But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he (Joseph) did, the LORD made it succeed. Genesis 39.21-23
Hard things. In the midst of the certain and the good and the joyous there are hard things.
Arrivals and departures.
Miracle babies fervently prayed over!
Love blooming but also sorrows that might be described as the sharp edge of love.
Moves across state or half-way around the world. Yours (I’ll miss you!) or mine (Will anyone miss me?).
Work changes, increases, decreases.
Kids growing up. Parents aging. Me aging.
Other peoples’ humanness throwing a wrench in my well-laid plans.
I fully recognize my hard things are so so minimal compared to Joseph’s hard things. Yet they can shape my circumstances and too often I allow them to shape my attitude and behavior.
While we walk through this life given and orchestrated by God, sometimes it takes significant effort to bring to mind the good and the joyous in the midst of the hard things. And also in the midst of the day-to-day things bumping up against my well-laid plans.
Studying Joseph’s life and considering his family dynamics is bringing to my own mind the realization that much of my hard things, my disappointments and frustrations, are, at least in part, of my own doing. Poor choices. Selfish decisions. Lazy attitude. Digging my feet in. Stomping my foot. You name it, I’m guilty.
But what if … I make one better choice today than yesterday? Or make one less-selfish, more others-oriented decision? Soften my words. Focus my thoughts upward. Tackle one “project” that I’ve been putting off and wondering why someone else just doesn’t do it? Recently one such project took less than 5 minutes to accomplish; it wasn’t even worthy of the title “project.”
What if we each took on one “project” this week that would ease our own visual or emotional dissatisfaction with life? I know there are HUGE hard things for which our role is to come alongside another, pray and encourage; trusting the Lord for His timing and His working all things out.
But I’m honestly wondering if maybe many of my hard things today are not nearly as big as I have allowed them to become in my mind. Many are tackle-able. Some are easier when broken into bite-size pieces. Some are just a selfish pitty-party. All are worthy of prayer – for steadfastness, for my own humbling repentance, and always with thankfulness for God’s grace and mercy.
I don’t know about you, but it is time for me to pull on my Joseph boots and trust the Lord is moving me through the challenges and the down-right hard things to the other side – so that I can tell someone else about God’s goodness, His nearness, His very presence, His forgiveness. And His correcting me and getting me back on course.
Pick up your Bible this week, dear one. Read Genesis chapter 38. It’s a tough story. It’s a story worthy of some time spent researching and discussing the context of this tough but absolutely true story. It’s time to recognize that tough happens, sometimes of our own making. But we don’t have to stay in that place. God means it for good!
I’d love to hear how your “project” goes. Never ever forget this → you are SO loved!
Blessings, Colleen