James 1:1-4 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 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.
Dear Readers:
Diamonds are the hardest materials on earth. They are created under immense pressure. They start out as dirty black carbon, without much value; But, over time, the carbon hardens under pressure and becomes a beautiful diamond. After being cut and polished, that diamond sparkles and shines in the light. It goes from being soft, black carbon to a hard, brilliant, dazzling stone.
There is a diamond inside of every one of us. You see, the pressure we feel and the trials we face can strengthen us. The Lord can use that pressure to create diamonds. I am under tremendous pressure, but with the help of the Lord, my mind has become stronger. A lot of people collapse and fall apart under pressure, that is because they lack faith. My mind is stronger now than it has ever been, but it didn’t start out that way. When this trial I now face began, I never dreamed I could survive mentally. The Lord answered my prayers and helped me withstand the pressure. He used it to harden my mind. He has made me mentally tough. He will do the same for anyone who seeks Him.
I have a dear friend named Tom. He has been such a wonderful inspiration to me. Tom is a diamond, if ever there was one. Tom has been through a lot in life, but he has always had the Lord by his side. Even in my situation, I feel blessed not to have had to endure what Tom has. He has endured 30 years of intense pressure and yet his faith has not wavered. Thanks to him, I have a new saying, “If Tom can do it, then I can do it, too.” Watching him, helped me understand what it means to have faith. Tom is one of the biggest, brightest, most dazzling diamonds I have ever seen. He is also a very humble man. I don’t think he realizes how inspirational he is or what a living testament he is to the glory of the Lord. If you compliment him, he’ll give all the praise to God. He is so modest that he doesn’t want any credit.
There are a lot of diamonds in this world – people who possess enough faith to withstand the pressure and allow it to harden and toughen their mind. The Lord loves a soft heart and He cherishes a strong, hard mind. I know some of you are under pressure. I know you feel hopeless. I know you feel weak. I know some of you are at your wit’s end, your knees are buckling and you feel you can’t stand up much longer. I am telling you to pray. Say, “Lord, I need your help. I can’t take this pressure. Please help me. Strengthen me, Father, in Jesus name.” Don’t just say that prayer. Believe it. Claim victory in Jesus name. Now, the Lord may not take that pressure away. Sometimes He allows us to face pressure so He can strengthen and harden our minds, but I promise you this, He will strengthen you and help you stand up to that pressure. He will help you become a diamond, shining in the light of the Lord. Hallelujah!! Praise God!!
You might feel like worthless black carbon. Your life may be shrouded in darkness, but with faith and prayer, you will become the diamond that God intended you to be. Your mind may be weak right now and your faith small, but if you believe, then you will achieve. Don’t be scared of the pressure, embrace it. Let it toughen up your mind and be grateful that God has given you the opportunity to be strong and mentally hard like a diamond.
I know I am very grateful. I praise God for the strength He has given me. If I can become a diamond, then you can too! By your faith, you shall be made whole. I pray you seek and accept the grace of God. I pray you allow him to strengthen your mind and soften your heart. May the Lord make you mentally tough and may you sparkle and shine like the diamond you were meant to be.
For further study, read James 1.
Love in Christ,
Randall