As I sat down to type a post recently I realized that even though I could share the lessons learned, much of the story would have to go untold. This lack of transparency felt inauthentic, and if we value anything in 2021, we value being authentic. After a little internal wrestling I finally came to peace with the fact that some pages of our storybooks are never meant for public consumption.
In these wrestlings, God taught me a valuable lesson. And although I won’t be able to share my story, I will share the story of the diamond. By the end of this article my hope is that we would treasure God’s secret work as His best work.
The Secret Place of Diamond Formation
I wear a diamond on my ring finger. My dear husband spent most his small, post-college savings on a beautifully set princess cut engagement ring. Although many of us publicly display diamonds, no eye has seen the secret places of their formation. At a depth of about 100 miles below the earth’s service, a combination of high heat and intense pressure fashion these precious little jewels. Once formed, natural occurrences, such as volcanos carry the diamonds closer to the earth’s surface where miners find them. Jewelers cut them. Consumers buy them.
100 miles into the depth of our own hearts, God does this kind of brilliant work. High heat. Intense pressure. Where no eye can see, nor drill can fathom.
I recently studied Matthew 6 where Jesus taught about giving, prayer and fasting, and thought about diamond formation.
Create Rhythms of Secret Disciplines
Matthew 6:17-18 says “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
Three times Matthew 6 repeats this phrase, “Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
How many secret prayers have you prayed? How many solitary grief-stricken pleas? How many unknown sacrifices of generosity? Or undisclosed choices to fast from a tangible item so you can feast on God?
No eye sees…But God does!
So at all time, but especially when life feels overwhelming, press into these secret places create rhythms of daily secret disciplines.
Give generously…”do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”
Pray consistently…”go into your room, close the door and prayer to your Father, who is unseen.”
Fast patiently…”wash your face so it will not be obvious to men…but only to your Father, who is unseen.”
And don’t be discouraged if your life is not currently tied up with a pretty instagram bow! (Let’s be honest, mine rarely is!) As deep calls to deep, He will do His best work in our secret places and make them beautiful, dare I say bountiful!
How do I know He will do His best work in these secret places? Because He promises it! “Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.”
Yes, the reward will be in heaven, but what about now as we trudge through this side of the thin veil?
I think Psalm 42 sums it up beautifully:
“Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me.”
Because His love song is more than enough, I will keep running to these secret places.
