As the power of the waves churn against the ocean bed, each shell is tossed about. With each toss and tumble through the sea every shell, stone, and piece of glass is polished with tremendous refining power. Slowly and vigorously a transformation takes place.
Walking the beach after a storm reminds me of GODS refining in my own life. I often feel battered and beaten by life's storms. Sometimes, I feel as though I have been spit onto a desolate beach by the storms furry. Yet as I stand alone on the beach I realize the beauty within this process.
Never alone, always safe despite the furious storm, I find myself better for the wear. A renewed and transformed spirit embodies the old self. Changed for HIS glory, I praise HIM for the once dreaded storm.
By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,
Andrea
46 comments:
Amen sis, I so agree.
God uses the storms. Every single one of them. I love that.
Wonderful post, Andrea! I love that He uses the storms to refine us. The problem is remembering that when one is in the midst of the storm.
Blessings,
Sandi
Beautiful. I'm so glad He uses the storms the way He does.
I love it Andrea, you are so right. Polished in the storms. :o)
Amen Andrea and thank you for your kind post! You are right... We must always have a thankful heart even when the answer is NO................
hugs,
Holly
Sometimes it's really hard to be thankful for the storm when we are in the midst of it. I'm trying though.... great post.
Yes, Lord, being renewed and transformed.
Andrea, I think I needed to be reminded of this today. How beautiful and true your words were. Beautifully written!
Hugs,
Debbie
I'm in the refining process, also.
Storms do batter and toss us about
but the storm finally passes and we come out victorious. Thanks for the post that we so desperate need.
Amen to that!!
Thanks for your visit!!
Glad you like the crowns.
xo,
Rosemary
Sometimes it's hard to see the good in the storms of life. I love that song. It reminds me of my beloved son. I know he is with Jesus.
a wonderful, tender reminder that there is beauty hidden *just below the surface* that needs to be brought out by His loving skilled hands!
thank you.
hugs!
Like rocks in a tumbler, sometimes the polishing process can get kinda' overzealous, but you are right about being thankful; we should be thankful, no matter the answer to our prayers.
I usually am, but every once in awhile, I hafta' work a little harder at it than at other times.
~ Yaya
Andrea:
I have to agree with this... sometimes the storms and waves can almost overcome... but His process in us uses the very storms and we are changed. I love this!
Hugs!
This is a great post to reflect on when one is feeling down. Thank you for the inspiration Andrea!
Love Di ♥
A very positive and beautiful way to view life's storms! Thank you, my eloquent sister in Christ.
Your post in just a few words said it all for me.
Love the picture and the symbolism you used.
You are a blessing and an encouragement to me always.
The storms in our lives are inevitable. It is our response to them that will make or break us.
May you be greatly encouraged to keep moving on, and to keep getting refreshed by life's storms!
Love
Lidj
What a great post. I can think of nothing but the great power of God when I look at the ocean. It's overwhelming to me sometimes.
Such an encouraging reflection...I love your closing line....
How wonderful that He brings us through the storms and lands us safe on His shores. Glad to hear that you have weathered them and praying that you will continue to follow His lead.
We certainly are transformed but what do we become... the jagged edges of the cliff or the smooth shiny stones.
Dear Andrea, thank you for your continued support.
Nicely said. It reminds me of how God refines our character. Thanks for the insight.
Just like a tree whose roots go down and become stronger with each passing storm I believe that is how/what God does in our storms that come our way!
Praying for you Andrea! Knowing that you WILL be stronger on the other side of this storm
Love you!
This was such a blessing to me tonight! Especially after I've been feeling battered a bit by the storm. At least I know Who can calm the raging storm, and Who knew the storm was going to happen before I even "set sail." Thanking God that we know the Master of the Wind, and that He is directing these storms to make us more like Him. Thanks so much!
Very inspiring. A storm just passed by here two days ago. It brought winds a relief from the tropical humidity.
Storms in life help us to be stronger as our roots deepen.
Have a wonderful weekend dear Andrea.
Blessings.
xo
Honey I tried visiting you last night but it would not let me open your site so came back today and there you are once again lifting me up with your words.
How strange you wrote about the sea today because I keep thinking I need a visit to the beach where I was born. I think of how much I need to walk that beach now and then I come over here and read this beautiful post.
Girl you had be laughing so hard with your tacking remark on my post yesterday. Coming from sweet you it really had me cracking up.lol
Love you and still waiting to hear from Mondays results
Maggie
Beautiful reminder, thank you
I love the analogy. Thank you for writing this. Sometimes I think it's too easy to look at the hard things when we're in the midst of a storm -- and then we miss the beauty that's being unearthed.
Have a blessed Friday!
Beautiful, Andrea!
Andrea,
This is beautiful and so true...I'm experiencing a bit of a storm now in my life and I know God is there guiding me through it. I can see all the good and beauty around me.
Bunny
Beautiful, Andrea! Praising Him that He always brings us through the storms in victory! Glory to His Name!!
Luv and Sweet Blessings!
Jackie
So true Andrea! We are all being refined.
blessings,
Katia
That was an extremely lovely sentiment and picture. Love the way sea glass is smooth and somewhat frosty. It's been through a lot.
beautiful post that reminds me of yhour beautiful heart...the waters looks so inviting too...
Your timing is perfect.
Bless you!
Well said Andrea!
This is a very timely post....
I feel like I just went through a rough storm this week. I was tossed and tossed around. The end result was good. The process is not fun. As I was going under the waves and spinning around, God kept reminding me that He was with me. He was smiling at me. I would not drown.
I feel like some rough edges were rubbed off.
Blessings,
Tammy
G'morn sweet friend ~
When tossing about on a stormy sea, we know that alone, we'll never be.
He plucks us from the turbulence, when we seek of Thee, to console & love ... forever.
Have a beautiful day, Andrea. Give Doug our bset ~
Hugs of love, Marydon
Thank you so much for this reminder my friend...I LOVE visiting you! xoxoox
Through these storms, God is building character. Sometimes painful character. Thank you Andrea for sharing dear one. You are special. ((((Andrea))))
Beautiful comparison, lovely post, Andrea!
You are so right... how would we know about calm skies if we never experienced a storm. Thanks for your prayers over the last few weeks.
Renewing and refreshing after the storms. God is good.
We are doing fine here. Hope you and the pets and family are doing well.
Nannette
Greetings from Amsterdam!
Read those beautiful words some days go, and came over today for the picture to put on my desktop...
Love love beaches....and now your words with the picture made it more special......God is good!!
Btw it was not expensive to order the book....The bookshop ordered them straight from Amazon and i pay no shipping costs.....Also ordered "Crazy Love" from Francis Chan
Have an blessed week
Bernice
Yes! Isn't it a wonderful feeling when we find ourselves at that spot where we see "why" we had to endure that storm in the past. It hurts going through it, but I've learned that the reward is so worth it to be more like Him.
Thanks Andrea!
Lee Ann
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