Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell. As the oyster grows in size, its shell must also grow. This growth occurs when new material is added to the edges of an oyster’s shell. This material is produced by the mantle, which is a thin layer of tissue that lines the inner part of the oyster’s shell. The mantle has glands that extract minerals from water and convert them to the building blocks of its hard shell.The formation of a natural pearl inside an oyster begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell, which irritates the mantle. It’s kind of like the oyster getting a splinter. The oyster’s natural reaction is to cover up that irritant by encapsulating the interloper (something or someone that enters a place without permission) thereby protecting itself. The mantle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell, and these concentric layers of nacre will eventually form a pearl.From a spiritual standpoint the shell is this shell that we live in that is our body or flesh. The mantle is the Holy Ghost which is the anointing. The nacre could be thought of as grace forming a protective “coat” around the soul. 1 John 2:27 ISV The anointing you received from God abides in you….
The “mantle” or the Holy Ghost adds to us and expands who we can be. It takes things in our lives, be they good or bad, and uses them to build our character. Something enters our life that irritates us like a splinter, just like Paul had a thorn in the flesh. The Holy Ghost then will cover this irritant, if we allow it, and protect us. Not only will it protect us, but will use this very irritant to produce something beautiful in us.
1 Peter 1:7 KJV That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Jesus said we will have troubles. John 16:33 ISV I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!”
Jesus overcame the world though and will complete that which He started in us.
Philippians 1:6 KJV Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
So when your faith is tried, when troubles come your way. Look to Jesus and allow Him to work in you to create the thing that He wants.
Following the line of thought that our thorns become our pearls. We should be careful not to devalue them. How do we do that?
Matthew 7:6-7 KJV 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
If you understand that Jesus is talking about a need in verse 7, a thorn if you will. Then we can look at verse 6 and gather that He could be saying don’t cast our afflictions before those who don’t understand their value. If we only complain about them and don’t thank God in everything and pray over them, we could be trading our pearls for thorns. The children of Israel could have had so much more than they did, had they not complained. It says in Psalm 81:16 that God would have given them honey from the rock. They only got water. So don’t complain, no let’s be like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Let’s be thankful in all things and be patient with the process.
Romans 5:3-5 ISV 3 Not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 5 Now this hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.