And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
The following devotional thought was written by my good friend and sister in Christ, Luisel Lawler (pictured on a mission trip to India). The mother of 5, Luisel lives in West Palm Beach with her husband, Dave, where she is actively involved in women’s discipling ministry. I first met her at a writer’s conference and we discovered we are like-hearts through and through. I hope you enjoy her devo as much as I did!
One of my favorite past times while at the beach is collecting shells. Maybe that’s why God has used shells on several occasions to speak to my needs at the time. Not that shells can talk, but they have been the object lessons God uses to get His message across to me.
Today He graced me with one such lesson. As I was walking the beach this morning, searching for shells to add to my collection, I noticed something shining in the sand. I leaned down to pick it up and realized it was a shell—a shell I would have not chosen for my collection. Why? Because it was a plain, unattractive, very fragile shell, even broken in places. I always choose shells that are beautiful in shape and color, not broken in any way. But today this shell caught my eye because of the way it reflected the sunlight.
As I studied the shell in my hand, I noticed how transparent it was. In fact, when I held it up to the light, I could see the sun shining right through. It was then God spoke to my heart. “This is the kind of life I want you to lead-a life that does not seek attention from your outward beauty, but one that reflects My light. A life that, although fragile and broken, realizes your need for Me so that you will become a glorious testimony to others, allowing My light to shine through you!”
Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly used broken, fragile shells, the most unlikely people to do His work: Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Esther, Rahab, David, and the disciples, just to name a few. And His pattern has not changed. So when we feel we have nothing of value to offer to God, or are too broken or fragile by the mistakes we’ve made, we can remember these shells that teach us to shine in the light of the Son.
After my lesson on the beach, I began to collect as many shining shells as I could find. I know of countless others who need this same affirmation that God wants to use their lives to shine for Him, no matter how inadequate, broken, or unable they feel. All He asks for is transparency so that others can see the light shining through by God’s grace at work in them.
As I was leaving the beach, God caught my attention with one last lesson. Where the beach was dry, I saw that it was filled with these same broken pieces of shells, scattered and mixed throughout the sand. Those once beautiful shells were now insignificant fragments, but all together they noticeably and gloriously reflected the sunlight. It was the perfect display of the end result of a life broken and surrendered for Him.
All of this reminded me again that this world and all its lure is not my home. I don’t want to live for myself and someday have my life counted as useless. What I do for God matters, even long after I’m gone. If I live for God and focus on things that count for eternity by pouring into people, my life will continue to shine for Him long after I am buried. His light will still reflect from the countless ways I have given my life away, piece by piece.
Thank you God for your truth and your beauty in creation. Nothing and no one is insignificant to You.
Visit Luisel’s blog today!