Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4
Many years ago a magnificent diamond was found in the mines of Africa and sent to the royalty in England. It was then sent to Amsterdam to be studied by a lapidary. After some study he cut a notch in it and struck it with a hard blow and the priceless gem was now two. To the untrained eye this would seem such a waste, a reckless diminishing of the original, yet it is the lapidaries skill and trained eye that will bring the gem to it’s most perfect shapeliness, splendor, and radiance. Only his trained eye could see what was hidden in the rough uncut stone and then be able to multiply it.
In the same way, God allows some stinging blows to come our way, never for the purpose of our destruction but that our priceless preciousness could be revealed.
Though our circumstances can seem a horrible mistake, we must remember we are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. He is the most skilled lapidary.
