I saw the above image in her post and immediately remembered a TV show my cousin loved when we were growing up. “Diver Dan” always had a segment of a man in a deep sea diving suit which intrigued me. Something kept nagging at me as I remembered his diving suit, but I could not put my finger on it.
Later on, I opened my devotional and read:
The burden of suffering seems to be a tombstone hung around our necks. Yet in reality it is simply the weight necessary to hold the diver down while he is searching for pearls. (Julius Richter)
There it was before me. That which had been nagging at me. I flashed back to Diver Dan …
He was held down to the ocean floor by heavy and cumbersome boots. He could only search the ocean floor for treasure by that which seemed to weigh him down. Yet in actuality, those weights made the hunt for treasure possible.
My memory jarred, His Word came flooding back to my mind and I opened to read:
“I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.”
(Isaiah 45:4, NKJV)
Even in those difficult places, God has treasures for His people which bring us to know Him better.
Those very burdens, which seem to drag us down, will result in an intimacy with Him.
The darkest moments will become a wealth of treasure to our souls.
Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Beloved Brews and Everyday Jesus .
wow – what a thought that we sometimes need the weight to help us find the treasure. So true that it’s often in those darkest moments when we seek God most earnestly and find his greatest treasures.
Kathryn, I was amazed at how the image in Lyli’s post prompted my thoughts. May I remember to seek His greatest treasures in those most difficult moments.
So, so true. Thanks for sharing those insights, Joanne. That verse is captivating, “…hidden riches of secret places…” Love that. 🙂
I have truly come to love that Scripture, Brenda. Grateful you did too. Blessings!
Very cool insight, and what a beautiful verse from Isaiah. God is good 🙂
Yes, that verse is amazing!
Joanne,
This is an amazing revelation from God’s Word. What might be tough and weighty might be exactly what we need to grow closer to Him. Hallelujah. I think that is what happened during VBS – I didn’t want to do it – I was tired but kept going and the fruit at the end was delightful and uplifting.
Blessings
Janis
Janis, VBS can be a daunting & tiring task. But you are so right, when we look back, we are always glad we participated. You blessed the children in ways you may never know until eternity.
What a sweet (and true!) analogy, Joanne. Thanks for sharing it with me today!
I always enjoy joining you, Sharita!
What a great message highlighting one of my favorite verses. In my own life, it’s in looking back that I can really see the treasures I reaped from the dark seasons that God allowed me to go through.
It is so true, Elizabeth. We so desperately want to avoid those times. Yet there have been times I have been known to say, I would go through it again for all the blessings it brought afterwards.
Love this in so many ways! 🙂
Thank you for prompting my thoughts in this direction, Lyli! XO