I love going to the lake or ocean and searching for sea glass. It’s always exciting to find something so beautiful. I have three containers filled with pastel shades of green, brown, clear, blue and aqua which are displayed on various windowsills in my house.
One day, as I was looking at my collection, I felt the Holy Spirit begin to speak to me about the process a piece of glass goes through to become the buffered, beautiful piece I was looking at. The Holy Spirit proceeded to tell me that God created the beauty of the glass . But before it became beautiful, it had to be tossed in the waves for a season to remove the rough edges. The pressure of the waves and storms caused a broken piece of glass to become beautiful and sought after.
Jesus will take the broken pieces of our lives and make something beautiful out of them. What we thought was going to kill us, will be used for His glory. So often, when we feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders and the storms are just not letting up, we need to remind ourselves that God is in control. Every broken area of your life will be made into something beautiful. Your pain was not wasted. God is taking your mess and giving you your message.
I am reminded of another story about being molded by God located in Romans 9:20-26 (MSG)
20-33 Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, “Why did you shape me like this?” Isn’t it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans? If God needs one style of pottery especially designed to show his angry displeasure and another style carefully crafted to show his glorious goodness, isn’t that all right? Either or both happens to Jews, but it also happens to the other people. Hosea put it well:
I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies;
I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.
In the place where they yelled out, “You’re nobody!”
they’re calling you “God’s living children.”
Isaiah maintained this same emphasis:
If each grain of sand on the seashore were numbered
and the sum labeled “chosen of God,”
They’d be numbers still, not names;
salvation comes by personal selection.
God doesn’t count us; he calls us by name.
Arithmetic is not his focus.
So many times in life we feel like a nobody; like we are too broken to be used by God. We may even feel we are a hopeless cause. But in the above verse, God says He’ll call the nobodies and make them somebodies; He’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.
There is a poem written by B.V. Cornwall called “The Chosen Vessel.” I want to share it with you.
The Master was searching for a vessel to use,
Before him there were many,
Which one would he choose?
“Take Me,” cried the golden one,
“I am shiny and bright,
“I’m of great value and I do things just right”
“My beauty and luster will outshine the rest,”
“And for someone like you, Master, Gold would be best!”
The Master passed on with no word at all,
And looked at a silver urn narrow and tall,
“I’ll be on your table whenever you dine”
“My lines are so grateful.”
“My carvings so true,”
“And silver will always compliment you.”
Unheeding, the Master passed on the the brass,
Wide-mouthed and shallow and polished like glass.
“Here, Here! Cried the vessel; I know I will do”
“Place me on the table for all men to view.”
“Look at me” called the goblet of crystal so clear,
“My transparency shows my contents so dear.”
“Though fragile am I, I will serve you with pride.”
“And I’m sure I’ll be happy in your house to abide.”
The Master came next to a vessel of wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly stood,
“You may use me, dear Master” the wooden bowl said,
“But I’d rather you use me for fruit, not for bread.”
Then, the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay,
Empty and broken it helplessly lay,
No hope had the vessel,
That the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill, and to use.
“Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been hoping to find,”
“I’ll mend it and use it, and make it all mine”
“I need not the vessel with pride of itself”
“Nor one that is narrow to sit on the shelf”
“Nor one that is big mouthed and shallow and loud”
“Nor one that displays his contents so proud”
“Not the one that thinks he can do all things just right,”
“But this plain, earthly vessel, filled with power and might.”
Then, gently he lifted the vessel of clay, Mended and cleansed it,
and filled it that day. Spoke to it kindly –
“There is work you must do -“
“Just pour out to others, as I pour into you.”
Are you feeling like life has just broken you down to nothing? Have the words of others broke you and you are finding it hard to even remember who you are anymore? Do you find that you cry yourself to sleep more than counting sheep?
Take courage and know that God sees you. You are not too far gone that He can not reach down His precious hand and rescue you out of that dark pit you now find yourself in. He is calling your name and polishing all off those rough, broken pieces on you and making you into His masterpiece. Psalm 23:5 says:
God will lift you up in the presence of everyone who ever hurt you and tore you down. You were created for something great and nobody can destroy the plans God has for you.
Take heart, and be encouraged and know that God is taking your ashes and making something beautiful for you. All of your confusion and hurt and pain will be the very thing God uses to promote you into your very calling.
I am praying that you will be able to find joy in today.
Finding Joy In Today 
Lovely imagery, Lori. Something else that comes to mind about a jar of sea glass–there is powerful beauty in a collection of multicolored sea glass, just as there is powerful beauty in a community of transformed believers. The impact is even more glorious!
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