Pearl in the Making

I am a pearl in the making and I am certain I always will be. God is never done working in us and through us. I have gone from single to married to widow to engaged and I am only in my early thirties. Life is often never what we thought it would be. It can be so much more difficult than ever dreamed, and also so much more beautiful than ever imagined.

Nahum 1:7 is the only verse that was underlined in my late husband’s travel Bible. I had never read this particular Bible of his. However, after his unexpected death in a plane crash, I couldn’t get enough of anything that had belonged to him. And so, one day in the midst of my grief, I picked up this Bible and flipped through it’s worn out pages. My heart skipped a beat when I landed upon the pages of Nahum and noticed the underlined verse:

“The Lord is good, a strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge and trust in Him.” – Nahum 1:7

Tears fell from my eyes as I read the verse over and over again. I cried out to God and begged Him for relief from the grief that seemed so unbearable. My patience was worn out and I felt no ease from it all. I didn’t seem as thought He was truly with me, but it often doesn’t in the midst of the pain. It can seem so lonely in the darkness of grief.

It has been about 5 years since that day and I can now look back and clearly see how God’s promise was in fact true. He was my stronghold and strength in the midst of my pain. He has carried me from the depth of my despair and He has given me new purpose. It took time and it took patience. God used the grit of grief to make me a more valuable pearl. He can use it all, but He doesn’t promise it will be easy or quick.

I am not the same idealistic girl that I once was. However, I like the woman I am today. I have learned the patience of trusting God and knowing that there will be many trials in life. This life is to be lived, and we are required to do it as gracefully and as purposefully as we can. God will provide us the strength to do so, if we choose to lean on Him.

I remember listening to one of my favorite teachers from college speak about embracing pain. He said that none of us like pain. In fact, much in our world today helps us to avoid it. Scripture promises that as we follow Christ we will suffer and endure pain but that it is not without a purpose. As we persevere, we experience growth and joy and become more like Christ. We will be become beautiful pearls along the way.