Pearls

Aren't pearls stunning? Whether in a solitary setting or strung together as a necklace, pearls have a calming, appealing luster that exemplify class and style. Pearls in nature can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes and even colours. The most valuable ones, of course, are the ones which are perfect – perfectly smooth, perfectly round, and perfectly white. Doesn't that also seem to be how the world measures the value of a woman? Advertising, media, and retail all glorify and cater to ‘perfection’ in female appearance, leaving all of us in doubt of our value and self-worth because we know it’s unattainable. Yet we still try. Why? There is a constant craving in women to look beautiful so they can feel valuable. This lie has even penetrated the church. The good news is that as Christian women, we have all the tools we need to reverse this mindset and redefine what being a woman of value really means. And we need look no further than the pearl.

Have you ever reflected on how a pearl is made? In nature, an oyster has a hard outer shell to protect its tender inner tissue, and for the most part it lives out its days as happy as a clam (no pun intended.) Occasionally, though, this inner tissue can become sliced or wounded, or an unwelcome particle can get caught inside an oyster’s shell. This unexpected wound or annoying irritant disrupts everyday life. It is a constant, nagging presence that can cause great wear and tear if ignored. The oyster must exert great energies to secrete a smooth, healing balm to encapsulate the intruder or cover the wound. Over time, a beautiful pearl is created. We all have known seasons of brokenness and pain in our lives which leave us feeling drained, tired, scarred – anything but beautiful. Yet God wants to use each of those times to create a unique and beautiful pearl in your life; something of great meaning and value for you to showcase to others as proof of God’s powerful love. So how does God form these pearls, you ask? We all know many people who go through difficult times and come away with only bitterness and regret. How can we as Christian women demonstrate the truth that God really does work all things together for our good? We find the answer simply by examining the characteristics of pearl development.

First of all, pearls are formed in secret. In the wild, they are found in one of the most remote climates on earth – inside one of millions of oysters piled together at the bottom of the ocean. This hiddeness of the heart is also essential for every woman of God to have. What do you do during times of stress? Turn on the TV and try to escape? Vent your frustrations to those around you? Or do you take time to be alone with the Lord, asking for His peace and to bring your thoughts back in line with His perspective? Though God doesn't cause pain and grief, He often allows it in order to get our attention. He wants our hearts to be hidden with Him; He is the God of intimate relationship. Only through spending quiet time with God can He form the pearl and

reveal His beauty to us.

Secondly, pearls are formed in an environment that is very wet and messy. You may say you know all about God - yet when was the last time you allowed the Holy Spirit to move you to tears? As adults, we have learned how to analyze our feelings, which is good, but also to dismiss or suppress them, which is not so good. The worst pain and grief is the kind that pierces the heart; and the battle for your heart is a messy, emotional business. Tears bring healing and refreshment to the dry, ravaged battleground of your soul. I think there is great symbolism in the promise God gives us in the Bible that “[He] will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes” (Revelation 21:4). Its context is meant for heaven, but it’s symbolic of how God moves right now. He can’t wipe away tears until we allow ourselves to cry; and this can only happen when we are honest, genuine and vulnerable with God. Just like when you would cry unhindered as a child. Becoming child-like with its tears and mess is essential for pearl formation. Human hearts were created to be softened by the Holy Spirit and to pour out genuine emotion at Jesus’ feet – and tears can be our assurance of that essential process at work.

The third factor involved in making a pearl is time. Pearls develop over a period of many years. We live in a society of fast food and quick fixes, and we often forget how God’s time differs from ours. “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8) During difficult times especially, the pain seems to make time stand still and all we want is for God to intervene quickly. Yet we have to allow God’s plans to unfold in His time; to let go of what we are doing and learn to just be His. Like a career resume is to a family tree, so the story of what we do is also strikingly different to the story of who we are. It takes time to grow a deep understanding of our unique identity as a child of God. Learning a new job skill make take only a few months, while learning how to exchange gladness for mourning may take a lifetime.

So how do you measure up on God’s scale of beauty? Just remember it’s the opposite of the world’s definition. The world defines value in terms of uniformity and perfection; God defines it in terms of diversity and brokenness. Who the world would deem worthless and throw away, God longs to rescue and restore simply because they are His. But it must start with a surrendered heart. Only then can the pearls begin to form.

Ruth-Ellen W.