Pearls of Hope

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4 NIV

Believe it or not, the process that Paul describes above is similar to the one oysters use to make pearls. But did you know only about one in ten thousand oysters actually produce pearls? If a few stray grains of sand slip inside, the oyster is not likely to be bothered. But if some type of parasitic organism penetrates deeply enough to pierce the soft body of the animal itself… that’s when the pearl-making process is triggered. The same is true of us too, isn’t it? We only turn to God when the suffering in our lives becomes so painful we can’t ignore it any longer.

Once the oyster decides a pearl needs to be made, it starts to secrete something called the pearl sack: a unique layer of cells that produces the substance pearls are actually made of, which is called nacre. Since it takes literally thousands of layers of nacre to produce a pearl, the pearl sack represents perseverance in our analogy, while the nacre itself represents character. Perseverance is what we do, but character is who we are. Just like the pearl sack faithfully produces layer upon layer of nacre inside the oyster, it takes thousands of decisions to persevere in the face of suffering to produce the character believers of Christ are called to embody.

Depending on the pearl’s size, the entire process can take months or even years. But the finished product is well worth it. Just like the hope described in Isaiah 43:2, authentic pearls are both fireproof and waterproof. And even though pearls are very soft, they are also extremely resistant to external pressure. May the same be said of us… that our hearts remain tender even under pressure as God produces His priceless pearls of hope within us. (2 Corinthians 4:8).

H.C.