By Benescke Janse van Rensburg
An unnamed Filipino fisherman hid a huge pearl of 34 kg under his bed for ten years. He believed it was his mascot. It was only when his log cabin burned down and he showed it to tourism officials, that he discovered its worth: R1.3 billion.
Because the fisherman did not realize the value of the pearl, he was content to struggle to make a living for a decade long, while he stayed in his small, dilapidated hut. Only when he thought he had lost everything in the fire, did he realize what he really had.
It’s the same in our lives. When we lose everything, we really discover God’s power. Yet, it is easy to become so preoccupied with unnecessary things or accept our precarious existence as the fisherman had, that we forget that God says in His Word that He has plans to prosper us, and that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
David understood it. In Psalm 139:16-18 he writes: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand . . .”
Fear, however, causes us to become passive – like this fisherman. We think it is safer to keep the gift God has given us hidden under our beds. We survive instead to enjoy life to the full. Due to the fear of hurt, we do not dare risk a chance at happiness. Or perhaps due to fear of rejection or that our business plan will fail, we remain in a profession or position we have lost our passion for long ago.
What is the dream you have in your heart hidden like the fisherman's pearl? Let us take that step of faith and talk to God about making it a reality. Ask for wisdom, discernment, creativity and favour. We might be, like the fisherman, stunned at the value of what is laying in our hearts. God bless.
Father God, thank you for creating me as perfect as You have. Help me to look past my fear and trust You for guidance in making my dreams a reality. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
• Look at pictures of the huge pearl and the fisherman at www.benescke.co.za or the Stories van hoop page on Facebook.
Assignment for the day: Ask God if there are anything He has placed in you that you have not yet developed. Write it down. Also ask Him for guidance and wisdom when moving in the direction of achieving it.
Feedback: For feedback on the series or if you have a testimony to share about something God did in your life, please send me an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It's always nice to hear from readers. Benescke