Diamonds

 

When my brother was ready to pop the big question, he put my sister and me on a very important mission: we had to find the most beautiful diamond ring. In a short period, I learned so much about diamonds. We only looked at a few hundred stones. By then, my head was spinning. I definitely came out of this experience knowing more about diamond color, cut, and clarity. 

One thing I didn’t know before is that diamonds can now be grown in laboratories. These lab-created diamonds are produced in large quantities within controlled environments. They are real diamonds with the same chemical and physical properties as naturally formed diamonds. The only difference is that lab-created diamonds do not hold the same market value as natural diamonds. Lab-grown diamonds are mass-produced, making them less rare and significantly cheaper than natural single-crystal stones. Natural diamonds can take billions of years to form, hidden deep within the earth, while lab-grown diamonds can be created in just a few weeks. 

Ultimately, we chose the most beautiful natural oval diamond.

I observed a very similar parallel in our spiritual growth and development.  

We can accelerate our spiritual growth in controlled environments by attending Bible seminaries, colleges, and short-term learning programs. Coming together in large groups allows us to learn absolutely everything we need to enhance our spiritual well-being, which is valuable.

However, I have also discovered that our spiritual development is most meaningful when it occurs naturally, stemming from a personal, one-on-one relationship with God. This type of learning can take years and requires time to grow and form. The insights gained through this process are most valuable because they represent spiritual truths acquired through a combination of experience and learning, rather than just learning. God Himself shapes and molds us in secret, away from the public eye.

An example we can learn from is the story of David and his brothers. God put the prophet Samuel on a very important mission: to appoint and anoint the next king of Israel ( 1 Sa. Ch. 16). Samuel was sent to Jesse's house, where he instructed Jesse's sons to consecrate (prepare) themselves for a sacrifice. The brothers collectively prepared for the Lord, participating in a Hebrew cleansing ritual that typically lasts a few days. 

What Samuel didn’t know was that God was already preparing David behind the scenes. While his brothers underwent a brief cleansing period, God had been diligently shaping and developing David one-on-one in the wilderness for some time now. 

Interestingly, David was never asked to go through a preparatory cleansing when he was summoned; that's because God had already been cleansing and developing him in a deeper, more profound way.