August 23, 2010
The Hidden Treasure
Sharon Jaynes
Today's Truth
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28 NIV).
Friend to Friend
Romans 8:28 is a verse in the Bible that has been loved and despised by many who struggle with difficult situations or mourn the loss of a broken dream. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
What does God really mean by "all things?" Last time I checked, it means "all things" including the good, the bad, and the ugly. In every dark circumstance of life, I believe that there is a nugget of gold or a hidden treasure, waiting to be discovered. However, for that to happen, we must get out of the pit, push the dirt aside, and look beneath the surface.
Is it easy? No. Is it messy? Usually. It is worth it? Always.
Many years after we had lost our second child, I was standing in the doorway of our son's room. I watched as Steven lay in a tangle of sheets with limbs sticking out in all directions. He was sixteen-years-old, six-feet tall, and needed a shave. A mass of shaggy thick brown hair rested on his pillow and my heart swelled with love for this man-child.
"Lord," I prayed, "you know how much I love children and how I always longed to be a mom. Your ways are higher than our ways and I know that You are my heavenly Father who knows what is best for me, but God, I need a nugget of gold today. I need for You to show me a purpose behind this pain. Why were there no more children?"
Then, God's Word washed over me: For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
"Is that You Lord," I asked. Again: For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The words drenched me like a spring rain on parched ground, and for the first time in my life, I truly grasped the height, the depth, and the breadth of those familiar words.
See, I have a one and only son. There are many people that I love in this world, but there is no one…no one…that I love enough to sacrifice my only son. And yet, God loved me that much. He loved me enough to sacrifice His one and only Son in order to give me life. With tears streaming down my cheeks, I thanked God for helping me understand His great love - for giving me a living breathing picture indelibly impressed in my mind and on my heart. If that was the only purpose behind the years of infertility and the loss of a child, then that was enough.
Have you gone through a painful time in your life? If so, God has a valuable treasure just waiting to be discovered. Today, pray that God will reveal the nugget of gold to be unearthed.
Let's Pray
Dear Lord, I know that You can use every difficult situation in my life for good. I may not understand Your ways, but I trust Your wisdom. I may not see Your hand, but I trust Your heart. I pray that You will open my spiritual eyes to see the hidden treasure in today's dark circumstances.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
How would you explain mining for gold to a child?
How is mining for gold much like looking for treasure in the dirt of life?
Has there been a difficult situation in your past that God has used for good? If so, what is it?
Are you willing to ask God to show you the hidden treasure?
More from the Girlfriends
Today's lesson was taken from Becoming Spiritually Beautiful. If you would like to learn more about discovering the gold in the difficulties of life, and becoming the radiant woman that God intended all along, then this book is for you! Let's grow and glow together!
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Originally published Monday, 23 August 2010.
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