Broken Shells

Brianna Barrett

September 6, 2023

I arrived early to watch the sunrise and began walking alongside the water until I stepped on a broken shell. As I picked up the shell, I saw that it was broken with sharp edges. The shell beside it was smooth as glass. It had weathered storms. The ocean had smoothed the edges over time. As I continued to walk and inspect the shells, I began thinking about life. How often do the storms of life smooth us out? Heartaches, illnesses, brokenness, and complicated relationships are the waves of life – the things that slowly change us. As I walked, I continuously rubbed the smooth edges of one of the shells between my fingers.

I passed through a section with small bits of broken shells and realized those are like all the worries and brokenness we have turned over to Jesus. Each shell is unique. Some are colorful, others are a single color. Some have cracks while others are shiny and smooth. We are all like shells – unique.

Broken shells are the hurt, the pain, the addictions.

I continued to walk along the shore and realized that I was constantly looking down at the shells, focused on each shell as I walked by. I realized that I do that in life too, I constantly focus on the hurt, pain, shame, and brokenness instead of focusing on the Maker Himself.

The Word says in Psalm 121:1-4, “I look up to the mountains–does my help come there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.” (Psalm 121:1-4 NLT).

We have to remember that we don’t need to focus on the hurt and pain – constantly looking down – because that only causes us more stress. Instead, we should lift our eyes up to the Lord and focus on the hope found in Him. The hope and peace that comes from the Lord surpasses our understanding.

Will you join me today, turning over the broken shells in your life to the one who created you, to the one who provides you hope and healing?

Lord Jesus, thank You for the healing that comes from You and only You. May we pause today and look up from our broken shells to You – our help, our healer, our God. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.