CURRENT SERIES: NEW BEGINNINGS

DAY 31: A NEW BEGINNING. . . WITH PERSEVERANCE

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Have you been praying for a breakthrough, but have not received your answer yet? Then let me encourage you with the following story, entitled, The Pebble of Success:

During 1942, Rafael Solano sat on a boulder in the dry river bed of the Venezuelan watercourse. For months, he and two friends searched for diamonds in the river – without success.

When one of his friends asked him if he was feeling ok, Rafael looked at the stone in his hand and replied: “I’m through. There’s no use going on any longer. See this pebble. It makes 999,999 I’ve picked up without finding one diamond. I quit!”

The exploration crew focused on finding signs of valuable diamonds. Mentally, physically, and emotionally they were exhausted. The other two men looked at each other in shock. Was this the end of their dream in discovering diamonds?

After a while, one of the men suggested: “Well, Rafael, at least pick up one more pebble and make it a million!” Rafael nodded, bent over the heap of stones in front of him and selected one. It was as big as a chicken’s egg. “Here,” he said and handed it over to his friend.

That “millionth pebble” later became known as The Liberator, the largest and purest diamond ever discovered. And a New York jeweler, Harry Winston, reportedly paid $ 200,000 for it.

What would have happened if Rafael decided not to pick up that last stone? Or if Michael Jordan quitted basketball after he was dropped from his high school team? Or if Dr. Seuss gave up after 23 publishers rejected his first children’s book – that later sold six million copies by the 24th publisher?

God knows our heart’s desires. He is in control of time and every situation. All He expects from us is perseverance and faith in Him. Listen to the words in James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Don’t give up hope. Don’t become discouraged – even if you have been praying for a long time for a breakthrough. Remember, God is working behind the scenes to arrange everything to be in the perfect place in order for you to receive your breakthrough. Who knows, perhaps your answer might be, just like Rafael’s, just one stone away! God bless.

Father God, thank you for being in control of every situation in my life. Help me not to be discouraged if I don’t receive an answer to my prayer immediately. I know You are busy working on my behalf for my breakthrough. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** BOOK LAUNCH OF WYSHEID, OORDENKINGS UIT SPREUKE by Benescke Janse van Rensburg: Saturday, 25 February 2012, Bellville. For more information, contact Karin at 021 949 7419 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a motivational speaker, freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense and also Wysheid, oordenkings uit Spreuke.