When I visited the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago, I met a street vendor who was selling jewelry that had the prettiest blue stones in them. The stone is called Larimar or blue pectolite and is an extremely rare gemstone. It has been found only in one location: a mountainous, relatively inaccessible area in the Dominican Republic.

I picked out a few pieces to bring home as gifts and as he was wrapping them for me he handed me a piece of dull brownish stone that had just a bit of blue showing and said…’that is what it looks like before it is ground and polished’. The difference between them was stunning. Without the grinding and polishing that stone looked unremarkable and of little value.

I am reminded of the process of life we go through when we are tested. Every test gives us opportunity to allow our faith to go through the grinding and polishing. It is how we learn the faithfulness and goodness of God. It is what gives us opportunity to choose faith over fear and sometimes without even realizing it our faith in God becomes a beautiful reminder to others that they can trust in Him too.

James 1:3 from The Message tells us this: “You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.”

Only God knows what lies beneath the rough, muted exterior of our heart. Trusting the Master’s hand at grinding and polishing with just the right amount of pressure will produce the most glorious colors. And the end result will be worth it!