Don’t Quit Too Soon

from Acres of Diamonds by Jentezen Franklin

It takes three things to make a diamond: time, pressure, and heat. Diamonds are made purely of carbon and formed about a hundred miles beneath the earth’s surface. High temperatures and extreme pressure cause carbon atoms to bond to each other. Over time, this structure locks into place and eventually grows large enough to produce a diamond.

Pressure, heat, and time.

What does this mean to you today? Your trials serve a purpose, so don’t run from them. Stay where you are. When you stay in your trial, you will learn more. You will grow more. You will do more. God is turning up the pressure and the heat so He can bring forth a diamond in you.

This reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son. I do not know what this young man was thinking when he asked for his inheritance and left his father’s house. I’m sure that he had some friends who were saying, “Man, out there in the real world everyone is having fun—parties like you’ve never experienced. Come on!”

He bought into the lie that the grass was greener on the other side. But after leaving home, he lost everything. He ended up broke, eating slop with the swine in a pigpen. He finally woke up to the realization that everything he had ever wanted was already in his father’s house. This young man had lived on acres of diamonds, and he never should have left.

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Luke 15:17-24

I have watched young people leave home because they think they can find more fun elsewhere. I have watched people leave their marriages because they think they can find someone better. I have watched people leave their churches because someone offended them. These people go off searching—trying this and that—because the enemy has convinced them that what they are looking for is out there somewhere. But it’s not!

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

Psalm 119:17-18

This is why the psalmist asked God to open his eyes. Wonderful things might be all around you, but if your eyes are closed, you cannot see them. God did not leave you without potential. He did not leave you without opportunity. Open your eyes to the good things.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord , and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

If you know Jesus, you have a Savior who has promised to never leave you or forsake you. You are living right now in acres of diamonds.