Psalms 105:7-10, 17-22 NKJV
(About Joseph)
He [is] the LORD our
God; His judgments [are] in all the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the
word [which] He commanded, for a thousand generations, [The covenant] which He
made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac, And confirmed it to Jacob for a
statute, To Israel [as] an everlasting covenant...
He sent a man before
them--Joseph--[who] was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He
was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the
LORD tested him. The king sent and released him, the ruler of the people let
him go free. He made him Lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, to
bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.
While reading these
passages, two things stood out about Joseph’s life challenges:
1.
The Lord sent him to
Egypt as a slave.
2.
The word of the Lord tested him.
Joseph was sold into
slavery by his brothers because he was their father’s favorite son. Later, he
became a leader in Egypt and ruled over his brothers in the Egyptian territory of
Goshen.
Later in life, Joseph realized his
life, with its challenges, had a godly purpose. He endured
unimaginable situations that prepared him to be a ruler in Egypt. He was sold
into slavery as a teenager, accused of attempted rape, and went to jail for
years. Joseph realized the Lord sent him to Egypt to preserve
the covenant and lineage of Abraham from severe famine. His story is in
Genesis 37, 39-50.
We must recognize that
our challenges help to fulfill a predetermined purpose. It is a fact that our
faith is stronger because of adverse circumstances. This truth is hard to
accept when we are in a bizarre situation. However, God’s purpose for our life
will save us, our families, and others.
What are your current
attitudes toward life and its challenges?
- Are you sitting on the sidelines because you view
life’s hardships as setbacks?
- Do you feel stuck in life and angry with God, others,
or a life-altering event?
- Are you successful in life, thinking all is well when
you are far from God’s plan for you, and you know it?
- Has your struggle caused you to become a cynical individual?
It does not matter what
status you hold in life or where you live in this world. Life comes with
challenges beyond your control. Life is an assortment of decisions made by
others and us. Everyone’s decisions must be implemented and have the potential
to alter our life, as well as others.
None of us want extreme
challenges that redirect our life to a different path. However, like Joseph, it
takes staying in the Lord to understand their purpose. We can live a peaceful
life amid challenging circumstances when we accept that the Lord is with us and
in us. There is hope for the challenges in life. Jesus is only a conversation
(prayer) away.
Jesus knows we
experience life through our thoughts, perceptions, and perspectives. He lived
on this planet as a man. However, He did not come to give us a life without
challenges. A life without challenges would take away the right to make our own
choices and decisions.
I ask you to give the Lord
a chance to walk with you through life. The heavenly Father sent Holy Spirit to
be with us every day and every night for the rest of our earthly life and
into eternity. He is with us to provide wisdom, instruction, joy, and peace.
The Lord preserved the
story of Joseph’s life for history and instruction. He is asking us to say
yes and yield our life to include His purpose. We must trust Him when we cannot
see or understand the outcome. He wants to help us through the indwelling power and
presence of Holy Spirit.
Song to Share: Turn Your
Eyes Upon Jesus by Sounds Like Reign