Like so many times before, I walked along the beach searching for little treasures. This day was different as my eye was drawn to beauty commonly overlooked. As the ocean waves retreated over my feet, I was fixed on the glistening objects that remained. I bent down to pick up what appeared to be a complete shell. I soon discovered it was flawed by the rough waters. Normally I would toss the shell back into the water, but today, the Lord chose to use this broken shell to speak to me.
He has made everything beautiful in its time… Ecclesiastes 3:11
In its time. This shell was once whole and perfect, serving a purpose. And now it is broken, flawed, and without any discernible use. Yet the scripture says it is made beautiful in its time. I thought, “Isn’t that like some of us?”
The early morning sun produced a beautiful glow on the shell in my hand. I began to look more closely at the intricate pattern, the rough-looking edges that were now smooth, and the possibilities with this small piece.
I began to see the beauty in its brokenness.
As I looked at the people around me I realized we are all the same. We begin life unmarred, whole, and hope-filled. In time, as we are tossed around in life’s sea, we become rough on the edges, imperfect. Sometimes the edges are sharp and they hurt others. Perhaps like this shell, we once were purposed, but the waters of life have changed us, and we no longer see ourselves as beautiful.
Some fall into the pit of regret. Others choose denial. Maybe we long for the days when life was full, when we felt victorious, powerful, loved, honored, useful.
You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. -Song of Solomon 4:7
Suddenly my eyes were opened and I saw the stunning beauty of this broken shell in my hand. The broken edges had been smoothed during its journey through the rough waters. The shell’s beauty was no longer defined by its wholeness. It is now defined by its brokenness. A new purpose has emerged as a result of going through the journey. If everyone had the perfect life surrounded by perfect people and perfect circumstances, we wouldn’t need a Savior. Jesus said, “They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He came for the broken, not the whole. He came for me.
God reminded me that in our weakness, we are made strong in Him. New beauty emerges from the waters of life. Character develops that would be impossible if we never experienced those “rough waters.” At some point, we fix our gaze on the One who created us. We reach a point of brokenness before Him when we finally acknowledge we cannot do this without Him. And He gazes upon His altogether lovely one, and sees beauty in the brokenness. The I AM sees you. Like the shell, you are broken, yet very much whole. Your brokenness becomes your new platform. Your purpose is redefined, reshaped, and re-invented.
I took the shell home as a reminder. I re-purposed it and now have something beautiful to remind me…There is beauty in brokenness. I AM whole. I AM filled with purpose. And I AM beautiful to the I AM. I am His altogether lovely one.
I AM. BELOVED 
Pam this is a beautiful message, thank you for sharing! 💕
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