In a little book called “Diamond Dust,” I found an anonymous quote that caught my attention. Here it is: “If, in spite of all your tears and prayers, God has left you in a dark place, perhaps it’s because He knows there are still treasures to be found there.”

 

Those who work in mines know was darkness is—pitch black darkness. Yet, in that darkness, exist priceless minerals, silver, gold—even diamonds.

 

Sometimes I think God, sitting on His throne up in heaven, must smile as He sees human beings tunneling through the earth in search of gems and precious metals. After all, He knows exactly where all the diamonds and gold lie hidden. So, people dig and scour and scrape, when perhaps the richest lode lies only a few feet from where they are looking. If they only knew….

 

So too in our lives, only God knows the valuable experiences we will have when we’re in the darkness. He knows the lessons of trust we will learn. He knows that just around the next corner is a special treasure that we will find only in this dark place of our lives. Usually when we’re in a dark place, we earnestly cry out to God, “Lord, get me out of here. I can’t see where I’m going.”

 

Lord, give me faith to trust you during the dark times. You said that “without faith it is impossible to please” You, because anyone who comes to You must believe that You exist and that You reward those who earnestly seek You (Hebrews 11:6). When I get impatient, Lord, remind me that You reward those who diligently seek You, even–or perhaps especially–in dark places.

 

DiamondDust , 12/26/08; for a free subscription to DiamondDust, email [email protected].