One of my favorite hobbies is hiking along the shores of Lake Michigan looking for beach glass. We have a few good beaches in our area, and over the years, my collection of glass has overflowed into several jars.

The thing I love best about beach glass (besides that perfect moment when you spot a huge piece just lying on the beach within reach) is that it’s essentially made from garbage. But when broken glass gets tumbled and churned for years by the waves, it becomes frosted and rounded and beautiful as a glowing jewel. 

Think of all the brokenness in your life. Think of the places where you’ve been smashed and battered and emotionally splintered. Now imagine God singing over you a litany of love and forgiveness and healing so that those most awful, unpresentable aspects become bright as jewels, as brilliant as the sun—as white and clean as Christ himself.

God does this for us, over and over—transforming our awful brokenness into something amazing and priceless. Don’t doubt for a moment that he treasures you. Your Creator marvels over you and holds you in his hand just like a piece of broken glass made new.

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).