We sometimes struggle in our faith. The lessons that have come to us just doesn't seem to penetrate the heart because our minds and hearts are somewhere else. Instead of taking in the truths from God and His word, we readily agree with Him but the impact on our lives is something different. Suddenly a difficulty arises and we crumble into a world of self slowly withdrawing into ourselves with few answers and even less response to the Lord. We find ourselves hopelessly in the midst of something with no answers.
Life can be mighty difficult without a genuine faith in the Lord. Life can be intimidating enough but without guidance from the word of the Lord, it leaves us frozen. Joseph knew this all too well. Here was a young man, with a wonderful home life and all his dreams before him. He didn't realize how much his brothers hated him and that hatred spilled over one day because Joseph was a dreamer and so beloved by his father! They wanted to kill him but they found it more profitable to sell him instead. A seventeen year old boy on a journey with foreigners. What a frightening experience only to be sold into the hands of an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh. What would lay ahead? Is this fair for such a young man who had done nothing wrong? But this wasn't the worse. He was lied about, accused of a terrible crime which he didn't commit. Joseph had done nothing but be loving and loyal. Now he found himself in prison, shackled in chains and an iron collar around his neck (Psa. 105:18). In all this, Joseph had dreams eleven years earlier and those dreams seemed to be in ruin. Years of pain and misery for this young man! Over eleven years of disappointment and heartache. But what do we find? A man of God! From his youth to the eleven years of being mistreated and abused there was a deep affection for his God. He could have been bitter! He could have built a world of complaining and feeling sorry for himself. But instead, his trust in God, his heart constantly living for and dwelling upon God brought something greater. It took years but the outcome was all destined by God and Joseph refused to crumble under the injustices dealt him.
What about us? Why do things take us down so easily? When we are faced with dire circumstances, our reaction to those circumstances reveal a mind and heart set. We forget the promises. We shrink back from the power source. We drown in our misery. Can't we see anything from the words of Joseph when speaking to his brothers face to face all those years later: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."?
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