Spring is just around the corner, and I’m sure you can picture God’s fresh flowers coming to life. The grass is getting a little greener, and the trees are starting to bloom. It’s a beautiful time when we see life awaken from its dormancy, signifying renewal and rebirth. This spring, however, instead of fresh flowers reborn, God is reminding me of the presence of spring through beautiful grains of sand.
Rachel Carson was a famous environmentalist who wrote, “In every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is a story of the EARTH.” If I had the opportunity to have met her, I would have told her that “In every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is the story of CHRIST.” Sand forms when rocks break down from long periods of weathering and eroding. Over time, rain, ice, wind, heat, and cold break the rock down into smaller chunks of rock. Pounding waves, and the constant flow of the daily tides, also make sand. It’s these constant motions that knock rocks and pebbles against each other, wearing them down and smoothing out their rough edges. Eventually, these pieces become smaller, rounder, and smoother. Eventually, the grains are soft to touch while simultaneously displaying tremendous beauty.
Have you ever looked at sand under a microscope? On the beach, sand can look rather unremarkable. Under the microscope, however, it is a sight to behold: each grain is so beautifully and intricately detailed, like precious glowing gems. Together, each little weathered-down grain creates this dazzling display of art—not a single grain like the other. This is not the work of the Earth but the work of our heavenly Father. He has authority over the land and the seas, and He has authority over us as well. He works out in us the same sand forming processes, wearing down our sin and wearing down our edges, just like those rocks as they are being refined and purified into beautiful grains of sand. He is smoothing out our rough edges to reveal who we truly are as He makes us more like Him, something that can only truly come to life after it has been broken down.
What remarkable potential God sees in us! God is and has always been at work in us. This spring, maybe you’ll find that your edges aren’t nearly as rough and jagged as they used to be. Ask yourself, “have I been broken down enough to be brought back to life?”. Perhaps God is calling you out of your dormancy and into the life-giving season of spring.
Psalm 66:10 “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.”
Devin Almonte
Host of Encouraging Star Stories
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Thank you for this beautiful devotional. God Bless you
Thank you Sarai!
Thank you.
I never thought of sand as beautiful before & never looked at a grain of sand under a microscope & thus never realized that every grain of sand is unique.
I have always thought of sand as nothing of any particular value & the process of rock turning into sand as destructive. I thought there was also a reverse process of sand being built up into rock. I am more used to sand being used as a metaphor for something negative (e.g. “shifting sand”) & rock being used as a metaphor for something positive (“solid rock”). On most beaches all grains of sand blend in together & few get noticed. The idea/prospect of DISINTEGRATION is very scary to me.
But I do realize that the LORD refines us & uses ALL the experiences of our lives to refine us. As long as the outcome is that each of us is refined by the LORD into something unique & beautiful it’s OK.
I love your thoughts Arlene! Yes, I see that side as well because we NEED a firm foundation and can’t build a house on shifting sand, right? Definitely not our stable “rock” foundation! I too, love visualizing God as my rock. But in this case, I saw something different in the sand and in the beauty of how God works on us: removing our sin, removing our broken parts. That’s part of my testimony too…God had to completely and lovingly break me down, wear me down, until I could see with eyes of faith and live as that beautiful gem he created me to be. And He’s still at work me and refining me:)
Really appreciate your thoughts! God Bless!
Beautiful! Thank you!!!!
Thank you Kat! Have a blessed day!
Devin – your analogy is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts so clearly and thoughtfully – w wish I had a microscope to check out the sand! Can imagine the beauty of it! Thank you again. Here’s to now viewing our beaches in a new wondrous way! Thank you – Amy Collins – long time Star listener 🙏🏻☀️💪😊
So glad you enjoyed it! Yes, we’ll never look at sand the same way:) And thanks for listening and being part of the Star family! God bless your day today!
This is a beautiful message. Thank you and may God continues to bless you
Thanks Brenda!!!
Thank you Devin. I never even thought about how sand came into being. I can see where God has smoothed out some of my edges. I don’t believe they will ever all be smooth until I am in His presence. One thing I do know is that I’ll never see sand in the same way. For that I will be grateful. Isn’t He wonderful! Blessings – Christine