“Perhaps you see your life’s journey as a series of unrelated events – some good, some bad – strung together like beads on a string.”-Billy Graham
Shortly after reading the above quote, this picture – ironically – popped up in my Pinterest newsfeed.
What strikes me about this picture is the mishmash of pearls strung across this model’s neck. I count 12 layers, and in the 12 layers I see big pearls, small pearls, light cream pearls, dark cream pearls, and even some pearls with a grey tint.
I bet if you were to break that necklace apart and lay each pearl on the floor there would not be the same wow factor as this picture exudes. I’m betting the grey pearls would look dirty and cheap and the big pearls mixed in with the small pearls would resemble some form of sorting mishap. But…
One single pearl is not what gives the effect.
One single pearl is not what catches the eye.
One single pearl is not what tells the story.
The beauty is found in the pearl collection.
And the same can be said of our lives.
We think our life simply and plainly looks like this:
When in fact, He is assembling this:
Which will lead to this:
Which will eventually leads to this:
We get lost in a sea of discouragement over one single pearl because we lose sight of the fact that He is creating a string of something more. Our lives are not a random journey of unrelated events – some good, some bad – strung together like beads on a string, we are part of a pearl collection and there is purpose to every single pearl.
For every life irritant you choose to surrender to Christ, He turns it into a beautiful pearl. For every pearl you choose to see as significant, Christ adds it to the line, to the collection, to the ensemble, but you have to choose to wear it, to talk about it, to display it, to accessorize your outfit – no matter how disjointed it may appear, or how difficult it may be to share, or how confusing it may seem to explain. And for every pearl you choose to display, you are adding layers and layers and layers of His glory to the fashion statement of your life.
But you gotta be willing to work your irritants.
You gotta be willing to see each single pearl as significant.
You gotta have faith to see, believe and trust that He is using and stringing your mishmash of pearls with other pearls to form a beautiful and meaningful pearl collection.
Because the beauty is found in the pearl collection
”Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we’re proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.”-2 Corinthians 4:5-6
