Did you know that it can take up to seven years for a pearl to develop and grow? In the same light, it is very rare to find a natural grown pearl in an oyster, especially one with the right shape, size and color desired for most jewelry.
What if we were to learn something about how God sees us, from something as simple as an oyster. Since God created everything, I’m sure that 7 years isn’t a complete coincidence for how long it can take a pearl to form. 7 is highly favored number in the Bible. It is mentioned 394 times just in the Old Testament alone. Overall the number is referred to in the Bible nearly 700 times. Seven is seen as a symbol for unity, completeness, perfection and Holiness.
What a beautiful thing it is that a perfect pearl can take that amount of time to develop naturally.
In our case, as humans, of course we are far more valuable than a pearl. Yet God takes his time with us as well. Whether that be one day, 7 years or 70 for sake of example. Good things, beautiful things, take time to grow, mature and develop. With the Lord those things in us can turn into something so special and far more beautiful than the most precious pearl.
Maybe you are in a season where you feel like you aren’t worthy, beautiful or valuable. But Jesus wants to say enough is enough! Do not listen to the lies of the enemy any longer! You are more important, beautiful, precious and loved than any pearl in the universe. Especially by the most high God! It says in Matthew 6:25-34 that we are much more valuable than the birds in the air, yet he cares for them. With that same care plus much more, he does care for us personally. And in the same verses Jesus states that God dresses the flowers of the fields, with such beauty. How much more beautiful do you think you are to him- compared to a little flower lily in the ground?! Oh so much more.
My final point would be to think about how few pearls actually get picked for the harvesting of jewelry making. In naturally made pearls that number is one out of ten-thousand. When I think of that fact, I think of our world today. How many people will decide to actually follow Jesus, be in his presence and want to be like him, bringing his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven- well the answer to that is unfortunately also very few. For context Matthew 9:35-38, for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. As well as in Matthew 7:13-14 , narrow is the gate that leads to everlasting life. These verses I believe are meant to help us understand that good things sometimes don’t always come easy, but to take heart, lean into the Word of the Lord, fervent in prayer, walking in step with the Holy Spirit. In the end , the outer shell of an oyster is not usually the prettiest, yet what’s inside can be worth far much more, and absolutely beautiful. The same can be true of us, in spirit. God created us beautiful from the outside and in. Yet at the very end of our days , what matters most is found on what was within and what we are called to do with that.
A girl who’s seen it all, wonderfully redeemed 