The Lesson of the Pearl

Recently, through my studies, I learned some interesting points about pearls and how they are created. I learned that the formation of a pearl is really just a product of a healing wound that an oyster received. Furthermore, an offensive, foreign substance embeds itself in the most sensitive part of the oyster and a regimen of suffering begins. In the creation of a pearl, an ongoing process of pain produces a treasure of ever-increasing size. The irritation never goes away. The oyster continues secreting the substance to coat the hurt. That secretion hardens and becomes the pearl. The longer the hurt remains, the larger the pearl!

The Bible records a story of a man named Job. He was just an average guy who loved God, but he was about to experience pain and suffering on another level! In one day, he lost farms and livestock, houses and land, his household and family...he lost his reason for living.

Again, he lost it ALL in ONE DAY!

However, the Bible says in all of his pain and suffering, Job did not charge God foolishly. In fact, this average guy's response was anything but average. Job 23:8-11 says: " Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:(10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.(11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined."

You see, Job understood that even though he could not discern the presence of God in his life, God WAS there and had a purpose for his suffering and pain. The end result of Job's trust was that not only was he restored in every measure, but he increased exponentially and his new gains became greater than what he had lossed! What a testimony!

I wondered how many times I have caused and endured hurts of the heart and the mind during my life? Hundreds of times? Thousands?? Unlike Job, I've questioned the Lord on why suffering and pain even exists? What the purpose? Why do even dedicated people suffer pain? Why does it rain on the unjust AND the just??

But then, my mind goes back to the Lesson of the Pearl, and my understanding begins to be illuminated...

The beautiful pearl does not come from something that strengthens or nourishes the oyster, but only through what hurts it or causes it pain! Before Job could become increased in the way that he was, suffering had to happen! He simply had to endure the pain! But he didn't endure alone, God was with him all the way! I'm sure you've read the poem of the Footprints in the Sand? The one set of footprints was not the solitary steps of the author, but it was the footprints of the Lord carrying him through his trial and pain!

I don't know why God chose suffering and pain to be the catalyst for the pearl exactly, but what I DO know is that when I trust and love God through my pain, He will make something beautiful come from it! The greatest desire in our lives should be how we can love God and we can know Him better everyday!

The Apostle Paul wrote in Phillippians 3:10, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" Even though Paul knew God through the power, he didn't fully know God until he experienced the sufferings also! And when he did, he was made comformable, or"pliable or usable" unto Calvary.

My friend, it doesn't matter what your spiritual posture is currently, when the sufferings of this life tend to embed itself in the most sensitive areas of the heart, just know that God is taking the hurt and creating a pearl within you! The sooner we learn the Lesson of the Pearl, pain and suffering become easier to handle.