“And they shall be Mine”, says the LORD of

hosts, “on the day that I make them my jewels.”

Malachi 3:17 NKJV

No one likes the refining process. But God tells us to count it all joy when we encounter various trials.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

James 1:2

Paul said he could rejoice when he ran into problems and trials because of what it produced.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they

help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character

strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment.

Romans 5:3-5

Peter tells us a similar thing about rejoicing through trials because suffering produces something far greater than comfort. When a trial comes, we can know we are being refined and something beautiful is happening inside us.

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold…

1 Peter 1:6-7

Hawk Nelson wrote a song called Diamonds. The words capture the very thing God is doing in us and how the refining fire of trials lead to something beautiful.

Here and now I'm in the fire, in above my head Being held under the pressure, don't know what'll be left But it's here in the ashes I'm finding treasure

He's making diamonds, diamonds, making diamonds out of dust He is refining in his timing, He's making diamonds out of us

I'll surrender to the power of being crushed by love Till the beauty that was hidden isn't covered up Oh it's not what I hoped for, it's something much better

Living in the waiting for our prodigals to return is a trial that can produce something beautiful in us. Think about the various things that you have learned during this time. Has it drawn you closer to God? Has it produced patience? Endurance? Have you learned to be grateful? Have you sought to love your prodigal rather than turn away in frustration? Has it increased your prayer life? Never mind the power that you wield as a child of the Almighty God. Think about what your prayers are producing because Scriptures says none of them are lost. None are wasted or pointless. They are collected and stored on the altar of God until the time is right for God to accomplish His plans and purposes on the earth.

Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great

amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering

on the gold altar before the throne. The smoke of the incense mixed with the prayers of

God’s holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.

Revelation 8:3-4

So as you pray and wait, think about the beautiful diamond God is making you into. Think about the beautiful diamond your prodigal will become and how the trials they have endured will produce exactly what God is purposing for them.