Meanwhile God...

Hi there! Recently I have been typing away at the devotional I am trying to finish (it has taken me much longer than I anticipated) and I have briefly neglected this space. This blog is one of my favorite spaces to share the heart kindlings sparking inside of me; I'm thankful you are here. I sincerely pray these brief blog posts meet you in the middle minutes of your busy day, and leave you feeling more lifted up than when you arrived. I still have a bit left on the devotional I'm working on, but I am going to be intentional to post here monthly also. If you enjoy these posts, subscribe on the website and they'll come straight to your email inbox.

Meanwhile God...

what does that even mean?

Have you ever had a season or situation where you felt stagnant and confused? You wondered where God was and what He was doing (or not doing) in your circumstances.

Of course you have. I have too. We all have. And if you haven't, you will.

The story of Joseph has been ping-ponging around my heart and mind for a couple of months now. If you aren't familiar with the story you can read it in Genesis 37-50. It's an amazing story of God's sovereignty in our lives, the power of forgiveness, the pain of betrayal, and the healing the Lord brings to our brokenness.

Isaiah 61:3 is so evident in the story of Joseph.

“And provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Basically, the 30,000 ft. view of it is that Joseph was favored by his father, Jacob. Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful robe (it was really colorful) and his other brothers, who didn't receive such a gift from their dad, definitely noticed that Joseph did. Joseph didn't help the situation when he rubbed it in their faces that he had had a dream that his brothers were bowing down to him paying him honor. His brothers had had enough and they decided to betray him while they were out in the fields alone with him. They considered murdering him and lying about it to their dad, but then decided the better option would be to sell him into slavery when a Midianite caravan headed towards Egypt passed their way.

Soon Joseph finds himself in Egypt, a slave to Potiphar, one of Pharoah's officials. He gains the trust of Potiphar and is put in charge over all the other servants in the home. He is the head slave. He's the house manager. Potiphar's wife has had a seductive eye for Joseph, attempts to seduce him, is rejected, and then in her anger and broken pride, falsely accuses Joseph of rape. He is thrown into prison.

Even in prison, Joseph finds favor. He interprets the dreams of the baker and butler and is eventually freed because of this gift of dream interpretation that he has.

His ability to interpret dreams allows him to gain favor with Pharaoh. He is put in charge over Pharaoh's kingdom, becoming the second most powerful man in the country. There is a massive famine in the land which brings his brothers to Egypt in search of food from Pharaoh. Joseph meets his brothers who betrayed him, face to face after 20 years. His brothers are now at his mercy.

20 years! 2.0. Twenty. 2-0. 20 years.

We read this story in 13 chapters in Genesis. It may take us 30 to 45 minutes to read the story that Joseph lived for 20 years.

Joseph's brothers don't recognize him. He forgives his brothers. Joseph declares in Genesis 50:20

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."

Joseph then treats them with tremendous compassion and generosity. He loves them and cares for their needs. His forgiveness to them is genuine. Joseph's deep trust in the Lord's sovereign hand in his life, allows him to love his brothers.

This is a beautiful story of redemption and the providence of God in our lives, especially testifying to His providence in the dark valleys that we don't understand when we are living them.

But, what was Joseph thinking while he sat in that prison cell for anywhere from 3 to 13 years because of a false accusation from Potiphar's wife? A false accusation that came right on the heels of a horrific betrayal by his very own brothers who couldn't care less if he were dead or alive!

Surely he must have thought he was one unlucky duck. Surely he had to have had moments of self-pity as he bounced down the bumpy, dusty road that led into Egypt, the sting of his brothers' rejection weighing his heart down like a case of heavy bricks. He had to have felt the injustice of Potiphar's wife's lie about him when he not only didn't do what she said he did, but he ran from her to honor his master who he didn't deserve to be a slave to in the first place!

Poor Joseph can't seem to win for losing! Have you ever been there?

Joseph was a man, just like us. Joseph didn't have the end of the story printed at his fingertips to read and then breathe a sigh of relief, saying "Oh good, it all wraps up neatly in the end." Joseph was living this story, real-time, real flesh, real hurt. This was his real life.

Psychologists say that the pain of betrayal, in many instances, can be more painful than the death of a loved one. It is one of the hardest emotions that a human can experience in a relationship. Joseph knew betrayal.

...and so did Jesus.

Meanwhile, God...

Genesis 36:37 "Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard."

"Meanwhile"

God is always working in the background of our circumstances, even when we don't understand...especially when we don't understand.

That is what this "meanwhile" meant in this story of Joseph, and it is what God's message is to you too. You may not understand what it is that God is doing (or not doing), but you can trust that He is doing something that is going to be used for your good and His glory if you are willing to trust His heart in it all.

It's the same heart that sent Jesus to Calvary because He was that hungry to be in a relationship with you. You.

He is a God who is in the details. His providence in our lives is real. Sometimes I just need someone to tell me that. Do you feel that way too? I'll tell you, sweet sister...

God's providence in your life is real.

We may be making plans but He is the one who is determining our steps (Proverbs 16:9).

There have been instances where I do not understand what the Lord is doing in my life. He is teaching me that he doesn't need me to understand His "why." He is my Daddy who wants me, more than anything, to trust His heart. This is faith.

He is trustworthy. He was to Joseph. He is to you.

Just as He was orchestrating the redemption and protection of Israel through the broken decisions of Jospeh's brothers (Joseph saved many lives in the famine) so He is doing something you can't see in your broken circumstances!

Will you trust Him?

God is trustworthy. I can't wait to share more of His trustworthiness I am learning about in my new devotional coming your way soon! It's called Trustworthy. I really love the simple title because it's the basis of our entire lives with Him. He has to be trustworthy.

I hope this encourages you. Declare your trust in Him and then slip your hand into His and follow his gentle, shepherding lead over your life. Maybe for now it's small acts of faithfulness in the secret places that no one else will ever know about. Maybe it's sharing from a stage under bright lights to thousands of women about how wonderful He is. However He is leading you, following in His footsteps on paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3) is where our joy will be made complete, no matter how confusing our circumstances.

Whether you pray this prayer below or other words weighing on your heart, I hope this time spent reading these words has encouraged your heart to treasure Him more deeply than when you arrived. Trusting Him beside you. Much love to you, friend.

Lord, help us to keep our eyes lifted to You. Like Peter, don't let us look around in fear and confusion at the raging waves. If we do, we are sure to sink just as He did. You will grab us, just as you did Peter, Lord. You are sympathetic towards our fragility, Lord. Fortify our faith. Help us to keep our gaze locked on You. Humble us to accept Your leading in our lives, whether we understand it or not. Be glorified in our trust, especially when we don't understand. We know who You are, Lord. You are good! Help us to rest in your goodness always. In Jesus' name, Amen.