Life on Earth
Life is messy. Life is complicated. Life is full of trouble. I am not being a Debby Downer, this is biblical. We aren’t promised an easy life void of heartache.
I get to work with the youth at our church and I remind them that life is full of disappointments, bad decisions, hurt people who hurt people, and outright evil.
I tell you this because it is important to remember that regardless of where our faith lies and how we live our lives, we exist in a fallen world. Our environment will not resemble perfection until we step into heaven.
Keeping all of this in mind, it constantly redirects our focus to Jesus. When we look to the Bible we see that when he was preparing for his crucifixion, he told his disciples in John 16:33, “…in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!”
The small handful of men he chose to spread the gospel throughout the world were now being prepared for a life full of trouble. These men were friends with God in the flesh and saw Jesus perform countless miracles and yet their lives were not perfect, nor would they ever be.
How much more do we need to expect trouble while simultaneously acknowledging the source of victory? I take great comfort knowing that God knows every bump and bruise my heart will ever experience. No catastrophe will ever catch him off guard, make him wince, or make him turn away. He knows what we will encounter and has the perfect route to lead us through to victory.
Joseph
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about Joseph’s life in Genesis. This story includes a prophetic dream, betrayal, slavery, prison, and the amazing way God used it all for good and His glory.
Throughout the story, we see Joseph get the short end of the stick over and over. When he was seventeen, had a dream that his older brothers and parents would bow down to him. Later, Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous older brothers. He then gets placed in a home in Egypt that belongs to Potiphar, the captain of the guard to the Pharaoh of Egypt. While he worked there, he rose through the ranks due to the Lord’s hand on his life and was highly trusted by Potiphar.
Things were going well then, Potiphar’s wife began putting the moves on Joseph and he continuously refused her advances. As you can imagine, that didn’t go well and one day she went screaming through the house that Joseph tried to force her into bed with him.
Joseph is then thrown into jail. Even in prison, the Lord was with Joseph and gave him favor. Joseph became responsible for the other prisoners and helped the wardens. In Genesis 39:23 it says “The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
While in prison, two of Pharaoh’s servants were tossed in and had dreams that Joseph interpreted. When they were released, Joseph begged them to remember him and help him get out. Unfortunately, they both forgot about him and did nothing to help him get out.
Two years later, one of the servants is reminded of Joseph’s dream interpreting gift when Pharaoh is troubled by a dream no one can decipher. Joseph is sought out and brought to Pharaoh who asks Joseph to use his gift. Joseph tells Pharaoh that he cannot decipher dreams, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he seeks.
After the interpretation, Pharaoh recognizes the wisdom and discernment that Joseph possesses. Pharaoh brings Joseph out of prison and makes him second in command to Pharaoh.
Now that Joseph is in this position, the dream he had many years ago will start to become a reality. He traveled a long, hard journey to get to the position that God had for him all along.
Joseph made the most of every situation. He wasn’t just a slave; he was the best servant Potiphar ever had. He didn’t rot away in prison; he thrived and became a leader.
Later when Joseph served Pharaoh, his reputation was well known and he was able to serve in one of the highest positions in Egypt. This is what led to Joseph’s eventual reconciliation with his family.
Higher Ways
Hopefully, our lives will never resemble the life of Joseph. Our hills and valleys may not be as steep, yet they are enough to cause despair. The beauty of Joseph’s story is that each bump in the road, each heartache, each setback was an opportunity for Joseph to grow and shine as a follower of God.
God’s ways are certainly higher than our ways. We can look at Joseph’s story and think “Sheesh, that’s a long way through rough times to put Joseph in a leadership role. Wasn’t that what his dream was about back when he was seventeen?”
It is easy for me to think that it would be smoother and much easier to skip the drama and put him in the place of power next to Pharaoh. Am I alone? Wouldn’t it be easier for us to zip through life unscathed by our own pits and prisons? Fortunately, this is not how God works.
Even if God didn’t dig the pit or lock us into prison, He knows the way out. He not only knows the way out, He promises to redeem the time spent hurt, trapped, scared, and hopeless.
Joseph’s story ends in a beautiful act of forgiveness. His brothers beg for mercy and they know deserve to pay for their transgressions. In reply, Joseph says in Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Miracles in the Mess
Psalm 77:14 You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.
This is how we can have hope. Hope that any mess we find ourselves in, God will reveal the miracle. Our role is to look for the miracle and claim it in Jesus’ name.
As we walked through Matt’s diagnosis in 2020, I prayed (and still do) for the Lord to help me see the miracle in all of it. I begged the Lord, “Please don’t let me miss what you are trying to teach me through this. Open my eyes to see You at work.”
Are you holding on to a heap of messes? I urge you to drop them at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to show You how to proceed. Listen for His voice. Trust that He wants the best for you and knows the way to the other side of the valley. Pray for eyes that see the miracles in the mess.
You are loved and adored.
Sheila