A new start – Day 14

Have you been praying for a breakthrough, but have not received your answer yet? Then, let me encourage you with the following story entitled, The Pebble of Success:

In 1942, Rafael Solano sat on a boulder in the dry riverbed of the Venezuelan watercourse. For months, he and two friends searched for diamonds in the river – without success.

When one of his friends asked him if he was feeling ok, Rafael looked at the stone in his hand and replied, “I’m through. There is no use going on any longer. See this pebble? It makes 999 999 that I have picked up without finding one diamond. I quit!”

The exploration crew focused on finding signs of valuable diamonds. Mentally, physically and emotionally, they were exhausted. The other two men looked at each other in shock. Was this the end of their dream of discovering diamonds?

After a while, one of the men suggested, “Well, Rafael, at least pick up one more pebble and make it a million!” Rafael nodded, bent over the heap of stones in front of him and selected one. It was as big as a chicken’s egg. “Here,” he said and handed it over to his friend.

That “millionth pebble” later became known as The Liberator, the largest and purest diamond ever discovered. A New York jeweller, Harry Winston, reportedly paid $200 000 for it.

What would have happened if Rafael decided not to pick up that last stone or if Michael Jordan quit basketball after he was dropped from his high school team? What would have happened if Dr Seuss gave up after 23 publishers rejected his first children’s book – that later sold six million copies by the 24th publisher?

God knows our heart’s desires. He is in control of time and every situation. All he expects from us is perseverance and faith in him. Listen to the words in James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Do not give up hope. Do not become discouraged – even if you have been praying for a long time for a breakthrough. Remember, God is working behind the scenes to arrange everything to be in the perfect place, in order for you to receive your breakthrough. Who knows, perhaps your answer might just be one stone away, just like Rafael’s! God bless.