One of my favorite things to do is walk along the sandy beach or in the shallows and hunt for shells. My husband and I have done this for years, and our collection of treasured shells has grown. When we first started, we brought home every shell. But over the years, we have grown pickier about “the keepers.” We are quick to discard broken, scarred, or ugly shells. Because we have so many, we often leave behind shells that aren’t perfect. This started us thinking. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t discard us broken humans?
We have been beaten up by the storms and surf of life. Some of us show our age, and even if our barnacles aren’t always visible, we are left with scars from life and its challenges. Sometimes, our own decisions leave us ragged and broken. Other times, the circumstances of life itself wear us down. Either way, we end up feeling less than useful, and certainly not beautiful. But those are lies from the evil one. Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us God formed us even before we were born, and we are beautifully and wonderfully made — His design on display. Broken shells still hold great beauty.
Thankfully, we don’t have to be perfect to be used by God. The Bible is filled with stories of people nowhere close to perfect, but God still used them in mighty ways. God called David a
man after His own heart, even though David committed adultery and murder. We find Rahab, a woman of questionable background (to say the least), in the lineage of Jesus. Before he became the Apostle Paul, Saul went on a rampage of persecution against followers of Christ. All broken — all still beautifully used by God.
When you feel too old, that you are not good enough or have ruined your life, and you question how God could use someone who keeps messing up, just remember the broken seashells and remember you are still beautiful. You don’t have to be perfect, just willing. When you allow God to use you despite your imperfections, you will be amazed by what He can do with a broken shell.
Our testimonies of perseverance can encourage others powerfully. We don’t always know why the waves crash over us, break us, and wear us down. But when we tell our stories of how God provided in our times of need and carried us through trouble, we can help others facing their own difficult days. We don’t always know where people are in their life journeys, but our story of God’s faithfulness may be the very thing they need to hear.
Wherever you find yourself in your journey of life, God loves you, cares about you, and wants you to continue serving Him. You may be a broken shell, but you are still beautiful and have a place to serve God.
About the Writer: Jennifer Thomsen and her husband Eric live
in Joelton Tennessee with their flop-eared mischievous
mutt Honey. Their favorite “shell beach” is Lido Key,
off the southwestern coast
of Florida.
