The Pearl Anklet that Reminds Me Who is Really in Charge

Sometimes the smallest things can carry the biggest reminders.

Recently, I bought myself a pearl anklet.

It wasn’t because I needed another piece of jewelry. I bought it because I needed something I could see—something that would remind me of a decision I had made in my heart.

I had surrendered Passionate Pearls back to God.

When Something Good Starts Feeling Heavy

I believe God has given me Passionate Pearls to steward in this season of my life. I love encouraging women. I love sharing what I’m learning. I love dreaming about the ways this little ministry and business might grow and serve others.

But somewhere along the way, it can become very easy to start carrying responsibilities God never asked me to carry.

I can start thinking I have to figure everything out.

What should I create next?

How do I reach more women?

Am I doing enough?

What if something I try doesn’t work?

What if I make the wrong decision?

Before I know it, something I surrendered to God can quietly find its way back into my own hands.

Maybe you know that feeling too.

We pray about something. We tell God we trust Him with it. We genuinely surrender it.

And then we pick it right back up.

God Is the CEO. I Am the Steward.

I finally needed to remind myself of something very simple:

God is the CEO of Passionate Pearls. I am the steward.

That doesn’t mean I sit back and do nothing.

Quite the opposite.

Being a faithful steward means I have work to do.

I need to learn. I need to make decisions. I need to correct mistakes. I need to use wisdom. I need to work with integrity. I need to take action when God shows me the next step.

But there is a difference between faithful stewardship and trying to control the outcome.

The work He has placed in my hands is mine to steward.

The results are His.

That distinction brings me a tremendous amount of peace—when I remember it.

And apparently, I decided I needed some help remembering. 😊

Why Pearls?

Because this business is Passionate Pearls, I wanted my reminder to include pearls.

So I bought a simple pearl anklet that I could wear regularly.

Now those little pearls around my ankle have a purpose far beyond decoration.

When I notice them, I can remember:

This belongs to God.

I don't have to know the entire plan.

I don't have to manufacture the results.

I don't have to carry tomorrow before it arrives.

I simply need to ask:

What has God placed in my hands today, and what would it look like to steward it faithfully?

Then I can take that next step.

Maybe Your “Pearl Anklet” Looks Different

This lesson isn't really about an anklet—or even about running a business.

It's about surrender.

Maybe the thing you're gripping tightly today is your finances.

Maybe it's your children or grandchildren.

Maybe you're worried about retirement or what your next season of life will look like.

Maybe it's your health, your marriage, your job, a relationship, a dream that hasn't happened yet, or a decision you don't know how to make.

Sometimes we need to surrender those things to God more than once.

Not because our first surrender wasn't sincere, but because we're human. Fear creeps back in. We start strategizing. We start worrying. We start trying to guarantee an outcome we were never capable of guaranteeing in the first place.

That's when a reminder can help.

Maybe it's a Scripture card beside your computer.

Maybe it's a note tucked into your Bible.

Maybe it's something you wear.

For me, right now, it's a little strand of pearls around my ankle.

One Faithful Step at a Time

Proverbs 16:3 says:

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3 NIV

I'm still learning what it looks like to live this out.

I don't have every step of Passionate Pearls figured out. And I'm discovering that I don't need to.

I can pray.

I can listen.

I can learn.

I can work with integrity.

I can take the next faithful step.

And then I can trust God with the growth.

Pearl to Ponder

Sometimes we need something we can see to remind us of what we've already surrendered in our hearts.

Is there something you've surrendered to God—but find yourself repeatedly trying to take back?

Maybe today is simply an invitation to open your hands again.

One faithful step at a time. 🤍