BLESSING IN TRIALS. God Is Shaping A Diamond Out Of You

So many people who love the Lord face troubles and hardships in life. Sometimes it’s tempting to say “Lord, how much longer can I bear this, why is this happening in my life?”

After the tragedy in my life, I was in constant emotional anguish and physical pain. And over the years since then, challenges and trials one after another were coming my way. At times it felt as though difficulties and struggle became my daily bread. Sometimes I could hardly endure it. At the time, I just knew I had to be strong and overcome. And so gaining endurance from trusting the Lord, I made every effort to be steadfast and worked hard to change and improve my circumstances. It wasn’t easy at all to go through the trials. But there came a time when I started seeking for the value in a bad situation. And what a surprise and astonishment it was to see how beneficial those hardships were! Today, I am grateful to them for so many things.

It’s because of problems and continuous difficulties that I became stronger, resilient, and persistent. The car accident and following insurmountable obstacles, pain and ongoing challenges tested me and formed me into a different person than I used to be. Hardships taught me how not to give up when I felt couldn’t take it anymore. Severe pain developed both endurance and compassion within me. Obstacles taught me how relentless effort can break through any kind of barrier. Challenges taught me how to push myself and go beyond what I thought I could do. Devastating destruction, betrayal, and heartbrokenness taught me how to be unstoppable.

One of the highest values that I’ve gained through the devastation and hopelessness is that through them I have learned to have unshakable faith and trust the Lord at all times, and I have experienced the most incredible testimonies of answered prayers. It’s because of my experiential knowledge my faith became stronger than ever before and I have learned very valuable lessons that I could not have learned otherwise.

Understanding how much value I received from the times of trials totally transformed my attitude toward them and radically changed my experience going through difficulties later on. Since then, it became much easier for me to handle challenges.

Our human nature tries to avoid trials and tribulations, but in the Word of God, we find that they are actually for our own good. As seen in verses below, trials form us into persons who we need to become.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.( 1 Peter 1: 6-7)

 …Rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  ( Romans 5:2b-4)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Problems, hardships, and circumstances that seemed to be the exact opposite of what I had asked in my prayer served an important and valuable purpose in my life. I only made it harder for myself by allowing my concerns and frustrations to disturb my peace. I want to pass on to you the lesson that I had to learn the hard way – do not fear, but remain in peace fully trusting that the Lord has everything under control. Furthermore, in His Word, it’s written that all things work together for good in the lives of those who are chosen and who love Him. Whatever situation you are going through right now –it will work for the good, too. It might be difficult for you to agree with it right now, but you will see/understand it when the time comes.

God is bringing you through the tough pressure and heat for a reason. God is shaping a diamond out of you. Did you know that a diamond is nothing more than a piece of coal which was under highly intense work? No matter how strange it may sound, but both coal and diamond are one and the same. Coal and diamond look completely different, but they both are exactly the same chemical element (carbon atom), it’s just they are in a different form. Changing the crystal structure with high pressure and high temperature, coal becomes a diamond. No matter how unbelievable it might look, a diamond is really a black stone, which has gone through the intense process of high pressure and high temperature before it became a beautiful jewel. And it takes a long time for it to become so beautiful.

You might be going through a very tough time right now. But know that this is how God is teaching you and is working with you to develop necessary character traits within you. It is difficult for you now, but there will come a day when you will become as beautiful as these diamonds are and you will shine for His glory.

Meanwhile, the key is to have a close relationship with Him and allow Him to do the work with you. Instead of dwelling on how hard and painful it is, look at your situation through a different perspective – ask yourself “What is really going on behind this event? What am I supposed to learn from this experience? What good can I see in all of this?”

The Lord will do His part and He is faithful, but there is also a lot of responsibility on our part. The end result will depend on our choices. We have a choice to murmur, complain and be a victim, but we know that the end of this path may lead you to even greater sorrow. Stories in the Bible are there as lessons to us to not repeat the mistake of Israelites. Another choice is to be steadfast and patiently go through this time. Instead of fear and doubt choose to trust the Lord. Equipped by unshakable faith, step out of your comfort zone with courage and determination. Persevere to continuously improve your situation and never give up.

And when you feel you have no strength to withstand the adversities you’re facing, ask the Lord to strengthen you. Remember, that only through high temperature and high-pressure coal transforms into a beautiful diamond. And with God, you are strong enough to go through it all.

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment. (Psalm 66:8-12)