trbccoffeebreak

“Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2 (ESV)

What does one do when bad things happen? How do we maneuver the bad which evolves into terrible, then the worst we could have ever imagined? The progression of bad into our worst moments can land us flat on our face, totally overwhelmed by our circumstances. And what we do in those moments is crucial to our sustained recovery.

As a child, I loved the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Joseph’s life seemed ideal; he was the favorite son with an amazing color drenched coat. Who could ask for more? Not me. My child mind idealized that coat and forgot all about the horror of being thrown into a pit and sold as a slave.

Isolated from his entire family at age 17, Joseph was in a strange land living in a stranger’s palace. Nothing was familiar. Yet as Joseph’s story unfolds chapter by chapter, we hear a reoccurring theme:  “The Lord was with him.” Success and blessings followed Joseph and ultimately impacted his master, Potiphar, as well.

One would think it was smooth sailing from this point on. Living in a palace – gaining responsibility – flourishing. But Joseph’s story was really just beginning. Seduced by Potiphar’s wife, Joseph landed in prison despite his innocence. Elevated to a position of authority over the other prisoners, Joseph interprets the dreams of the baker and butler. “Remember me,” echoed from Joseph’s lips. Yet he remained in prison for two more years.

Injustices, false accusations and then being forgotten  – transitioning from bad to terrible to the worst. Regardless of how bleak, hard and empty his circumstances got, Joseph’s eyes never lost sight of his God. His personal decision to do the right thing out of devotion to his God, even in the face of compelling temptation, defined Joseph’s integrity.

Keeping it real here  – doing right when others are doing wrong isn’t easy. The temptation to retaliate, seek revenge and get even creates a false sense of satisfaction. Giving up when triggers of past pain rise to the surface is not a healthy option either. We must, like Joseph, allow the challenges of our lives to draw us into a deeper dependence on our God. By trusting Him to right our wrongs and fight our battles, we can zero in on the personal growth He longs to develop in us. Every step of Joseph’s journey, God was transforming him from the inside out. Building godly character. Sustaining him with wisdom and discernment. Taking what Joseph’s brothers meant for evil against him and turning it into good to save the lives of many people (Genesis 50: 19).

Sweet friends, the depths of God’s work on Joseph’s behalf required a surrendered heart. Don’t know where we all land here, but I do know God is with us right in the midst of our challenges. He is the God who sees, knows and will work through every struggle to cultivate a greater glory than we dared imagine. I still love the story of Joseph; I just see it in a deeper light than I did as a child. No longer am I caught up in the wonder of his coat; I’m captivated by his love for God and desire to please Him even when bad things happen.

“Father, help us to flourish even in the midst of hard places and reflect You to our world.  Give us the courage and boldness to surrender to Your plan and watch with anticipation as You work for our good.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life