Do you know how pearls are made? Some type of foreign substance gets in an oyster or mussel and starts to irritate the sensitive lining. The oyster secretes a substance containing aragonite (a carbonate mineral) and conchiolin (a protein), and it creates a material called nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Over time, these layers of nacre turn into what eventually becomes a pearl.
Do you know how grapevines become so fruitful? Pruning. Because grapes are produced on new branches it is necessary to cut away the old, unproductive, or diseased branches and give the new branches space to grow and flourish.
The author of Hebrews said of Jesus, “He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation . . .” (Heb 5:8-9) (Just to clarify Jesus was never not obedient to His Father – the word “learned” here means to become accustomed to. And He was always perfect – “perfect” in this context speaks of completion – that He completed the work of salvation.) If Jesus was made perfect – complete – through suffering, can it be any different for us?
Suffering is the classroom for the believer. But what comes out of that suffering?
Pearls and fruit and Christlikeness. If, according to Romans 8:29, the goal of the Christian life is to be conformed to the image of God’s Son, how else will we achieve that goal but to “know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Phil 3:10).
That “irritation” in your life is God’s way of producing pearls. That sharp bite of pain is God pruning away everything that will hinder the Fruit of the Spirit in you. Your suffering and trials are there for a reason. “The testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature [perfect] and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3-4).
Believe me when I say I am writing this to myself this morning. The past year has brought irritations and cuts and bruises and suffering and trials and so much heartache and pain to my life. But God is reminding me – and so I am reminding you – that all of this has purpose. All of it is working together to make me – and you – more like Jesus. And that, Beloved, is your pearl of wisdom today.
Deeper Roots 