turn it into a beautiful string of pearls that all ladies of virtue deserve to wear proudly. The Lord wants you to be a lady of virtue – a costly, beautiful pearl for all to admire.
God bless,
Michelle
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About Michelle Graziano
That was beautiful Michelle. Even though I am married, God still has a lot that He wants to perfect in my life. To be honest, I don't always like it, but it is necessary in order for me to have a successful marriage.
Thank you so much Edwina. I think God will be molding our pearls for the rest of our lives. There is always a work he is doing in us, fun or not! 🙂
The word that kept coming to mind was 'beautiful'. Beautifully written, beautiful imagery of how the things that irritate us the most going through them make us what we are today. God uses all those things to bring us to himself, if we only let Him. Thank you for your words. You are BEAUTIFUL.
Awww Theresa, thank you. I needed that today. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Drawing ourselves closer to God? He is so good.
Thank you for this Michelle! I know that when I’m facing trials it’s hard for me to remember that growth and beauty will come from them, whatever the trial may be. I love the comparison of the Pearl. God takes a piece of dirt, and turns it into something beautiful and sought after.
I think it is normal to not be able to see the “payoff” right away. There are times when I don’t realize it’s happened until I react to a situation, and realize it’s not the way I used to react, or I think something that is new and different from my old way of thinking. Sometimes it’s gradual (and surprising!!)
Great blog!! And what a perfect visual for singleness.
Thank you Tracy! I'm glad you enjoyed it 😀
this is so great!!! Thank you for this gift, Michelle <3
Thanks Megan!
Beautiful post Michelle. Its hard to see what God is doing when you are going through the sands of pain but afterwards, when you are as beautiful as a pearl. You appreciate the process.
Absolutely Jackie! And if not the process, the end result lol 😀
This is beautiful Michelle. It made me think of all the trials I have been through, they were the worst and best times of my life! Those were the times I could feel God the most. I often worried about how I was going to tell my "future husband" about my past because its so complicated. But God gives me such a peace about it I know that when the time comes to share with him The Lord will give me the words to say and that there will be a man who knows my story and STILL loves me.
Oh Diane, I read your post and it is as if I wrote it! I worry about the same things sometimes, but I believe God will bring the man into our lives that will love us for who wwe are, past and all. That complicated past is a beautiful strand of pearls!
Although that one tiny grain of sand can seem to rub us the wrong way, we know it is rubbing the beauty into existence! I love this message Michelle!! Great job, Girlfriend!! <3
Thank you Christi! xo
Thank you for the great post. Just what I needed today. God bless you Michelle
Thank you Angela! I am glad it spoke to you xo