EMBRACE GRACE

 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." I Peter 5:7

 

A tiny foreign particle enters the life of an oyster bringing pain and discomfort. The oyster embraces this and prepares for the moment. It secretes a liquid substance from it's shell which covers this unwanted particle. This reduces the pain a bit. This coating process goes on again and again until a beautiful, smooth pearl is formed. No longer is there any pain or discomfort, only something of beauty.

Our lives can be the same way. Circumstances can bring pain and discomfort. We must choose how to handle it. We can try to go it on our own or we can embrace it with the help of a loving God who loves us beyond imagination. The part of the oyster which secretes the soothing liquid is called the mantle. My mind immediately thought of Elijah's mantle, his covering, which Elisha waited for. Our covering is the mantle of God's anointing. 

In times like these, we can turn to God and He will apply a coating to our heart. Each time the wound may hurt or be re-opened, He will gently apply a healing balm to our tender places. He doesn't tire of taking care of us but will be there to do it over and over again until the hurt is gone. He never leaves us like He finds us; He always leaves us better. 

When we allow God to work through the hard places, we will one day look and see a beautiful pearl where there was once pain and hurt. God specializes in taking our ashes of ugliness and making something beautiful. In His time He makes all things beautiful. Even in nature, God shows us His will is for us to turn to Him, for us to cast our cares upon Him and allow Him to do what only He can do. 

I'm on a quest to remind myself daily, EMBRACE God's plan. He doesn't want to see us suffer, but when times of suffering come He wants us to give it to Him and allow Him to work through that situation until we can see something of beauty. It all comes down to us being submissive and obedient to His will and plan - not ours, to being patient to trust in the process and the One who can do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think. 

So, my friend, until the pain subsides, trust God to do the work. Embrace the opportunity to be held by Him and run to His arms over and over again. Something beautiful in the making ~ EMBRACE GRACE!