Polished Shells

This writing is a repost from my earliest days of blogging. The lesson dovetails well with the theme in my last post Greatly Blessed.

Walking the Beach
I walked the beach enjoying moments of spiritual solitude and inner peace. Rhythmic waves crashed upon the shore. The powerful ocean waves deposited shells and I began to pick them up and examine them, thinking about my life.

My thoughts moved back and forth from praying to pondering all that had recently taken place in my life – a new marriage, combining households, recovering from health issues, four new grandchildren, and my son’s suicide. The raw pain that engulfed me was numbing, but I knew God was real and somehow would get me through all the turmoil.

I bent down once again, picking up another sea shell examining it for imperfections, and marveled at how smooth and shiny it was. At that moment the Holy Spirit impressed a thought upon me, almost conversational like.

Rough Edges
“Do you know why those shells have such a beautiful sheen? It is due to the beating they take in the waves. They are tossed and turned again and again in the coarse grit of the sand. That shell you hold once had some rough edges and bumps. It wasn’t so bright and shiny. I created the beauty you admire by taking it through the turbulence. I will do the same with you if you allow me to polish off your rough edges. You too will shine.”

Promise of Hope
As I meditated on that promise, tears of joy streamed down my face. God would transform me. There was peace in the midst of pain. “Therefore, we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, CSB).

Radiance comes from a spirit at peace.

Radiant Sheen
Though this event happened over a decade ago, I still remember the lessons God taught me.

On beaches, one can easily spot numerous shells that are broken fragments of what they once were. Like the shells I observed, we can either become pulverized by life trials or make it through having our rough edges smoothed and polished.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV).

Dear Readers, are you in the midst of turbulence? Are you aware of rough edges in your life? Are you sensing God smooth them through the grit of life challenges and trials? If so, will you express gratitude for His work?

Prayer
Dear Father God, thank You for this moment in time. I will trust you. Take off my rough edges. Give me the strength and endurance to make it through the process without being destroyed. Lord, make me shine as you polish me under the touch of Your handiwork.

Moses’ face was radiant after he was in Your presence, Lord. Put in me a desire to bask in Your presence, the way I take pleasure in the warmth and light of the sun. I pray others will see Your light on my countenance because of the grace and mercy You have given. You are worthy of all glory and praise. Amen.