‘You are in the hands of an omnipotent God whose ability to act on your behalf is equalled only by His passionate affection for you as His child, whose strength is without end and whose sovereignty covers the expanse of the heavens. God's desire isn't to minimize your life and struggles and disappointments. His intent is for you to gain hope, knowing that nothing can wrench you from the loving arms of a God like this!'Sam Storms, One Thing

Deep under the earth's surface, subject to intense heat and pressure, created as time unfolds and unfolds, a precious stone of great price is formed.  The stone sleeps in the darkness of its secret underground world until water finds its way through the nooks and crannies forming streams and eventually a wild river.  The water courses over the stone for time and time again, until one day, the stone is loosed and washed into the torrent.

Now the stone looks like lumps of sugar all stuck together and it lies amongst the grasses by the side of a small river cove for time and time again.  One day as the sun rises, a boy called Azizi whose name means Beloved, is fishing by the side of the river when he catches sight of the stone nestled amongst the grasses.  He knows the feel and look of a precious stone of great price because he has heard stories about them from his grandfather.

He picks the stone up, carefully puts it into his bag and runs home as fast as he was made to run. 'Mama, Mama, look what I found!' he says as he jumps up and down for joy.  A few days later a great Craftsman comes to the village to buy the stone.  He has sold everything He has to buy it. With great reverence, He wraps the stone gently and takes it home where He cleans it and cuts it and polishes it until it sparkles and shines like the crystals in a snowflake.

The stone which lay in darkness, crushed by the earth, buffeted by the river, lost in the grasses has been found.  It has been bought at great price, and refined in the hands of the Craftsman until its incredible beauty is revealed.  Beauty that was always there, just waiting to be found.

Whatever the darkness and the pressures of life, the Lord knows who you are.  He paid the ultimate price for you and He will work in your heart and in your life until your beauty is revealed.  You are treasured, you are irreplaceable to Him. Just as you are, you are loved.

‘I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.'Isaiah 45 v2-3, NIV