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God’s Ceaseless Thoughts Concerning Us

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God’s Ceaseless Thoughts Concerning Us

“How precious are Your thoughts concerning me, O God. How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Psalm 139:17-18) 

On the remote island of Iriomote, in the Okinawa Prefecture, in Japan, you can find “Star Sand Beach,” otherwise known as Hoshizuna-no-hama. The sand on this beach is unlike any other. For upon close examination the observer will find that its grains are made up of trillions of tiny five- and six- pointed stars. These little stars are the calcium carbonate exoskeletons of tiny protozoa called foraminifers. These little creatures live on the ocean bottom and get washed ashore each time a typhoon sweeps through the area.  

This “beach of stars” largely went unnoticed until recently, when tourists began posting pictures of its beautiful grains sand on social media. The result was an eruption of tourism and a thriving economy. Unfortunately, this flood of visitors has also been scarfing up the amazing sand as souvenirs.  

The beautiful sands of Iriomote Island reminded me of the Scripture from Psalm 139, in which David compares God’s thoughts of him to the grains of sand. “How precious are Your thoughts concerning me, O God. How vast is the sum of them. Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand” (Psalm 139:17-18).  

Sand is a fitting metaphor for God’s thoughts for us, because they are beyond counting. But the sand of Iriomote Island is particularly fitting for God’s thoughts of us, because each of them is pleasingly beautiful. Each grain of sand looks like a little star – as God’s thoughts of us are bright and beautiful.  

Yes, our heavenly Father’s thoughts of us are innumerable and bright with hope. God’s infinite mind relentlessly schemes out ways in which He plans to save us, prepare us for eternity, and glorify us in heaven (Romans 8:28-29).  God ceaselessly conspires to take all our hurts and make them into halos, transform all our curses into blessings, and turn all our scars into stars (Genesis 50:20; Deuteronomy 23:5).  

In this world we are bombarded by the darkest and most poisonous ideas from our media. We repeatedly suffer society’s injustices. Therefore, it’s imperative that we tune ourselves into a far greater reality – the reality of God’s love for us. We need to plug into the reality that God is for us, not against us. And if God is for us, it doesn’t matter who or how many are against us (Romans 8:31-39).  

Though the world may be conspiring to harm us, God is conspiring to bless us. And God’s conspiracies always win out. In fact, God’s conspiracies not only always win out. God’s masterful plans cause all the schemes of the wicked and godless to both backfire on them and to work out for our good and God’s glory (Psalm 37:1-40). “Cease striving and know that I am God,” wrote the psalmist. “I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).  

If we could only give less attention to the raging of this world and be more conscious of God’s sovereign love and overruling providence, how much happier we’d be. We cannot afford to lose sight of God’s reality – and of His vast conspiracy to bless us. If we do, we’ll lose heart, hope, and sanity. 

PRAYER:  Dear Father in heaven, please open my eyes to the reality of Your power, wisdom, and love on my behalf. Help me to tune out of all the poisonous garbage that spews from the media and fill my soul with the infallible promises of Your word. Help me to see Your ceaseless thoughts and activity for my ultimate good and Your ultimate glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

 

(Information from: https://www.amusingplanet.com/2014/03/the-star-sand-beach-of-hoshizuna-no-hama.html; https://www.odditycentral.com/travel/hoshizuna-no-hama-japans-beautiful-star-sand-beach.html


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