The Process is Irritating

I’ve heard this process before, but the more and more I seek God, the more and more I realize, man this process of becoming a rare and beautiful pearl ‘tis not easy.  The pearl is as prized as a precious gem, but it is not formed by geologic processes like precious and semi-precious stones. Instead, the pearl is a product of some species of oysters and other shell-fish, formally called bivalve mollusks. It is formed when irritants become lodged in the soft tissue inside an oyster's shell, and, to protect itself, the oyster produces a coating for the irritant. This coating, called nacre, builds up in many thin layers and creates an iridescent cover over the irritant. The resulting product is a pearl a beautiful, rare pearl.

In Job 30:18 MSG, he cries out “I am tied hand and foot, my neck in a noose.  I twist and turn.”  I can definitely relate with that feeling.  My finances seemed like they are tied, despite being faithful in my giving and tithing.  Every pay check I struggle to pay something and I'm constantly juggling bills here and there. I feel like I’m choking loosing my mind trying to guide my teenage child into being a fearful man of God, a man of respect and value.  Constantly having to play the “BAD” guy!  Realizing there’s someone that doesn’t really like me. As I go through the process of building on my relationship, the enemy continues to bring forth issues, obstacles and irritate me each and every way.  Lodging thoughts of fear.  I feel none of it's easy pain, it's lodged deep down.  At times I cry, I scream, I pout and through this process I find myself at times broken.  Rarely do I question God.  I tend to not get Him too upset asking questions that He’ll probably look at me and say “really, your really questioning ME?” and perhaps getting the “silent” treatment. LOL.. I just stand still like a child that fell off their bike riding at about 15 mph with my face dirty full of dried tears, bruised and bleeding here and there, trusting and knowing that as God being my Father; He’ll cover the wounds and though the process of healing is much to  much irritating I’ll be fine.  It will ALL be fine.

How do you know this you ask?  In Matthew 13:45-46 reads “…God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls.  Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.”  How amazing is it that after all the pain, all the crying, all the process of the irritants caused by hurt over love, hurt over toxic relationships, after the pain over the loss, pain over ones hang ups caused by our choices; He provides a coating for those irritants and that’s his endless love slowly producing the “nacre” which then results into that pearl.  "You" are that Pearl, that excellent pearl that He is willing to drop it ALL for. GIVE IT ALL for!!!!!  What is ALL?   His "only"son, so that we can have certainty that we’ll succeed, we’ll be triumphant.  He proves to us that we are so rare, beautiful and precious that He was willing to suffer as well; so that we may conquer all and any obstacle through His power and strength.  So.....this Christmas I’d like to personally thank baby Jesus.