Diamonds Over Time
Week Thirty-two
August 3, 2025
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time.
— Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NLT)
Diamonds form over time. The formation process for some diamonds may take but days; for others, it can be weeks. Some may take months and some even years. And so goes the formation process that the Lord has us in — It takes time; some of us longer than others. I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those slow-growing diamonds. I’ve never been a quick start, but thanks be to God, I’m starting to accept the truth of this matter. (And yes, even that took me a while!)
But in an interesting contrast, the delivery process for a diamond is comparatively fast, in fact very fast. A diamond that may have been in the making for years rises to the earth’s surface in a matter of hours. Pushed by magma eruptions, a diamond is lifted with dramatic speed through tubes called kimberlites to its new home on the earth’s surface.
And so it is with us.
All may appear quiet on the surface — unchanged, unglamorous, status quo. But when God’s process is finished, to put it in the words of a famous chef, “Bam!”, here comes the diamond, here comes the reward, here comes the beauty, the value, the rarity, the treasure. And this, Pilgrim, is why we walk by faith on this journey. We do not walk by what we see. When God calls you a mighty man of valor or a noble woman, it is for a reason, even if not yet apparent. So hold on, wait for it, it will come — the splendor and surprise of beauty will arise.
The Lord is not slow concerning his promises, he just has so much good for you. His plans for you are not extinguished. March on, Soldier. It may be taking longer than you think, so here’s some wise advice: wait patiently for the Lord and trust in him, not on your own understanding or limited insight. And know that diamonds are not formed in a single process. There may be breaks of time in the formation process. A diamond can come under great heat and pressure for months, then experience reprieve, only to enter back into the heat and the pressure as the process resumes.
Trial and rest, trial and rest …
All of this is necessary to the delivery of the precious jewel. So, don’t be discouraged. You may feel like you’ve been through this trial before, this familiar testing, with little or no results. Well, that’s not true. You’ve been through it before, but that’s how the formation process works. You may go through several seasons of iterative refinement before your delivery comes. The Lord has you in this process. It’s interesting to note that carbon must be placed under at least 435,113 pounds per square inch of pressure at a temperature of at least 752 degrees Fahrenheit, otherwise if conditions drop below either of these two points, graphite will be created instead. ¹
You can find comfort and security in knowing that your destiny is being carefully crafted by the God of all grace himself.
Monday
August 4, 2025
My soul is in deep anguish.
How long, Lord, how long?
— Psalm 6:3 (NIV)
It’s probably the most frequently asked question on any vacation road trip: “Are we there yet?” We find solace in knowing our destination’s arrival time. “How much longer?” It’s not only children that ask that question; as adults, we do too. Part of the process is procuring patience; and trust helps with that. For some of us, the temptation is to lose patience with ourselves thinking, “I should be further along!” But the formation of you and the judgement of your progress is best left in his hands. Do you fail often? We all do. ² Find mercy in the process and know you are still in the making; in his good time, you will arrive.
How are wisdom and patience related to one another? What part does trust play in our formation process?
How do you think the Lord feels when we cry out, “How long!” to him? Do you agree with this statement, “God is more patient with me than I’ve been with myself”?
Tuesday
August 5, 2025
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens …
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)
When I was younger, I had abundant energy to lead youth groups, minister in worship music, work in my vocation, complete a college degree, raise a family, and care for a house. I enjoyed those activities, but they are a past season; a new season has come. Changing seasons can be exciting and difficult. I think about New England weather with its four seasons. Bringing out the winter clothes, spring cleaning, beautiful fall foliage, and muggy summer heat. Rejoice if God is bringing you into a new season. Rejoice if he has you in the middle of a familiar season. Everything has its right time under the hand of the gracious Sovereign.
Do you currently find yourself in a “new” season of life, or a familiar one? What do you appreciate about the current season you are in or exiting from?
What does the Lord have you doing in your current season or, if you’re transitioning into a new season, what does that look like at this point? Are you able to embrace where you are at now?
Wednesday
August 6, 2025
People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
— 1 Samuel 16:7 (NET)
The biggest difference between a man-made diamond and a natural diamond is its source; one is created in a machine, the other in nature. A diamond’s appearance may not give its origin away, but its source can change its value by as much as 50%. God looks on a person’s heart. We may choose or qualify people by what we see, but God knows what’s underneath. He sees the underlying trials, the pressures, the losses, the quiet faithfulness. God sees the source of a person: what forms and makes them who they are. The same Jesus that intercedes for me intercedes for all who are his. This should cause me to be patient with every member of God’s household. How could I not, knowing he’s still at work in me as well?
Do you ever feel impatient with another person’s spiritual growth? Why do you think that is? Do you pray for them?
How do you view yourself: as a slow-growth or fast-growth saint? Do you ever grow impatient with yourself?
Thursday
August 7, 2025
And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
— Esther 4:14 (ESV)
The kingdom of God is multifaceted like a diamond, and each of us with our uniquely assigned giftings channeled through our distinct personalities plays an important part in that kingdom. We, at times, make the mistake of assigning value to our part in his kingdom by what we see. But if God has brought you into his plan, then your part in that plan is crucial, regardless of your valuation of it. Being ready in season and out of season simply means being ready to move in the opportune times that God assigns to you with whatever he has equipped you with.
What are some of the tasks that God has assigned to you during your lifetime? Do you see any future assignments coming down the road?
What are some of the challenges you have faced in entering into your God-assigned opportunities. What are some of the things that can keep you from walking in his appointments?
Friday
August 8, 2025
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
— 1 John 3:2 (NIV)
You could call it the “final kimberlite”. The day of Christ’s glorious return will come and with it, our final transformation, the last push straight into glory. The diamond will finally be ready. You may be longing for this — I pray you are. In fact, you’re in good company if you are; the entire creation is looking forward to that day right alongside you, groaning for it. In this you are free to hope: a lifetime of process and formation will, in an instant, culminate in perfection and beauty. Every facet of you will finally perfectly reflect the beauty of the One you stand before.
Do you have a difficult time wrapping your head around being like Christ? How does this thought make you feel?
How should the truth that we shall be like him affect how we live now? In what ways do you see the one who will transform you on that final day transforming you now?