Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 (NIV)
When God gives you a dream, picture or desire for the plans he intends for you, which Jeremiah 29:11 tells us are good things: 'For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' people will get jealous and the enemy will do everything in his power to stop you from believing in it and pursuing it. Just look at Joseph! His own brothers wanted him dead (sadly, sometimes it is those closest to us who should be our greatest encouragers, are in fact our strongest opposition). You will face great opposition, it won't be smooth and God never promised it would be, but He did say that we can have confidence in His victory over death, sin and the Devil:
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
Though troubles came, one after another, Joseph remained faithful to the Lord, Joseph pressed in to God. And boy did troubles come for him! He was sold as a slave, then thrown in jail wrongly accused of trying to sleep with his master's wife, interpreted dreams for those closest to the Pharaoh which he thought might be his ticket out of jail once the Pharaoh heard of his gift, but instead was forgotten for 2 more years! Joseph went through many trials, and because he pressed in to God and stayed close, God was with him, and even in his suffering God prospered him. His first master put him in charge of all of his estate because he saw that the Lord was with Joseph and was blessing his house because Joseph was there, then even in jail the warden promoted him to be in charge of all the other prisoners.
Genesis 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lordwas with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joseph is unbelievable! He gives all the glory to God, he recognises that a part from God he cannnot do anything, that his gift is God given, that the power comes from God alone. Boy could we learn a thing or two from Joseph! So what happens next? Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of the whole of Egypt after he interpreted Pharaoh's dream.God gave Joseph "double for his trouble" as Joyce Myer says!
But wait, there's more!
Wow, just Wow! He's not resentful or bitter but could see past his own suffering and circumstances to see that it was God's doing because God has a greater plan. Joseph was very secure in the Lord!
Now it doesn't mean that his trials weren't hard, because they were, but God was (and is) greater than his trials (and ours too).
The outcome? Joseph was able to save a whole nation plus many more people because he trusted God through his suffering and trials and God delivered him and he was able to fulfil his purpose.
Will you trust God and remain faithful to Him through your trials and suffering so that he can take you to a place where you will be at the centre of His will and in position to fulfil your God-given purpose?
