Today’s Post Written By: Rhonda Stinson
Pearls are beautiful to the eye and very costly, especially natural pearls. A pearl is formed through an amazing process. An irritant, such as a grain of sand or parasite is embedded into the soft inner layer of an oyster. This triggers a defense mechanism in the oyster, thus releasing a substance called nacre to encapsulate the irritant. It will continue to release nacre forming layer upon layer around the irritant to create a pearl. Pearls may form within 1-20 years, depending on whether the oyster is in saltwater or freshwater. A true pearl cannot be formed outside of an oyster. Man can introduce his own irritant into the oyster and it will produce a pearl called a cultured pearl. God’s creation is amazing and cannot be re-created!
Irritants in our lives can be made into pearls if we so choose. My physical infirmities have produced the pearls of understanding and perseverance; unresolved anger has yielded humility and self-control; uncertainty has yielded faith and trust in God.
Is something or someone continually irritating you? Would you rather take action and produce a pearl or let the irritant continue to irritate?
Paul had to deal with an irritant in his life. He called it his thorn in the flesh.
“Concerning this thing (thorn in the flesh) I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
The power of Christ became the pearl of Paul’s infirmity!
Like Paul, Christ will cover the pain in our lives with qualities that produce genuine beauty and worth.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians (5:22-23)