Think about a diamond.  

What comes to mind? A precious jewel? The most beautiful of all stones? An engagement ring? A representation of love?  

When we think of diamonds, we often think of the end product—this beautiful masterpiece. We honestly rarely think about where diamonds come from, how they’re formed, how they even get to the earth’s surface, or the process they go through to become what know as “a diamond”. 

Diamonds are fascinating to me. They’re this beautiful and precious gem. They symbolize love, commitment, strength, purity, and external beauty. Diamonds are considered to be the hardest substance on earth and are incredibly rare. And there are no two diamonds alike.  

You may be wondering why I’m starting off here talking about diamonds….but hang on, I’m going somewhere! 

Diamonds first form under tremendous heat and pressure about 93 miles below the earth’s surface—causing the carbon to bond together in a unique way. They’re then transported to the surface of the earth through volcanoes. 

People then search through the deposits to try to find one, which can sometimes take up to ten years, which then it can contain another ten years to determine whether it has any economic value. If it does, from there begins the whole process of refining, cleaning, shining, and after that we get what we know as a diamond. 

Do you see where I’m going here? See–in order to get this beautiful precious stone, it takes time. It takes waiting. It takes some heat and some pressure.  

It doesn’t happen in the snap of a finger. But every step and every moment is vital for a diamond to be a diamond–the strongest substance on earth. 

A diamond isn’t meant to stay in the pit of the earth, but it’s necessary to be there for a time. So that tells us something important: In order to get something beautiful, strong, unconquerable, pure, the heat is necessary, the pressure is necessary, the time is necessary, the pit is necessary, and every single aspect serves a purpose.  

So why am I saying all of this? It’s because when I look at a diamond, I see us. I see a story God has written for each of us that consists of many seasons. 

• I see a beautiful work in the making. 

• I see God making us into His likeness. 

• I see purpose in the process. 

• I see purpose in the pit. 

• I see purpose in the waiting. 

• I see purpose in the unknown. 

• I see God doing a greater work than we can even imagine. 

 As followers of Jesus, we’re on this journey of sanctification—which is to become more like Jesus every day. To be made into His likeness by the power of the Holy Spirit. What a gift!  

But this journey isn’t always going to be easy. There will times of heat and pressure—but those moments refine us. And our God works ALL things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  

Throughout this journey of life, there will be many seasons—seasons of all kinds. But no matter the season, we must be surrendered to God’s perfect timing, know that God’s ways and thoughts are above our own, walk by faith and not by sight, and give Him all of our trust. 

So let’s talk about the timeline now! The timing of things and waiting seasons! The “details” along the way if you will. 

Everything in our life takes time. And there’s a time for everything—Ecclesiastes tells us that.  

And the truth is that God doesn’t operate according to our timeline. His ways and thoughts are above our own and His timing is perfect. He brings things about in our lives when the time is right.  

There’s no denying that we live in a world that doesn’t like to wait. A culture that wants instant gratification, instant answers, instant this or that, I could go on. But that’s not the pace of life we’re called to live in.  

Our Call: To surrender to God’s timing and trust His heart and His plan.  

What He’s doing right now in your life is far greater than you can imagine. He finishes what He starts. His timing is perfect, even if it’s longer than we expected. 

Maybe we’re wondering why a prayer isn’t answered yet, why you haven’t gotten that job, why you aren’t where you thought you’d be, why you aren’t married yet, or maybe why that breakthrough hasn’t happened… Let me just tell you that just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it’s not going to. With God, a delay isn’t a denial. 

Have you ever thought about that maybe the reason it hasn’t happened yet is because God isn’t finished preparing you and refining you? Or maybe he has something BETTER for you than you have for yourself? 

We have to remember: God has a process in the way He does things. We look all throughout the Bible and we see that there are patterns with God and how He does things He doesn’t do the obvious way that we would think He would. But He does the necessary way. 

God cares far more about who we are becoming and our character, so what He allows to come in and out of our lives and the timing of things will always reflect that. And all of it will work for our good and His glory. 

Think about Daniel in the Lion’s Den. He was never meant to stay in the lion’s den—but it was necessary for a time—and God’s power was displayed. Think about David—he was a shepherd boy. He wasn’t meant to do that forever, but it was necessary for a time—because it prepared Him to be a king. And then let’s think about Joseph in the Old Testament. He was sold into slavery and then wrongfully accused and thrown into prison—where he stayed for years. Within an instant, he went from being in the pit of prison to second in command in Egypt—saving a nation. The season of the pit was necessary as it was his preparation ground.  

All of these things have something in common: God worked in the waiting. He strengthened them in the waiting. He refined them in the waiting. And He was glorified through the waiting! 

God doesn’t waste the waiting.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 says for “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says the Lord. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than our ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” 

His ways are SO far greater. He might do the way we think, but he does the necessary way. The BEST way. The way that will shape, mold, refine, prepare us, and equip us. The way that will make us into His likeness.  

We can’t ignore the fact that waiting can be hard, because we find ourselves in the unknown. But that’s what is so beautiful because it’s where faith comes into play. Where we have to choose to walk by faith and not by sight, to trust God no matter what. It’s where we learn to truly depend on God. And to let Him fill all of us–so that we have no lack.  

So what do you do in the wait? 

We shift our perspective! Remember: God isn’t just preparing you for a “thing”—He’s preparing you to be more affective for the Kingdom and to advance His Kingdom! And when we step in to that mindset—everything changes. 

Wait WITH God. Sit at His feet. Draw near to Him as He draws near to you. Enjoy His presence and let Him be enough! Ask God to do the necessary work in you and through you.  

Remember that just as a diamond goes through the heat and the pressure in order to become what we know it to be, we too will also. The heat, the pressure, the refining, the shaping—it’s equipping us for where God is taking us. God will never lead us into a season He hasn’t equipped us for. So let’s embrace the wait and say yes to whatever God wants to do!  

As you’ve read this, you may be thinking of something you’re waiting for. Let me encourage you to shift your focus from the “thing” to who God is making you in the process! He’s making you more into His likeness. Overflowing with His love as you bear fruit. Serve God right where you are and grow more in love with Him every step of the way!  

Don’t become weary. Rejoice in knowing God is doing exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask, think, or imagine! Keep believing. Keep trusting. We serve a good God who loves us unconditionally and His timing for you and for me is perfect. In every way.  

Right now, as we speak, He’s working out of the details you’re tempted to worry about. He’s setting the stage. He’s aligning everything according to His perfect plan and it’s far greater than you can imagine. And He’s strengthening you along the way—making you into a diamond! You’re His beautiful masterpiece. Fearfully and wonderfully made. Created in His image. Created to glorify Him and make Him known.  

So let’s press on together. Let’s wait WITH God. Let’s surrender our wants, dreams, desires, ways—everything to Him! May our prayer be for Him to have His way in us and make us into who HE wants us to be–and to empower us to trust Him fully!  

Let’s embrace the wait, the time, and fix our eyes on Jesus—who is our treasure, our gift, our promise, our peace. He’s never failed, and He never will.