Producing pearls

by Pastor Esther Story

An untroubled oyster will not produce a pearl. It needs an irritant that shouldn't be there to provide it to produce nekra

Maybe our prayer to God to remove something in our lives doesn't come immediately

Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion, we were like those who dreamed.[b] 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. 4 Restore our fortunes,[c] Lord, like streams in the Negev. 5 Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.


This psalm spoke of God bringing people back from exile, the people of Judah. Some lost their lives in the process and some lost their loved ones

Change will come eventually

V5 and V6 suggest there is something we can do in the middle of weeping, tough seasons. It means we can and how we respond, what we sow and continue to sow, to be intentional so we will reap with songs of joy.

You've let it get infected because of someone clumsy words...

What we do in our pain matter cos it shapes us

1. Consider Hannah (She cannot conceive a child)
"Pour out your heart to the lord"
(I was pouring out my soul to the lord 1 Samuel 1:15)
- don't hold back your heart to the lord

2. David battle with Saul (he's being pursue by Saul)
"Keep thanks & praise alive"
(I will extol the lord at all times psalm 34:1)
- it activates faith and changes my heart condition and circumstances in my life

3. Joseph (sold as slave)
"Forgiveness"
(Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:19-20)
- forgiveness affects mental physical and wellbeing

4. James
"Persevere"
(let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature complete not lacking anything James 1:4)
- if no grit no pearl. No pain no perseverance. Don't give up

5. Jesus
"Relinquish"
(Father if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done Luke 22:42)
- it is my will that I have to relinguish, even if it's not the outcome I wanted. Let it go, even and especially you can't see it

I would not change the script, but I can come back rejoicing carrying sheaves. My life is not good but He is good

John 12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.


The seed will remains a single seed unless it is being relinguish