Producing Pearls

Philippians 1:12-14

Pearls develop when an oyster or mussel gets an irritant/foreign body inside its shell. The organism slowly builds up layers of shell-like material around the irritant over months or even years. The end result is a gorgeous pearl. Our challenges and struggles in life can be similar to those irritants in an oyster. If we allow God to use them for His purposes, they become like precious pearls of rare beauty.

Questions for further thought:
1. What suffering have you seen God turn into something with Kingdom value?
2. What challenges in your own life could you see as “pearls in development?”  

​Challenge: Try shifting your prayers from “God, please take this difficulty away,” to “God, please show me how to grow and glorify You through this struggle.”