Hidden Treasure?

There was a scripture I had been struggling with all week.

I kept beating myself up because I could read it, visualize it, even feel that it was meant for me—yet I could not fully understand it. I couldn’t reach that aha moment where everything finally clicks. Over and over again, I racked my brain because deep down, I knew it resonated with my life.

I stayed on this path of study, comparing scripture with scripture, asking myself what it was that I was “missing.” I decided I was going to sit with it—no matter how long it took. So every day that week, I made time to study that same passage, hoping the light bulb would come on and not just flicker.

Last night, as I prepared to finally relax, I grabbed my Bible and said, Let’s get to it. I was determined to solve the mystery that had held me all week. I turned to the page and read the scripture again…and again. Still nothing.

For a moment, I thought maybe the Most High wasn’t ready to reveal this to me. But I caught that thought quickly, prayed, and asked Him to please give me understanding. Not only did I want understanding—I wanted to experience what was written.

After praying, I looked at the scripture again and thought, What if I write it down? Maybe then it will click.

Once again—nothing.

I sat there, reading the same verse repeatedly. The last time, I slowed down and read it carefully, truly desiring to understand what it meant. I read past it, where the explanation followed, but even then, it still wasn’t sticking. The scripture read:

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

And suddenly, God spoke to me: “You’ve done this before.”

I paused. How could I have done this before?

Then a memory surfaced.

A few years ago, my dad was sick and going through a difficult season. I made the decision to sell everything I had so I could go take care of him. Everything I had accumulated over the years—I didn’t care. What my family thought of my decision—I didn’t care. I did whatever was necessary to get to my dad. And if selling all I had and starting over was the cost, then so be it.

In that moment, I finally understood how that scripture resonated with me—and what God was asking of me.

The same urgency I had for my father, I needed to have for Him.

“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me… And he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:37–39)

No matter what it takes, I must go after Him the same way—maybe even harder—because the treasure had been there all along..

-ToniRay