Gold Mines and Coffee Beans

"And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”  -Zechariah 13:9


It occurs to me that things and people who endure hard times and tough situations increase in their value, both in reality and in perception... but while going through the storm, it's often hard to see the value that is building within us, isn't it?

A good friend of mine is a breast cancer survivor, and after a complete mastectomy and several rounds of chemo, she not only survived but she found that she now has more resolve and strength to take calculated risks, to step out and do some things that she never would have before that battle... and it's not just me that notices the amazing, unstoppable person she has become. 

I have quite a few life-sisters who are what our culture has named "single moms" - you know who you are, and so do I.. you work full time, long hours, you are both mom and dad, many with no help from anyone, having to fight and struggle for your child to get what he/she needs, putting your needs aside.... You show a strength and a zeal that reminds me of epic prize fighters like Rocky Balboa!! ..and I am not the only one that sees your true greatness.

The list of people I have encountered that have grown stronger and wiser and closer to Jesus through adversity goes on and on - many friends and acquaintances have lost homes, jobs, marriages - or experienced the deaths of spouses and children - some are living with constant pain, cancer, or terminal illness... 

I call heroes like these Gold Mines - because as trials and hard times come at them, instead of ripping them apart and destroying them, every explosive blast unearths treasure - painfully wrought, heart-breakingly rich treasure.

I recently read about the most expensive coffee in the world, Koi Luwak, and as a major coffee lover I had to find out more about it.  I found that it is in very short supply - just 500 lbs of it is harvested a year, with retail prices reaching US$700 per kilogram. It is rare and precious because it is harvested from the poop of a monkey that eats only the most ripe coffee beans and something about the beans going through the monkey's digestive system make the beans super delicious and aromatic and therefore extremely valuable.
  
Now, I like to think of myself as modern and hip... but really?? REALLY??

All kidding aside, it's pretty interesting that a regular, old coffee bean that just happened to be laying around on the jungle floor like all the other coffee beans can go from Dunkin Donuts to Nordstrom's by going through.. well,.... poop. Those coffee beans are Gold Mines!

I am so grateful that our God is not as fickle and trendsetting as today's coffee drinkers, but He does seem to have a similar affection for people who have gone through ugly, soul shattering tragedy and upheaval. Psalm 56:8 gives us a little insight into this:

"You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book." 

God sees your pain, the trial that you are going through, and He is keeping a record - another words, He will never, ever forget the battles that you have endured. Taking it a step further, Psalm 34:15-18 reveals that God puts His love and affection into action, also:

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles. 

 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

 Though it is clear that in this life, God will allow us to go through immense suffering at times, it is also clear that our God sees us, hears us, delivers us, is close to us, and ultimately, He saves us.

Today, you may be going through the worst pain of your life - or maybe someone you love is... I can't tell you that God is going to stop your pain; there is no magic prayer that will send prosperity and miracles raining down from heaven to make all the sorrow go away. But I can tell you that this too shall pass, that He is holding you in His hand, and He will indeed hold you together - you will not be destroyed by this, if you will hold on to the One that is holding on to you.

In fact, each explosive hurt, every stab of pain, will reveal a Gold Mine, a treasure... a strength that is more than you ever thought possible, because Jesus is carrying you through.