Albert Einstein said "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."

Once discovered, such opportunities are like valuable diamonds hidden in the sand.

When I was a church pastor, a man stopped by my office to see me. He held out his hand and in it was a small, plastic gem stone. "I stepped on this gem stone when I was leaving church last Sunday," he explained. "It became lodged in the sole of my shoe.

You had spoken about how we are surrounded by diamonds -- we only need to recognize them. I put the plastic stone in my pocket to remind me to recognize the "diamonds" that I need.

"I have been trying to sell my business. On Monday morning, a man stopped by who seemed interested in purchasing my stock. I thought, 'Here's my diamond - don't let it get away!' I sold the entire stock to him by noon.

"Now," he said through a broad smile, "my next diamond is to find a new job!"

Not long afterward, he did find his new job. And he resolved to keep his gem stone with him from then on as a reminder to look for diamonds in every situation.

Richard DeVos is accurate when he points out, "This is an exciting world. It is cram-packed with opportunity. Great moments wait around every corner." Those moments are diamonds that, if left unrecognized, will be forever lost.

Are you looking for diamonds every day? If not, you may easily pass them by!

Perhaps there is a diamond of opportunity hidden in that difficulty you're experiencing now.