God’s inner work

Several years ago we attend a conference at the beach. In Thailand.  One morning I’m out for a walk as the sun rises.

I stop and gaze at the ocean.  The waves roll gently. In and out. Steady.

I’m in the middle of fog and forgetfulness. A strange season of life. Change. Reminders that I’m aging. 

Inside and out, I don’t feel like myself. 

Constant ebb and flow

The tide’s constant ebb and flow assures me. 

He is with me. Always. His hold is steady. He knows my coming in and going out. 

I watch the water recede and return.

Under my feet is sand. Not the fine, silky sand of other beaches. But a hearty sand of substance. 

And shells of every variety. Singular or clustered in groups. Strung all along the way before me.

The not-so-perfect

I follow the pattern of other beach walks. Head bent. Eyes searching for treasure. 

The perfect shell. Colorful coral.

But something shifts. And I notice the misshapen pieces. The worn. The battered. Not so perfect.

I lean down to pick them up. Feel the smooth parts. The textures. And examine the details.

Aging shells

That’s when they catch my eye. These particular shells. The sand is littered with them that day.

Rough and plain. Barnacled like they’ve been in the ocean a long time. Aging.

I turn them over. 

And exclaim out loud. 

Ongoing inner work

Hidden beneath the crusty exterior is beauty. Colors glowing as they reflect the sun. Evidence of an ongoing inner work. 

Unseen before the shell cracked open. And broke apart. 

Immediately His praise is on my lips. Awed by the work of His hands. And the illustration of His ways.

Holding treasure

The clay vessel of 2 Corinthians 4:7 comes to mind. Weak and ordinary. Yet chosen to hold so great a Treasure. The Light of the world that shines in our hearts. 

Some days I feel the weakness of this clay more than others. I look at the shell in my hand. 

Renewed day by day

Second Corinthians 4:16 says, “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 

An ongoing inner work takes place as the outer shell is being destroyed.  Transforming. Sanctifying. Renewing. 

In the midst of the temporary. On the way to eternity.

For the glory of His name.

We do not lose heart

I stand in the sun, holding the shell. Watching the water move in and out.  

And give thanks in the fog and forgetfulness. 

For He is worthy. He is glorious. He is Lord. 

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV

What about you?

Have you struggled through a strange season of life? How has God reminded you of His presence and purpose and power?

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