When I woke up this morning I had fully intended to post my weekly baking recipe. However as I was praying and getting ready for the day I felt led to share something a little different. I wanted to write a little about all that God has been speaking to me in the last couple of days. I think someone else needs to hear this or at least be a little reminded. It always amazes me how when God has a point to drive home He uses every aspect of your life to drive it home. Be it a weekly Bible study, a Sunday sermon, a song on the radio or a old podcast from months ago. And that’s exactly what the Lord has been doing with me this week. All through the story of Joseph and his eleven brothers.
As I've shared in past posts, I'm going through an interesting time in my life. And although I have indeed had some tense and anxiety filled points, I would by no means call it a "bad" time. I have truly found some deep enjoyment in several aspects of this period. I also know that what I walk away with will be well worth all of the uncomfortable parts. I feel like I have grown in God like never before in my life. Not just in faith but more importantly in my base foundation of Him, who He is and what He wants for me.
I think for most people "going without" is one of the hardest lessons to learn. I'm thankful that I've been able to handle that aspect without to much complaint. I've dealt with this before and I'm creative and resourceful enough to find avenues around it. No - for me the hardest lesson is a little different. It comes in the form of one obnoxious little word - Wait. And when you think you've waited enough - continue to wait! In a period when I've been crying out to God for some direction, some open doors, something to signal forward motion, His one continual answer has been "Wait".
Wait for what?!? I've screamed that in my heart so many times and His reply has always been to simply wait. And in all of this waiting He has done some amazing things in me. Every time I start to think that I've learned what it is He's been trying to teach me, or that I've arrived at "the point of it", He exposes something else. The biggest thing I've dealt with is my self-sufficiency and self-pride. And just like the whole waiting thing, as soon as I think I've learned to look to God and rely on Him for everything, He brings something else to the forefront. You see as long as I can accomplish something on my own and in my own power, I will. I don't turn to Him for help if I can it handle on my own. And it's been very humbling to have to go to Him and say that "I can't" - at least not without His intervention. Things that in the past have been "a piece of cake" or "just come naturally" have not been either. I'm sometimes left wondering what the purpose of all of this could possible be.
And then I look at the life of Joseph and I am humbled on a whole different level. He was a righteous man of God. He whole heartedly loved God and was obedient in everything. Yet he was sold into slavery and imprisoned because of other people's evil thoughts and hearts. And still he remained not only obedient, but completely trusting of God. He knew God had a bigger and better plan in store!
Now, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about this whole waiting thing. I'm not sitting at home waiting for God to say "go" before I start looking for a job or anything. Believe me when I say that I invest several hours a day looking for a job. It's when you're turned down again and again, or get no reply that God says to wait, be patient and just trust. When it's time He will open the way. My youth pastor once said that you should be busy as hell while waiting on the Lord. And he was right! God respects the diligent and hard working and can honor that. Proverbs 13:4 says "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the diligent are fully satisfied.". I know that I've been diligent and that I will be fully satisfied! He is a faithful God who never lets us down. Even when we can't see what’s going on - He's moving and fulfilling his purposes in our life! And when I need a reminder of this – I just have to look at the life of Joseph and how God used the evil intentions of his brothers to save thousands of lives. Who am I to questions this current situation? All I can do is trust God that He's got a better plan than I could ever come up with!
And it's from the life of Joseph that God spoke to me this morning. While still in the land of his imprisonment and slavery Joseph had two sons. He named the second son Ephraim which means "because God has made me fruitful in the land of my sufferings”.( Gen 41:52 ) I feel like that’s what the Lord has been and is still doing in me -making me fruitful even in this period of hardship and suffering. Maybe not in the physical sense through sons (kinda need a husband for that), but definitely in the way of developing His fruit in me! Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control!
If you’re going through some difficult situations I would encourage you to trust God and be patient! He has mighty plans for you and He will bring them to pass. And He will bless you and teach you and grow you all along the way!
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