Have you ever been to a glass beach? Glass beaches are formed from dump sites of discarded glass. Rocks, waves and sand polish and refine the glass transforming its sharp edges into smooth, unique pieces of frosted sea glass. The formation doesn’t come quickly but takes 30-50 years to complete.

Ready to go to the beach?

Check out Fort Bragg Beach, California, which was an active dumpsite from the 1940’s to 1967 to see common colors such as white, brown or green. You may also find uncommon turquoise formed from art glass.  Head to the site of the U.S. dumping ground in WWII; Seaglass Beach, Okinawa, Japan, where discarded auto and boat lights form rare oranges and reds. Don’t miss Seaham Beach, England, where the dumpsite of a glass factory produced multi colored sea glass. ¹

HOW DOES SEA GLASS APPLY TO US?

What did God use to form these beaches? Trash! God took all the glass dumped and discarded as trash and turned it into something beautiful.

Have problems ever been dumped on you? Have you been tossed aside and discarded in a relationship? Trials are like trash. We just want to dump them and forget about them. God has a different plan. Like God transformed trashed glass into sea glass, He wants to transform our trials into something beautiful.

TRANSFORMATION!

Glass on a smooth, sandy beach away from waves won’t be transformed. Rocks and waves are required. The transformation takes place when glass is submerged in waves powerful enough to toss it around in abrasive sand and throw it against the rocks.

When things are going smoothly in our lives, does it transform our character? Usually not. Doesn’t it take trials for a transformation?  Changes are trials that toss us around like waves toss around glass. Problems are thrown at us like glass is thrown against the rocks. Abrasive remarks grind against our peace like abrasive sand grinds against the glass.

My brethren, 
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience,
 James 1:2-3

All these trials can transform our character by smoothing out our rough edges and drawing out the light of Christ within us.  How then does our transformation take place? We, like the glass, need to be submerged. Submerging is the first step in enduring the trials and being transformed.

HOW DO WE ENDURE THE TRIALS?

1. SUBMERGE IN CHRIST

When the trials come, submerging in Christ keeps our focus on Him and brings us that much needed peace. How do we submerge? We can learn from the amplified translation of Philippians 2:12 speaking about salvation. It says, “cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity.”

Because Christ is our salvation, we actively cultivate and pursue our relationship with Him by communicating with Him, studying and meditating on God’s Word.

You will keep him in perfect peace,
 whose mind is stayed on You, 
Because he trusts in You,
 Isaiah 26:3

2. RELY ON HIS POWER

Because the Lord loves us, He has given us the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and guide us as we walk through our trials.

Now to Him who is able to do far beyond
 all that we ask or imagine,
by means of His power that works in us,
Ephesians 3:20

3. FOCUS ON THE RESULTS

Like the transformation of trashed glass, we can expect more than the trash trials produce. By faith we see the beauty of what trials can produce.  By faith we can trust that our loving Lord will use it all for our good and His glory. By faith, we can rejoice and be thankful even before we see the results.

Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again, I will say, rejoice!
 Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God,
  Philippians 4:4,6

RESULTS = BEAUTY

When we have faith that the Lord will work through our trials, we will see the beauty unfold.  Like treacherous waves, abrasive sand and sharp rocks smooth the glass creating a beautiful beach, the changes, problems and abrasive remarks can create a beautiful result in our lives when we allow them to. It doesn’t happen overnight. Like the sea glass takes years to transform, the transformation of our character to be more Christ is a life- long process.

When we are transformed, others will gain something from the beauty in our lives. We’re like the transformed glass. As people see its beauty, they choose pieces to create trinkets to beautify their lives.  As people see the beauty of what God has done in our lives, they will choose to apply it to themselves creating something beautiful in their hearts and minds.

And we know that all things
work together for good to those who love God,
 to those who are the called according to His purpose,
 Romans 8:28

REFLECTION

Are you experiencing a trial? Can you submerge yourself in the Lord?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, as I write Romans 8:28, and say it aloud, give me insight into this trial. Guide me to submerge in You and help me to rely on Your power for strength and courage. Turn my focus to the beauty of Your transformation in me. In Jesus name, Amen.

BY FAITH BE TRANSFORMED

May your day be filled with love and laughter,

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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/

1 Sea glass info; Scenicstates.com, scienceabc.com, travelawaits.com
Photo beach, Joshua Sortino
Photo broken glass, Aepar
Photo sea glass/hand, Leoleobobeo
Photo sea glass, Pete Godfrey