There are many circumstances in our lives which are unfortunate. Many circumstances are ones we may feel that we have little to no control over. Unkind words spoken to us, unheard of cruelties that have made our lives a shame to those who question why we have faced such loss and personal pain. Even biblical characters like Job's suffering was laid open before the pulic forum to judge. And even Job's friends believed that his own personal sin had brought on a heap of judgement. Sometimes suffering is just an indication that we are alive. Sometimes suffering is due to our negligence. Whatever the case may be suffering is rarely a cause for flippant dismisal. And so the exmaination process of suffering begins.
The first response may disbelief or denial; the second may be regret. "If only I had made a different decision", or "I wish I hadn't trusted that person." we might say to ourselves. However, life isn't a experience you map out in the beginning. And you certainly might never imagine where the course of suffering will take you. Or choices for that matter. But what you can be certain of is that nothing that has happend to you will be purposeless. Yes, regardless of the circumstaces you have faced, it is encouraging to know that God can take a painful experience and turn it into glory. In fact, many who have faced hardships in life have an expectancy of hope. And this expectancy gives them the mobility to careen through life's hardest trials without giving up.
This is exactly what happend to Joseph, a young boy in the bible who had made the decision to brag about his dreams to his older brothers. His brothers had already tolerated his being their father's favorite son, but having him also tell about his grand visions and dreams was just too much. And so they plotted to get rid of him.
Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery. Thinking that they would silence him forever. As the years passed Joseph would endure his punishment for alienating his brothers. He would live under the hardships and cruel lifestyle of slavery. Sold yet not forgotten. And God would pay a ransom for him despite his foolish mistake, when He would cause Joseph to be appointed to a position of authority. The long years of enduring suffering now seemed light in comparison to the blessing in the end. Joseph had become the type of person that suffering when examined produces a heart that is willing to be changed and molded for glory.
God would use Joseph to deliver the very brothers who had sold him into slavery from a hardship of drought that would devistate all of Egypt. And he would recieve and be recieved by his brothers once again. Reunited at last, though the beginning would never hint of such a wonderful ending.
We may not see the end from the beginning. Rarely will we taste the victory without having paid a price to do so. Yet in enduring, time will reveal a tested, and tried vessel worthy of honor when proven honorable in the end. It doesn't matter how your beginning started out. Whether mistakes, bad choices, other people's bad choices landed you in your current circumstance, learn to be faithful while enduring it.
For who knows if this circumstance isn't one that will be to the greater good of others. And who knows if God hasn't determined to make you a vessel of honor just like Joseph and change an entire nation because of God's wisdom in your life?
No comments:
Post a Comment