Hidden Gem
I'm sure we've all heard the term 'hidden gem,' usually referring to a wonderful destination unknown to many.
Last week, I traveled home to Colorado. To say it was jammed packed would be an understatement. I did everything from hiking to shopping to swimming, all with some of my most treasured friends. However, one excursion stood out to me. My best friend and I took a trip to Boulder.
Boulder; definitely a gem, but by no means is it hidden. You haven't seen Colorado until you've seen Boulder. It has everything. However, most head straight to Pearl Street, Boulder's strip mall. While walking, my friend and I found ourselves in a rock shop. There were dinosaurs, fossils, fools gold; we could've spent all day exploring. What I found to be most mesmerizing though, were the gemstones.
There were all different kinds. Some had a rainbow, while others were different shades of grey and others purple. They had different textures and they came in all shapes and sizes. Each was uniquely beautiful, until you took a look at the other side. This side was covered in dirt and grime. It was dull and unpleasant to look at. I wondered how it was possible that something so beautiful could be hidden in something so foul. But then, I realized; we are not so different to hidden gems.
We start deep underground, where no one can find us; muddy and the only thing that can free us is a miner with a hefty pick ax.
We all want to be beautiful gems. However, we forget that to get there is very painful. It takes a lot of chipping and carving. We could go on for weeks before we are even freed from the mountains that holds us before we begin to chip away at the rest. It doesn't feel good, it's hard and by this point it almost feels like it isn't worth it. Maybe, it'd be easier to just go back from where we came and just stop; and maybe it would be; but would that be worth it?
I know someone who doesn't think so.
We have a persistent miner that will never stop coming after us, even when we just won't budge. We have a miner that believes we are worth pursuing and worth the pain for His glory. We have a miner that believes we are more precious than any gemstone. He knows it, because He created us. He wants to make us shiny and new. He wants to fill us with a joy for life. It was never His plan for us to be lackluster, sad and covered in grime.
God reminds us that each time we chip at a wound, a hidden piece of our gem is revealed to us.
Making the choice to allow God to chip at our wounds is difficult, and of course! We were born sinners; it's our very nature. However, we weren't designed that way. Mining is a long process. It feels like every time you break away one dirty piece, there's a new one right there waiting. We forget though, our God is very gentle. He approaches us with a new perspective. Rather than being angry with us for how long we have until we are done mining, He is proud of how far we have come since starting. He understands the pain. He, Himself has felt it. He doesn't do this to hurt us, He does it to bring us healing and so that we may help others through their mining process.
I wish there was another way to do it. I wish I could snap my fingers and be a beautiful gemstone without all the messy work that comes with mining. However, I do know that this way is worth the struggle. I've lived it, I have mined and I still am. My gems come in shades of bright yellows, screaming pinks, fantastic blues and calming greens. It has been incredibly painful carving away at my demons, but also wonderfully redeeming walking with my creator in relationship.
So, I encourage you to do the same. I encourage you to let God mine in your life. Find out what hidden gems are lying inside of you. I can only imagine how they'll shine.
Boulder; definitely a gem, but by no means is it hidden. You haven't seen Colorado until you've seen Boulder. It has everything. However, most head straight to Pearl Street, Boulder's strip mall. While walking, my friend and I found ourselves in a rock shop. There were dinosaurs, fossils, fools gold; we could've spent all day exploring. What I found to be most mesmerizing though, were the gemstones.
There were all different kinds. Some had a rainbow, while others were different shades of grey and others purple. They had different textures and they came in all shapes and sizes. Each was uniquely beautiful, until you took a look at the other side. This side was covered in dirt and grime. It was dull and unpleasant to look at. I wondered how it was possible that something so beautiful could be hidden in something so foul. But then, I realized; we are not so different to hidden gems.We start deep underground, where no one can find us; muddy and the only thing that can free us is a miner with a hefty pick ax.
We all want to be beautiful gems. However, we forget that to get there is very painful. It takes a lot of chipping and carving. We could go on for weeks before we are even freed from the mountains that holds us before we begin to chip away at the rest. It doesn't feel good, it's hard and by this point it almost feels like it isn't worth it. Maybe, it'd be easier to just go back from where we came and just stop; and maybe it would be; but would that be worth it?
I know someone who doesn't think so.
We have a persistent miner that will never stop coming after us, even when we just won't budge. We have a miner that believes we are worth pursuing and worth the pain for His glory. We have a miner that believes we are more precious than any gemstone. He knows it, because He created us. He wants to make us shiny and new. He wants to fill us with a joy for life. It was never His plan for us to be lackluster, sad and covered in grime.
God reminds us that each time we chip at a wound, a hidden piece of our gem is revealed to us.
Making the choice to allow God to chip at our wounds is difficult, and of course! We were born sinners; it's our very nature. However, we weren't designed that way. Mining is a long process. It feels like every time you break away one dirty piece, there's a new one right there waiting. We forget though, our God is very gentle. He approaches us with a new perspective. Rather than being angry with us for how long we have until we are done mining, He is proud of how far we have come since starting. He understands the pain. He, Himself has felt it. He doesn't do this to hurt us, He does it to bring us healing and so that we may help others through their mining process.I wish there was another way to do it. I wish I could snap my fingers and be a beautiful gemstone without all the messy work that comes with mining. However, I do know that this way is worth the struggle. I've lived it, I have mined and I still am. My gems come in shades of bright yellows, screaming pinks, fantastic blues and calming greens. It has been incredibly painful carving away at my demons, but also wonderfully redeeming walking with my creator in relationship.
So, I encourage you to do the same. I encourage you to let God mine in your life. Find out what hidden gems are lying inside of you. I can only imagine how they'll shine.
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